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Full Independent Living Skills course

Cath Plewes

Created on June 14, 2024

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Welcome to this online course on independent living skills. The course covers nine topics to help you with independent living. During the course you'll explore housing, finances, how to look after yourself and how to stay safe whilst living independently. Click the next arrow on the right to get started.

Independent Living Skills

Click on each shape below to navigate to that session. Once you have finished a session, you will return here to select another. To complete the sessions in order, begin with ‘Housing’, and follow the dotted line.

Exploitation

Healthy Relationships

Online Safety

Community Involvement

Cooking and Home Skills

Health and Wellbeing

Education, Employment, and Training

Finances

Housing

Learning Journey

Explore some examples of housing and house searches in the area.

Explain the key parts of securing housing.

Consider different types of accommodation.

Describe what is meant by ‘housing’, ‘homelessness’, and accommodation.

Housing Module Aims

Housing is simply a building, or part of a building, where a person intends to stay. However, there are also a series of requirements that have to be met:

access to basic amenities, such as a toilet, personal washing facilities, and cooking facilities.
be fit for human habitation.

With this simple definition, housing can look quite different between different places!

What is housing?

Activity: Consider the following definition of homelessness, what stands out to you?:

Click here to find out

There are important distinctions between what a house is, and what a home is.

What is Homelessness?“The definition of homelessness means not having a home. You are homeless if you have nowhere to stay and are living on the streets. But you can be homeless even if you have a roof over your head. You can be homeless if you do not have rights or permission to stay where you are, or you live in unsuitable housing” (Shelter)

Housing, homelessness, and accommodation.

Accommodation where the occupier receives care or supervision that is linked to that accommodation.

Somewhere to stay whilst you wait for longer term housing.

Occupied by a single person, cohabiting couple, or a family who are related.

Occupied by at least three people that are not part of the same household (i.e. family, share some amenities, and some of whom pay rent.

Housing managed by your local council, and applied to through them (i.e. Devon Home Choice).

Owned by a landlord that you enter into a contract to, known as a tenancy, and pay periodically to stay.

Most accessible: most properties available through property search websites. Expensive: rents can be more expensive than other kinds of accommodation.

Eligibility: not everyone can apply for Social Housing. Priority need: Even if you are there is a very long waiting list, so it is not helpful if you are looking quickly.

Quick: usually family and friends are easy to contact and can help quickly. Sofa surfing: If possible, it is important to get your own space, like a room. Sofa surfing is challenging and will still mean you are homeless.

Family and friends

Social Housing

Privately Rented

Staying with family or friends can also be a helpful option if they have a room to spare.

Applied for via Devon Home Choice, Social Housing provides affordable accommodation based on priority.

Find a flat, house, or room to rent in a shared property. Here you will be a tenant renting from a landlord for a period of time.

There are various options available for accommodation, depending on your situation and needs. It may also be necessary to pursue some of these options at the same time, like applying for Social Housing whilst also securing accommodation with a friend. Activity: Think about the options below and write down a list of how each may be suitable to you.

Options for accommodation

You may also be recommended or interested in supported accommodation. This is accommodation with a service that cares for, supports, or supervises you whilst you are living there. Click on the images below for more information:

Supported accommodation

Landlord: someone who owns and rents out accommodation.Tenant: someone who occupies accommodation rented from a landlord.

Tenant responsibilities

Pay council tax, rent, and utilities
Report any faults or repairs needed as soon as possible
Take care of your home by keeping it clean and tidy

Landlord responsibilities

Landlords are responsible for most repairs in your home:

electrical wiring, gas pipes and boilers, heating and hot water, chimneys and ventilation, sinks, baths, toilets, pipes and drains, common areas including entrance halls and stairways, the structure and exterior of the building, including walls, stairs and bannisters, roof, external doors and windows. Do not attempt to fix these things yourself first, as you could then be liable for additional costs.

When you (a tenant) find your own accommodation, the person you will primarily be engaging with is your landlord. Landlord and tenant responsibilities will vary slightly between tenancies so it’s really important to read and understand your tenancy agreement. If there are any bits you are unsure of ask the landlord or Letting Agency for clarity. For more information on your rights check out Shelter

Landlord/tenant responsibilities

Click the buttons below to find out more information.

There are many things that you need to think about before you think about accommodation, and also to determine whether particular properties are suitable. Having a good idea of what is suitable for you can make the search significantly easier, because it means you can rule out more properties!

Looking for accommodation: things to consider

My needs

Affordability

The property

ACTIVITY Click to view

Landlords or letting agents expect you to prove your identity, show that you are reliable and that you can afford the rent. They may ask for documents such as:

Recent bank statements or pay slips
Proof of benefit awards
Your employment contract or accounts if you work for yourself
Landlords and agents must also check your right to live in the UK. You'll be asked to show your passport or other documents as part of right to rent immigration check.

Documents you will need

Landlords may also look into your history to assess you as a potential tenant.

Guarantors

A guarantor agrees to pay rent or cover any damage if the tenant fails to pay.
You might need a guarantor if you; can't prove your income, are a first-time renter, fail a credit check, claim benefits.
People often ask parents or another family member, older friend to be their guarantor. The guarantor signs a guarantor agreement. It's a legally binding contract. The guarantor should read it carefully before they sign.

Credit and reference checks

Landlords and agents can ask for references from an employer or previous landlord.
They may carry out a credit check on you when you apply to rent a house or flat.
A credit reference agency checks if you've had problems paying bills in the past. Landlords and agents can’t carry out a credit check without your permission.

Click here to find out more about what a Credit Check is:

Background checks

There are various fees and costs that you may or may not have to pay before you move. Click on the buttons below to find out more.

What you cannot be charged for: Most fees for tenants are banned. You can't be asked to pay for things like:

Credit checks or references when agreeing a new tenancy.
Admin fees or a fee for renewing your tenancy.

The ban covers assured shorthold tenants, student lettings and lodgers living with a private landlord.

If you have been charged a banned fee then this can impact on if the landlord decides to ask you to leave.

For more info follow this link to the Shelter website.

Before you move

Costs and fees

During the tenancy

You may be entitled to additional support when moving. Get in contact with your local housing options team, social worker, or personal advisor for more information.

Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) which can be applied for to help with the costs associated with moving such as rent in advance. When moving they may also help with removal costs! For further information please visit Torbay Council website Housing Options (in some cases) can help secure accommodation. They may also help with costs. BE WARNED though that some costs may be repayable so be sure to check this. If you are a care experienced young person, speak to your Personal Advisor about what you may be entitled to.

Help with costs

There are lots of different ways to find privately rented accommodation. This can range from single occupancy flats and houses, to shared rooms and short-term lets.

Searching for accommodation: private rents

You can apply for Social Housing through Devon Home Choice. Devon Home Choice is a way of looking for council and housing association homes. Through Devon Home Choice you ‘bid’ on properties that interest you within Devon. These are assigned on a mixture of waiting list and order of priority. Play the video on the right and then select the button below to find out more about registering with Devon Home Choice

Searching for accommodation: Devon Home Choice

How to register with Devon Home Choice

After you have found a property, the next step is to view it. Going to view the property before you take it on is important for your own piece of mind, as it allows you to get a feel for the place, check its state of repair, and ask questions before you agree to rent it. After you have let the landlord or letting agency know that you are interested in a property, you can arrange a viewing with them. Viewings are typically 15 to 30 minutes long. Which? Guide to property viewings Click on this link for more information and a downloadable House Viewing checklist.

Viewing the property

For each of the following statements, decide whether you are confident or unsure / don't know. If you're not confident, then go back now to revisit that section using the back arrow. If you are confident in all areas, you can return to the menu by clicking on the cross in the top right.

Recap: Housing

Consider debt and its consequences.

Explore ways you can get financial support, such as benefits.

Reflect on our money habits.

Use a budget planner to help manage your finances.

Finance Module Aims

Simply put, finances involve anything to do with your money. Being able to manage your finances effectively is a vital skill to maintaining a home. Managing your finances involves cultivating skills and behaviours that encourage responsible spending.

What are 'finances'?

click to open Activity: Using a Budget Planner

In order to begin to manage your finances, you need to have a clear understanding of the financial situation that you are in. To do this, we can create a budget. This is a measure of all our incomes (the money coming in), and expenditure (the money going out). A positive number is a surplus. This is money that we are then able to spend on other things. A negative number is a debt. This means that we need to change our lifestyle in order to increase our income, or reduce our expenditure.

Understanding your budget: income and expenditure

Activity: take the money habit quiz Use the button below to be taken to the quiz: Name one way that you can improve your money habits in the next week.

Take the quiz

Quite often, the most effective way of improving our financial situation is by changing our money habits. Poor money habits can limit the effectiveness of any extra support. Money habits are behaviours that help us manage our finances successfully. This may require us to change our behaviour, which can be difficult!

Understanding my money habits

Check in with your local Job Centre

Benefits - Citizens Advice

Universal Credit: What Universal Credit is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Activity: What benefits can I claim? 1. Complete the MoneySavingExpert (2023) benefits eligibility calculator: 2. If eligible, follow their application guidance to apply:

Application

Eligibility calculator

There are various different kinds of financial support that you may be entitled to depending on your situation.

Means tested = your savings and income will impact the amount of money you are eligible to. Non-means tested = your savings and income won't impact the amount of money you are eligible to.

Financial Support

'Benefits' is a catch-all term for a variety of funds allocated to support people in need. Examples are:

Universal Credit (UC)
Working and Child tax credits
Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
Child Benefit
Disabled Living Allowance (DLA)
Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

It is always worth checking what benefits you are entitled to. Even if you are already on benefits, changes in circumstances may mean you can apply for more. Follow-up with more information from the sources listed below:

There are other ways you can save money everyday by spending time to look for offers and rewards. Below are some examples:

Cash Back and Voucher Code websites: these websites offer money back for buying from particular places, or discount codes.

TopCashBack: www.topcashback.co.uk
Voucher Codes: www.vouchercodes.co.uk

Price Comparison websites: particular helpful with bills or insurance, these websites compare prices across different providers to get the best deal for you. They can also get you additional rewards (like free cinema tickets)

Compare the market - www.comparethemarket.com
Money saving expert – www.moneysupermarket.com

Second Hand shops and swaps: second hand shops sell everything from clothes and furniture, to toys and books. These are checked so they are suitable for sale!

Search for ‘Charity Shops near me’
Gumtree Swap Shop: www.gumtree.com/for-sale/swap-shop

Other ways to save money

Debt and its consequences

When we cannot afford all of our outgoings, this means we are in debt. This can lead to serious consequences and impact us in various ways:

More debt: being in debt often means you will accrue more debt, in the form of interest or extortionate repayments, that means you will owe more money.

Beware of loan websites or buy now pay later schemes, as these often have extortionate repayment rates.

Health impact: debt can lead to poor mental and physical health, often caused by stress.

Risky behaviours: being in debt can put pressure on your to get more money, which can lead you into risky situations (i.e. criminal activity).

Beware of illegal money lenders. These are unregulated people who offer to lend you money, also known as ‘loan sharks’. They may resort to extreme measures if you cannot pay.

Bailiffs/eviction: if we cannot pay our debts, particularly rent, then we can find items being removed in order to pay for the debt, or face eviction from our accommodation.

£250 Bank Overdraft

£80 Water Bill

£120 Court Fines

£230 Loan Repayment

£90 Electricity

£450 Council Tax

£60 Mobile Contract

£350 Rent

£500 Credit Card

£90 Klarna Payments

Activity: Can you identify the priority bills. Below are ten bills, think about each bill in turn and then click on the five bills that you think are a priority to find out if you're right.

