FST Lambeth
Location: Brixton, London
- About the project
- Business Services
- Work placements
- Work-related skills and qualifications
- Referrals
- Our funders
- Contact us
About the project
FST Lambeth is a social enterprise which has been operating since 1996. We provide a range of services to both the public and private sector, including painting and decorating, minor building works and gardening and grounds maintenance. Our project provides people with mental health problems and other disadvantages an opportunity to run and deliver these services – developing their skills and proving to themselves and others, that they can work to the high standard required. Last year, 97 people took up the challenge of working at FST Lambeth, building up a work history, developing a range of skills and getting support looking for work.
FST Lambeth is an inclusive organisation – its workforce represents the multi-cultural area in which it is located. In 2004, the project was cited for excellence in the government’s Social Exclusion Report published by the Office of Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).
Business services
We provide the following services to private, public and corporate clients:
• Painting and decorating.
• Gardening and grounds maintenance.
• Minor works (building maintenance and repair).
• Light removal service (local office, small domestic moves, portering and
clinical waste collection services).
Work placements
FST Lambeth provides a number of work and training opportunities in the following sectors:
- Painting and decorating.
- Gardening and grounds maintenance.
- Minor Works (building maintenance and repair).
- Light removal service (local office, small domestic moves, portering and clinical waste collection services).
- Office administration.
Last year, FST Lambeth successfully moved 14 people into employment as well as supporting others on to voluntary work or further training. We work closely with local partners such as South London and Maudsley (NHS) Trust, Lambeth Council, Job Centre Plus, Lambeth Accord, Mencap Pathway, Work Directions, South London Family Housing Association and Choice Support, to support people into employment.
What I got out of FST Lambeth
"After being away from the workplace since November 2002, First Step Trust enabled me to regain confidence in my abilities and regain social and communication skills which I felt had been lost after such a prolonged period away from normality while in treatment and hostels."
Mark Seviour, FST Lambeth workforce member
Work-related skills and qualifications
Our work placements provide on-the job training. Each worker has a personal development plan which tracks their progress towards becoming ready to move on to paid employment, alternative voluntary work or further education.
We work closely with training providers to support our workforce achieve work-related qualifications in recognition of the skills they have developed. We aim to ensure that workforce members have met the basic requirements in numeracy and literacy for employers.
A work placement at FST Lambeth gives workforce members the opportunity to acquire the following skills:
General
The basic skills required by employers such as timekeeping, ability to work in a team and a positive attitude towards work.
Office administration
All aspects of office administration including computer skills, data inputting, following office procedures etc.
Financial administration such as working with invoices, petty cash, processing cheques, paying suppliers, ordering supplies etc.
Practical skills
Carpentary, painting and decorating, working with power tools and grounds maintenance.
Customer service
Understanding the need to deliver high-quality service, dealing with customers, promoting business services.
Employment development
Interviewing techniques, research, liaising with third parties.
Qualifications available
- Basic First Aid and Manual Handling, British Red Cross.
- Health and Safety Foundation Certificate, British Safety Council.
- Portable Appliance Testing, C&G 2377.
- NVQ Level 2 Health and Social Care, Choice Support.
- ICT for Beginners and European Computer Driving License, TBG Learning.
- COSHH Health and Safety Training, Professional Janitorial Supply.
Referrals
- Self-referral or carers.
- GPs.
- Community mental health teams.
- Employment agencies.
- Voluntary organisations.
Why I refer people to FST Lambeth?
“I have found the service that FST provide to be a real resource for people approaching voluntary and paid work for the first time. This is a testament to the positive working relationships that FST has built up with local employers, as well as the enthusiasm that FST brings to the therapeutic potential of work for individuals in developing a meaningful focus and a sense of routine.”
Lucas Teague, Support Worker, Step Forward, Metropolitan Housing Trust
Our funders
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Contact us
FST Lambeth
Project Manager: Position vacant.
Assistant Manager: Clive Thornett
1-3 Brixton Hill Place (Off Brixton Hill),
London SW2 1HJ
Tel: 020 8678 9364
Fax: 020 8678 9367
Email: website email form
Visitor information
By bus: from Brixton tube station: 109, 133, 159, 250, 118. Alight and cross road and walk into Brixton Hill Place where FST Lambeth is located just under the archway.
By tube: to Brixton then a 20 minutes walk up Brixton Hill to FST Lambeth.
By car: there is no car parking available.