The Empowering Futures team’s aim is to empower residents and communities to be able to live well by making it our core purpose to address the things that matter to them most.
We aim to work holistically with our residents, so that we can impact not only on their current quality of life, but give them a platform from which they can make and implement longer term decisions for themselves and their local community.
The Empowering Futures team can:
- give advice about your money – including your benefits, your income and any debts you might have
- support you to develop skills so you can manage a tenancy
- help you set up home, including advice on accessing furniture
- give advice on accessing furniture
- give advice that can help you stay in your tenancy
- can help you to live independently
- look at all of your problems and help you deal with them
- work with other agencies to help and support you
- help you look at your future plans and aspirations
Contact us
You can contact us online.
Or, you can call us on 0203 535 3535, Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm, and ask for the Empowering Futures team.
How we can help
We can support you with:
- Employment, apprenticeships, training and work experience opportunities
- Funding to help address immediate problems that are in the way of your ambitions
- Support to improve mental and physical wellbeing
- Support with debt and money management
- Support with addressing rent arrears and managing tenancies
Our Regional Community Coordinators are present across all our regions to address community concerns, which could be issues around:
- Violence affecting young people
- Events and activities to build community cohesion
- Reducing inequalities faced by communities
- Improving educational outcomes for young people
If you need support for you or someone in your household, or are interested in discussing some work for the wider community, please contact the Empowering Futures team.
If you are a charitable organisation or a community group serving communities where MTVH has housing and are interested in partnering with our Empowering Futures team, or need support with funding to enhance services to our communities, please get in touch so we can explore how we can support the work you do.
We are particularly interested in partnering with organisations addressing the themes below:
- Social mobility, future of work and employability
Crises preparedness
Mental wellbeing and isolation
Young people (voice, opportunity, perception)
Community safety and engagement (voice, engagement, volunteering)
Digital connectivity (access to internet, skills, equipment)
If you want to work with us, please get in touch.
Get help finding a job
Need to talk to someone? Our team of Resident Connectors can connect you to the right organisations who can help to find a job, increase your hours and income, start a business, and improve your confidence as well as gaining qualifications.
If you’re being made redundant
Check if your redundancy is fair on the Citizen’s Advice website.
You can also find out how much statutory redundancy pay you can get. It’s based on age, weekly pay and number of years in the job.
If you lose your job
Find out what to do after leaving a job on the Citizen’s Advice website.
If you need to talk to someone, call ACAS for free on 0300 123 1100. The ACAS website also has lots of information on employment.
If you need more help, get in touch with us. We can help you find a job, increase your hours, start a business and improve your confidence.
You can also read our advice on managing your money.
Feeling low, stressed or anxious?
We all struggle with our mental health at times, and we all need support. Talking it through can help and it’s important that you know you are not alone. Your mental health is equally as important as your physical health.
We work with the mental health charity Mind and Togetherall. They provide a free confidential service offering you support and guidance by phone, text, or digitally. This is an anonymous mental health service for people over 16, providing a 24/7 support network, professionally moderated online peer support, and self-management resources.
If you feel that this could be beneficial to you or a close friend or family member, contact us so we can refer you.
Want to get out and meet new people?
We work with the Royal Voluntary Service to support you with 10 weeks of befriending calls. You can benefit from three weekly calls for up to an hour. Please contact us for more information and referrals.
Nottingham Forest Community Trust have also expanded their activities under the campaign ‘Let’s Tackle Loneliness Together’ to help you with befriending calls if you live in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Please contact us for more information and referrals.
There are a number of national befriending organisations. To help you find one in your area, visit the Befriending Network’s website
There are a number of online guides available to help you learn more about operating different digital devices.
If you already know the basics of using a web browser, a search on the internet can help you enhance your digital skills.
If you don’t know how to use a web browser, take a look at this handy guide to get started.
There are some simple guides that you can access by clicking the links below, which explain how to use equipment:
- Basic guide to using a personal computer (PC)
- Basic guide to using an Ipad
- Basic guide to using an Android device
Free courses to help you learn new skills or get a new job.
The Department for Education has launched The Skills Toolkit, which allows adults to access free, high quality online courses whilst at home. The Skills Toolkit is available to everyone and consists of digital and numeracy courses, ranging from basic to more advanced levels.
Get free support for getting online
MTVH customers can apply for free digital skills support delivered by our partner ‘We Are Digital’. This telephone support service is tailored for MTVH customers who find it difficult to get to local digital courses and training.
Doing more online can be a great way of becoming more independent:
- Keeping in touch with friends and family.
- Shopping online and having them delivered to your door.
- Getting up-to-date information and news on the internet.
We can arrange for an experienced tutor to give you a call. They can help you develop skills such as using email, online shopping, using social media and staying safe online. Please contact us so we can get you connected.
If you are in need of digital equipment or devices to enable you to get online, we will be able to help you get this through one of our Make it Happen Grants. Contact us for more information
Get the best deal for your phone and broadband
Make sure that you are getting the cheapest phone and broadband deals by comparing deals. Our partner, Pocket Power can help to find you the best deals to keep your bills low and affordable. Contact us for a referral.
Free one to one IT skills training
If you need a hand with technology and are feeling isolated from connecting with others, the ClickSilver Connections team are here to help you.
They have some wonderful mentors who are waiting to know you and give you free one to one support with your device to get, and make the most of being, online. They provide support virtually over four weeks and sessions last 30 to 60 minutes.
Suitable for participants over 18 who would benefit from:
- Finding you way around your smart phone or device
- Setting up and using an email account
- Online shopping
- Speaking to friends and families via Facetime, WhatsApp, Skype, etc.
- Access social and community groups
- Register for online services e.g. MTVH Online
Register for Digital Marketing courses
Are you a resident who has a passion for Digital Marketing?
Register for a fully funded Digital Marketing course TODAY.
With demand for digital marketing skills increasing year on year, this training can lead you to access real employment opportunities in the fast growth digital industry.
The course is tailored to provide a diverse range of MTVH residents with the skills and confidence they need to gain paid roles in the digital industries.
- Course length: 7 weeks, 28 sessions (2.5 hrs per session)
- Age 18+
For more information and to register please contact us.
Find out what you can claim
Find out what benefits you can claim on the Turn2Us website.
Get an overview of what benefits are available on the Citizen’s Advice website.
Still can’t find the help you need? Contact us – we can help you with your benefit questions and if needed connect you to specialist organisations if you need further help.
If your benefits are changing to Universal Credit
Universal Credit replaces 6 ‘means-tested’ benefits – these are benefits you can get if your income and savings are below a certain level. Visit the GOV.UK website on Universal Credit for more information.
It can take up to five weeks to receive your first Universal Credit payment so try and apply for Universal Credit as soon as you are eligible. Claim Universal Credit now.
Read Citizens Advice guidance on what to do if:
Use the Law Society’s quick search to find a local solicitor. Before agreeing to see a solicitor you should check about any costs that you will be taking on.
Find out more information on getting legal advice on the Citizen’s Advice website.