A simple way to work out whether a bill is a priority is to ask yourself this question: If I don’t pay this bill, could it result in a criminal conviction, losing my property, or being cut off from my utility suppliers? If your answer is yes, it is a priority bill.

Prioritising debt

Citizens Advice: You can get in touch with the Torbay Citizens Advice Bureau by calling 0808 2787859 or visiting them at 29 Palace Avenue, Paignton, TQ3 3EQ. You can also visit the national website www.citizensadvice.org.uk and search ‘debt’. National Debtline: Phone: 0808 808 4000. Website: www.nationaldebtline.org Payplan: Phone 0800 280 2816. Website: www.payplan.com StepChange Debt Charity: Phone: 0800 138 1111. Website: https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice.aspx Advice UK Website: www.adviceuk.org.uk Money Saving Expert: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

Useful contacts

Recap: Managing our Finances

Consider things you need to begin applying for posts.

Explore career support advisors.

Explore local education and training providers.

Understand ‘employability’, and the importance of education and training for employment.

Education, Employment and Training Module Aims

Today we live in an incredibly competitive job market. It is often not enough just to meet the job criteria – you also have to demonstrate additional skills, knowledge, and behaviours that the employer will need. ‘Employability’ means to think about all your skills, knowledge, and behaviours, in terms of how they may be useful to a potential employer. Fortunately, your everyday life is a great source of examples for these skills, knowledge, and behaviours!

What is 'employability'?

National Careers Service Skills Health Check

Activity: Skills Assessment Begin the National Careers Service Skills Health Check, completing the ‘Personal Skills’ section.

Education and training are often important stepping stones to gaining employment, because they are a clear, recognised way of demonstrating a variety of skills, knowledge, and behaviours. For example, completing a Level 3 College course will show you know much more than just the subject. It will also demonstrate your ability to meet deadlines, communicate ideas, and work as part of a team. In order to progress effectively, you need to understand what skills, knowledge, and behaviours you currently can demonstrate.

Education, training and employment

It is also good to think about our goals for employment. Sometimes we just need a job in order to gain money. Other times, we may be looking for a career – a job that matches our interests and skills, from which we can develop professionally. However, do not worry if you do not know what you want to do yet! Most people do not settle into a career until they are in their 30s and 40s. So, use this time to explore different kinds of jobs. Finding short-term work experience placements, or volunteering, can be an excellent way to boost your CV and figure out what you like!

Work experience and volunteering

Volunteering info

There are many places where you can sign up to free courses. These are mostly done online. However, some local places may also offer to run them in person. These courses are great at providing you with the basic skills expected in the workplace, and provide an easy way to demonstrate them on your CV. English and Mathematics qualifications: Functional Skills Most Further and Higher education providers, and many employers, now expect to see English and Mathematics GCSE equivalent qualifications on your CV. If you do not have these, then apply for a Functional Skills course to attain these.

Work experience and volunteering

Online providers

Local providers

Local education providers include:

South Devon College
University Centre South Devon
University of Plymouth (Plymouth)
University of Exeter (Exeter)

Funding: You may be eligible to funding to study at post-16. Check with the education provider to see if there are any scholarships or bursaries available. You may also be eligible for a student loan. You can find more information here:

Education past compulsory education is known as Further and Higher education.

Further education covers Level 3 qualifications, e.g A levels, T-Levels or BTec. These courses may require you to have certain GCSE or equivalent qualifications.

Higher education covers Level 4 qualifications and above, such as degree courses. These courses may require you to have certain Level 3 qualifications, or industry experience.

Further and Higher education providers

You can find apprenticeships by visiting the government apprenticeships website here: South Devon College also has apprenticeship information here:

Apprenticeships and vocational-based qualifications are paid jobs where the employee learns and gains valuable experiences. Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification. An apprenticeship includes:

paid employment with holiday leave
hands-on-experience in a sector/role of interest
at least 20% off-the-job training
formal assessment which leads to a nationally recognised qualification
If the apprentice is 16 to 24 and a care leaver, they will receive a £1,000 bursary payment to support them in their first year of the apprenticeship.
They are becoming increasingly popular, and the Government are expected to expand on Apprenticeship provision in the near future.

Apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQS)

Careers South West Careers South West offers a range of services to help guide you through your choices, provide information and offer support, from a quick chat to more intensive, long-lasting support. Get in touch here:

Getting back into education, training, or employment can be a daunting task. There is support on hand to guide you through the process. What Does A Jobcentre Plus Work Coach Do? Jobcentre Plus work coaches will provide individual support to people who are unemployed, looking for a job and claiming benefits. When you are claiming benefits, like Universal Credit, and you are able to work, you will be assigned a work coach. They’ll provide advice on job vacancies and training opportunities, and help you improve your job search skills. Essentially, the role of a Jobcentre Plus work coach is to provide personalised support to help you find work and stay in secure employment. Contact: Job Centre plus

Education, training, and careers support

Now go ahead and create your 'master CV'. This is a breakdown of everything you have ever done! Remember to include the following sections:

A three line personal statement that explains what kind of employee you are.
Education, training and qualifications
Work experience
Hobbies and lifestyle
General skills and competencies (i.e. good communicator)

CV Advice

Activity: Create a 'Master CV' Follow this link to get some tips for creating your CV.

Now that we have an overview of the different education, training, and employment opportunities available to us, we need to be ready to apply to these. The first step is to create a CV. This is a breakdown of all your skills, qualifications, and work experience. Even though most job applications are completed online, having a CV is a great base from which to complete these. For most answers, you will be able to copy and paste parts of your CV, such as previous job experience.

Getting started - CVs and Applications

Activity: Interview tips video A successful application is usually followed by an interview. This is a conversation between you and the employer to see a bit more about yourself. Watch this video for some quick tips and tricks.

Interviews

For each of the following statements, decide whether you are confident or unsure / don't know and then click submit. If you're not confident, then go back now to revisit that section using the back arrow. If you are confident in all areas, you can return to the main menu by clicking on the cross in the top right.

Recap: Education training and employment

Know how to contact emergency help.

Explore how we can look after our mental health.

Explore how we can look after our physical health.

Know what it means to be ‘healthy’.

Health and Wellbeing Module Aims

Click to open Activity: How am I healthy?

However, now being ‘healthy’ is understood holistically, encompassing out physical, mental, and social wellbeing. This is because how we feel physically or mentally, or how our other relationships are, can often impact each other.

Traditionally, being healthy has been associated with our physical health. This is the idea that we are not sick, or deficient in some way.

What does it mean to be 'healthy'?

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/the-eatwell-guide/

Improving our physical health not only prevents us from getting sick, but also can improve our mental health. There are many ways to improve our physical health:

Balanced diet: eating a balanced diet will improve our energy and prevent us from getting sick.
Exercise: a mix of cardiovascular and strength exercises will improve our fitness, keeping us mobile and improving our mental health.

Joining a gym may also help, although this can be expensive (approx. £20 per month).

Sleep: a lack of sleep has profound physical and mental effects, such as low mood and difficulties with memory.

Improving our physical health

A GP (General Practitioner) is a doctor that you see at a community clinic called a doctors surgery or medical centre. You visit a GP for non life threatening medical advice.

If you are feeling unwell or need extra support (including mental health support), your GP or dentist can help, or refer you on for further support. Be aware that currently waiting lists can be quite long, so do not wait to get in touch with your service. To use these services you must be registered. Click on the links below to find out how to register for each:

Signing up for a GP and dentist

Activity: Create your Mind Plan Use the button below to complete the ‘Your Mind Plan’ quiz:

Take the quiz

Awareness of the impact and importance of mental health has grown tremendously in recent years. Looking after our mental health is not something we should just do if we are struggling or stressed. It is something we should think about all the time invest in. Staying on top of our mental health is good for us now and helps us deal manage difficult times in the future. Over time, it can also reduce our risk of physical health problems.

