Starfish Services

PA-CT Community Hubs

PA-CT Community Hubs are a welcoming and friendly space for you to learn more about yourself and creating positive change after experiencing difficulties with mental wellbeing. Space to explore the things that hold you back and what might transform your life going forward.
They offer an opportunity for some great conversations with one-to-one guidance and advice combined with community based groups and activities. A chance to learn and practice what works for you, while also working, sharing and learning alongside others.

There are a range of informal groups arranging visits and talks, access to short workshops and courses designed around your own needs and interests, covering topics like Self Care, Creative Writing, Gardening, Preparing for Work and Yoga for Wellbeing as well as more formal training that could see you becoming a Peer Supporter or more formal Volunteer.

You are in the driving seat, we want to work with you to help figure out your best route forward, identifying your skills and assets, the different things on offer and who else can give support along the way..... developing skills to help you well into the future!

All our work is based on PA-CT (our Practice Based Approach to Community Transformation) Click Here

Some restrictions apply with certain Hubs more directed to young people, those seeking employment or with particular postcodes. See additional information or contact us to discuss eligibility.

Connect2Kindness Conversations Video

Wellbeing exists inside and outside, in homes with families, in community and society and needs positive action and a disconnection from current over medicalised models of thinking to progress.

The video shows how each of us experiences life and how it effects us. It also shows how our model of Community Transformation works via the Social Hubs.

It also shows how Individuals, community and societal transformation is possible.

Kindness and a positive understanding of what is to be human is key to change, through connection and mutual support.

Our aims & aspirations were simple, we wanted to open up a nurturing space to facilitate meaningful conversation, with no agenda.

To fully engage with those who have been part of, facilitated and supported activities over the last year.

To ensure all voices can be heard and acknowledged.

To explore the personal, social, economic, systemic and environmental factors that influence our lives and experiences.

To use the information, ideas and feelings that emerge from conversations to learn from the past help us co design our next stages of development.

To offer more and diverse ways to engage going forward.

Please be respectful and kind when watching the video, people are sharing real-life experiences.

BBO Evolve

Building Better Opportunities Evolve (BBO Evolve) at Cannock have launched a new and inspirational employability programme designed to develop well-being, improve confidence and self esteem, feel more empowered and motivated, reduce social isolation and develop the transferable skills needed to support individual progression to take steps towards employment or training.

Supporting participants to:-
Improve communication and interpersonal skills Develop connections and social interaction with others Find suitable vocational training, education, employment or self-employment

We provide individual support:-
One-to-One mentoring support Information, advice and guidance tailored to participants specific needs
Specific pre-job interview preparation Support to manage and overcome barriers to finding training or work

Our Employability Workshops include:-
Interaction within a group, team building activities; encouraging problem solving, using initiative, confidence and motivation, working in a team and to deadlines CV building, job applications, interview preparation, participation in discussion to boost social skills, communication and confidence, information, advice and guidance, improving computer skills, exploring the job market and training opportunities.

The project will support unemployed and over the age of 16 to find employment or enter education

If you fill out a referral form for anyone interested who fits the criteria, we will:
Send out a letter
Make phone contact to arrange a 1:1 initial appointment

If you would like to find out more about the programme you can contact Hilary or Debra on: 07943 754971 or 07534 149341.

Evolve is funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund

Wellness to Work Stafford & Surrounds

Wellness to Work is our new project, set up following a successful bid for European Social Funds (ESF).

Our aim is to support unemployed or economically inactive people aged 19 - 65 years in Stafford Borough and the surrounding area, who may be experiencing poor emotional health and wellbeing, poor self esteem, low confidence and loss of self belief.

We recognise that some people have more challenges than others, for example, people with long term health conditions, physical difficulties, parents/single parents who've taken time out to raise a family or need to find work that fits around childcare, young people in need of experience or older people wishing to re-join the job market after some time out.

Whatever your circumstances, Wellness to Work is here to focus on YOU and your needs, developing an individual learning plan to support you with weekly sessions designed to build your self esteem, find your direction and take action towards your goals, whether that's improving your soft skills, signing up for a training course, exploring the option of self employment or finding a job, all at a pace that's right for YOU.

We do this through offering workshops on a wide range of topics such as emotional wellbeing and money management, providing opportunities for training and work experience in our own centre, where it's safe to make mistakes as you learn and providing 1-2-1 support to help you overcome any particular barriers you are facing.

Call, text, WhatsApp or email the Wellness to Work Co-ordinator for an informal chat to find out more: