The Life Course has been running since 1991. It was originally called the L.I.T.E course (Life-skills and Initial Training for Employment) and was heavily biased towards CV writing, learning how to use a computer, and letter writing. The world has changed a lot since then – and so has the course!

The Life Course has been shaped by years of experience working with hundreds of clients recovering from the impacts of addiction, homelessness, unsafe relationships, and mental health issues. The course’s four core modules (Self-Care, Mind Matters, Healthy Relationships and Life Management) are a blend of recovery principles, evidence based research and spiritual wisdom. These materials are being developed into a professionally published 200-page workbook, having been revised by Ant Newman, Life Course Team Leader. “We can’t wait to see the final product, and know it will be great to use with our clients.” says Stuart Leitch, Life Recovery Manager.

Over the last three years, we have trained four charities. This process has developed a training package that we are now able to take to market. Our stated training aim is that attendees will ‘understand the what, why and how of Life Course facilitation’ and ‘will be able to confidently deliver the course into local contexts.’ The two day training is comprehensive. Topics covered include, creating a safe appropriate group environment, understanding the client’s needs, developing facilitation skills, and seeing it done – walking through a session. As one attendee said, “There was so much to cover, I would have been happy to have attended for another day… This is not a criticism, just a note about how much is involved in both the delivery and content of the course, showing how well thought out it is, with every aspect considered.”

Following our training, Sue, from Genesis Trust in Bath, has been successfully running the Life Course for over two years and has seen the positive impact it has made in people’s lives. She says, “I believe with good training, good facilitators, honest material (and with God’s help!), you are able to reach people and truly see the benefits.”

So what’s next? With the imminent completion of the workbook, training materials that are ready, and new staff joining, we are going to market, to franchise the Life Course to housing support agencies, rehabs, churches, homeless charities, and recovery projects all over the country. Our goal is to see this unique resource being used to help those in recovery become ‘role models in their community’ and to (re)discover their God given potential. We hope to train eight in the next year, and following on from that, who knows how far and wide the impact of this may be!

We were encouraged when Paul (from Cornwall – who attended our training) reflected that projects using the course could metaphorically be similar to life boat stations, dotted around the country, reaching out to people in danger, and leading them toward a place of safety. It’s a great image the will inspire us for years to come.

Get in touch with Stuart Leitch (Life Recovery Manager) if your organisation is interested in joining the franchise.

More information about becoming a Life Course franchise can be found here.