Understanding my mental health

Write a letter to future you

Do something for yourself

Live a healthy life

Connect with others

Get good sleep

Be in the present

Reframe unhelpful thoughts

There are lots of things we can do to look after our mental health and wellbeing every day. Click on the shapes below for more information.

Activity: Add to your list of lifestyle changes Think back to the results of your Mind Plan. Add two more mental health changes that you could achieve in the next month.

Improving our mental health

Talkworks – NHS Talking Therapies Service Talkworks is a free mental health service for people aged 18+ across Devon (outside Plymouth which has it's own service called Plymouth Talking Therapies). They offer support for a wide range of difficulties including: low mood, depression, anxiety, worry, stress, phobias, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and sleep difficulties.

There is a wealth of mental health support services that are out there to help you in times of need. Typically, treatment involves talking to someone and trying to work through the issues raised. This is broadly known as therapy or counselling.

Mental Health Support

Make sure you memorise the two emergency response numbers: 999 and 111.

When to call 111 NHS 111 can help for non-life threatening emergencies, or you think you need medical help right now but you're not sure what to do. If you need to go to A&E, NHS 111 can book an arrival time so they know you are coming. An arrival time is not an appointment but helps to avoid overcrowding. Check your symptoms on 111 online, or call 111 to speak to someone if you need help for a child under 5.

When to call 999 You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency only. Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children. What happens when you call 999?

A call handler will ask you some questions. They will want to know things like: your location, what has happened, your contact number.
They may arrange a callback.
If it is a life-threatening emergency, paramedics or a community first responder will be sent to help.

Sometimes we find ourselves needing emergency help, such as after an accident.

Emergencies – should I call 999 or 111?

If you cannot call 999 for any reason then you should go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) at your nearest hospital, or your nearest Urgent Treatment Centre. To get to A&E safely you should:

Get someone to drive you.
Bring any medicines you take regularly with you, if you can.
Take a mobile phone in case you need to call 999 on the way.
When it's not a life-threatening emergency urgent treatment centres can help with many of the most common problems people go to A&E for.

Emergencies – what if I cannot call 999 or 111?

Recap: Health and Wellbeing

Understand rent, utilities, and bills.

Create a housework checklist.

Describe the three C’s of household management.

Cooking and Home Skills Module Aims

Activity: Visualisation Having your own household can be incredibly rewarding if it is kept in good condition. Sometimes, households can cause a lot of stress, especially when we don’t want to do this upkeep. One way to help motivate yourself is to imagine how you want your home to be.

Grab a piece of paper, and draw what you want your home to be like.
List all the everyday responsibilities and tasks that would be required to make your home that way.

Getting your own place is just the first step in living somewhere. You also have a responsibility to look after your own home. Home management is a broad term covering organising the tasks and responsibilities involved in running a household. This includes everything from keeping track of finances and bills to cleaning the house and preparing meals. The purpose of home management is to make life easier and less stressful for everyone involved.

What in the household requires managing?

Household management can be simplified into three categories, Cooking, Cleaning and Costs: 'the three Cs'. Click on the shapes below for more information on each 'C'.

Costs

Cleaning

Cooking

Household Management checklist: the three Cs

A balanced diet - portion control One of the biggest questions you may ask yourself when you start cooking is “how much should I cook?”. The British Nutrition Foundation (2024) recommends that men eat approximately 2000 calories, and women 1700 calories, per day. The video guide below is a practical guide to show you how you can visualise how much of each main food group: fruit and vegetables (50%), carbohydrates and grains (25%), and meats and dairy (25%), you need to add.

Maintaining a healthy balanced diet is vital to both your physical and mental health. Preparing and cooking meals from scratch has been shown to be significantly more healthy than ordering takeaway or ‘heating up’ ready made meals. This is because cooking your own meals fresh keeps you more aware of exactly what you are eating.

