Life Skills, No Frills

Life Skills, No Frills

In 2010, The Marmot Review of Health Inequalities concluded that inequalities are largely driven by the conditions in which people live, work and age, rather than healthcare access alone. The principles of investing proportionality into areas of inequality and deprivation stand up to scrutiny, but practical barriers to equity remain.

Conversations with residents and participants about their recovery journeys reveal insight and wisdom that extend far beyond simple definitions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Their understanding of what builds resilience, strengthens identity and supports healthier communities is both profound and illuminating.

Gaps in the foundations of development—including support, care, nutrition, shelter and education—can be felt throughout life. Although their effects cannot be undone, the human will to overcome them is undeniable. Hearing the hope and clarity of people seeking healing drives me to influence policy and strengthen impact.

Person-centred support, policy, frameworks and commissioning must begin with the people who use services. Yet institutional practices across public systems prevent their experiences from shaping how services and society operate.

The solution begins with a simple principle: people with lived experience should help shape the services they use. Through co-production and co-design, they have shown how service activities and outcomes can build practical life skills and improve quality of life.

Our services tailor support to each resident and participant, and to the communities they build together. These relationships create distinct microcultures shaped by local circumstances and wider social influences. In workshops, residents identify themes that supersede locations and recovery pathways, revealing shared needs and aspirations.

One of the clearest and most compelling themes is the importance of developing life skills. Residents and participants recognise that these skills can help address gaps created by missing foundations and resources in childhood and later life.

One resident described how life skills from cooking to reading have developed his sense of identity – cooking being an expression and reading reflecting his own sense of self as he reflects upon his own thoughts and interpretations.

Another resident explained that in developing skills in the local community, she has developed confidence and knowledge as she is actively pursuing an educational qualification at a nearby college, which offers concessionary rates to those eligible, though courses used to be free.

By building supportive relationships with one another and with staff, residents and participants can apply the same cooperation and communication in their local communities. This helps them gain confidence in navigating local services and systems when they move into independent living.

Building confidence, agency and control is vital. These skills help residents and participants express their needs to professionals, advocate for themselves, navigate services and support, and develop partnerships and networks.

Achieving social equity requires more than addressing inequality. Residents and participants need accessible community services that support financial stability through appropriate welfare, employment and tenancy guidance. This support must be multifaceted, encompassing digital inclusion, community connections and practical life skills such as nutrition, exercise and building healthy relationships.

Adult learning centres play a vital role in providing local opportunities to develop life skills. Most major towns and cities offer a range of courses, yet barriers quickly emerge when courses have no available places, provide limited information or unclear enrolment processes.

People experiencing inequality may struggle to access courses because information is unclear, eligibility and funding rules are complex, applications are online-only, proof of identity is difficult to provide, and costs are unaffordable. Stigma and mistrust of institutions, often arising from negative experiences, can create further, sometimes overwhelming, barriers.

Research by SIG’s External Affairs team found that 71% of residents and participants identified stigma and discrimination, alongside barriers to accessing services (also 71% of respondents), as the greatest challenges to recovery and rehabilitation. Publicly funded services must address these barriers to support equitable access and better outcomes.

Inclusive approaches to people and processes need to be a defining feature of public services because everyone must be afforded the opportunity to bridge the gaps in opportunity and wellbeing they have missed out on. Provision and accessibility cannot be separated, and I am glad that the latest government strategies now shaping our sector, from homelessness to criminal justice services, acknowledge that the experts in service design are service users.

VCSE organisations are not only frontline advocates but also trusted partners that bridge the gap between those who fund services and those who access them. As statutory and VCSE organisations improve interoperability between their IT systems, I hope this is matched by greater parity through long-term funding, co-produced commissioning frameworks, equitable data-sharing arrangements and shared accountability across all partner agencies.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Social Interest Group. Any content our bloggers or authors provide is their opinion and is written to promote discussion and raise awareness of topics.