Cooking - a balanced diet

Click to open Activity: Create a meal plan and shopping list

Quite often, life gets in the way of cooking for ourselves. Being busy can lead us to waste money of takeaways, or rely on quick ready meals. In this situation our eating habits can run away from us. Creating a weekly meal plan can help us ensure that we are eating healthily and are not wasting food on shopping. Creating an accurate shopping list avoids wasting money both on food waste, and also impulse buying when shopping for food.

Cooking - meal planning and a shopping list

Hover over each of the shapes below for some tips for managing your food safely.

Another important aspect of cooking is looking after your food. Failing to prepare food correctly or cooking out of date food can lead you to be sick.

Cooking - food hygiene and waste

How to do your laundry

How to do your laundry To find out more about how to do your laundry, follow the steps outlined on the WikiHow – Using a Washing Machine or Dryer:

Just like keeping yourself presentable, ensuring that your clothes and clean and tidy will support your physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Having unkept clothes can have very real world impacts, particularly around employment. Where to do your laundry:

Using a washing machine and dryer: many people have their own washing machine and dryer to use at home. Sometimes these can be in a combination washer-dryer, that has both.
Hand washing and drying: you can wash your clothes in the sink or the bath using mild detergents. Drying these can be done by hanging them up on a drying rack.
Laundrette: you can visit a laundrette to do your washing. Often these machines are bigger, and you do not have to worry about them breaking and replacing them. Typically, a load of washing costs around £5, and a load of drying costs £4.

Cleaning - laundry

Click to open Activity: create a housework list

It is important that you keep your household clean and tidy. These can be broken down into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Some suggestions below are: Daily: Weekly: Monthly/quarterly:

Cleaning - cleaning and maintaining your household

Rent

Utilities

Other bills

Your biggest expenses are likely to be your rent and utilities. These are essential to keeping your household. The easiest way to manage your bills and utilities is to set up Standing Orders or Direct Debits for each. These are instructions to the bank to automatically pay someone on the same date each month. Setting these up for rent and each bill and utility means that you will not have to remember paying for these. You can set these up from your online banking, telephone banking, or in branch. Price Comparison websites As mentioned in session 2, it is always worth checking price comparison websites when your utility contracts come up for review. USwitch is a good example of one of these:

Costs - managing your rent and utilities

Click to open Activity: Using a Budget Planner

In session 2: Managing your finances, we covered how to create a budget. However, this may soon change as the realities of managing your own household are more realised. Getting a better sense of your food shopping and the cost of cleaning can require you to edit your budget. Factoring in changes in rent and bills is also important!

Costs - managing your budget

Recap: Cooking and Home Skills

Make a plan to get involved.

Explore various apportunities to get involved.

Understand what 'community involvement' is.

Community Involvement Module Aims

Community involvement is meaningful, participation in activities that support and improve your local community. Community involvement examples include engaging with, volunteering for or donating to local schools, neighbourhood associations, government, and/or nonprofit organisations. There is a lot going on in Torbay, and it can help you to get involved!

Celebration at Torbay Communities

What is 'community involvement'?

Click to open Activity: Make a plan!

Volunteering opportunities National Council for Volunteering Organisations: NHS Volunteeting: Reach:

Volunteering can be a great way to get involved with your local community. Not only does volunteering give back to the community, but it also improves your CV. Volunteering opportunities can range from working in local charity shops, visiting people, to supporting with local development initiatives.

Volunteering

Family Hubs are a new way of bringing together all the support a family may need and provides a welcoming space and a 'front door' for families from pregnancy through to young people turning 19 (or 25 if they experience SEND). On the Family Hub site, you can find out ‘What’s On’ in your local area:

Torbay Family Hubs

Checkpoint

Talk to us. We will teach you lifelong strategies, tools and techniques which will help you thrive in your personal and work life, skills you can use throughout your life to help you live your best life. If you are interested, please complete our referral form.

Torbay Young Horizons (National Citizenship Service)

Find out more information and how to apply at:

Checkpoint provides help to young people aged 8–18 across Devon, Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. They can:

speak to you on the phone, online or face to face.
can help you overcome the challenges that hold you back
achieve the things that matter to you.
give you skills and strategies to help you move forward.

You can find Checkpoint at: 7 Victoria Rd, Torquay TQ1 1HU

Checkpoint and Torbay Young Horizons

Timebanking Similar to volunteering, timebanking is a fascinating way of getting involved with your local community. Timebanking allows those who are already active in their neighbourhoods to give an hour and get one back. For every hour that you provide, someone in your community has been supported without money changing hands. You earn time credits that can then be spent for other people to support you.

Find out more about Devon Connect here:

Devon Connect is your community hub for Torbay. Here you can find out what's on in your community, access volunteer opportunities and exchange skills in the timebank.

Devon Connect

Girls Against Anxiety is here to support you with your worries and anxieties in a relaxed way. We are creating spaces where cis and trans women, girls, and non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of women. To feel open to naturally talk about what they are going through and get creative whilst doing so. Girls Against Anxiety have spaces in Paignton and Bristol.

Girls Against Anxiety

Recap: Community Involvement

Understand what my digital footprint is, and its impact.

Explain digital and social threats to me

Explain how the online world can impact me.

Online Safety Module Aims

The internet and all the different tools that it offers us has made our world bigger. We can connect and communicate with friends and family across the globe and explore huge digital libraries of information, entertainment, and games. We can access this online world using digital devices like computers, laptops, and mobile phones. Many of our home devices are now ‘smart’; connected to the online world. And, just like the real world, people can use these connections to gain access to us.

Click to open Activity: speed round!

Understanding our online world

Click to open Activity: Safety Checklist

Social threats

Cyber threats

There are many different threats to our safety when we are online, both from others and from our own behaviour. In the main, these threats allow others to use our identity, our finances, and damage our reputation. Broadly, these threats can be summarised into two areas:

Online safety includes skills, knowledge, and behaviours that help you avoid, and protect you from, threats on the internet. It also involves transacting safely online, and using the internet responsibly. Other terms for online safety are:

E-safety
Cybersafety
Internet safety

What threats are there on the internet?

Click on the three shapes below for more information on each.

Hacking

Phishing

Malware

Cyber threats can be characterised as malicious software and computer programmes that illegally gain access to, and use, your information. In 2023, more than 30% of all businesses and charities experienced a cyber attack (Gov 2023).

Cyber threats

Click on the three shapes below for more information on each.

Blackmail (sextortion)

Improper online conduct

Cyberbullying (trolling)

Social threats can be characterised as that conducted by people. If you participate in these, you can be both participating in illegal activity, and possibly suffer reputational damage.

Social threats

Remember: What goes online, stays online. So, whatever you post can potentially be used by hackers, fraudsters, and other people to threaten you. Personal photos can be used to identify where you live, and sharing stories can identify lifestyle patterns. Even if apps promise that a message is limited time (like Snapchat or Instagram), these are not deleted but are hidden – and can therefore be accessed via leaks. They may also be screenshotted by viewers.

Activity: Online Search One of the simplest tips for transacting online safely is the message: What goes online, stays online.

Search for yourself on Google. What comes up?
If someone else searched for you, what may they think of you?

Your digital footprint is the amount of ‘stuff’ about you on the internet. This may be logins to different websites, pictures, or posts of your views. Whilst mainly harmless, together criminals can use these to piece together your personal information and use this to their advantage.

Be careful about sharing personal information in posts and on social media.
Reduce the amount of websites, apps, and accounts you have.

What goes online, stays online: your Digital Footprint

Remember the message: What goes online, stays online.

Sexting is sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photographs, or videos, usually over mobile phones. Participating in sexting might seem like harmless fun at the time, but makes you significantly vulnerable in the future:

Someone may share photos on to friends.
Even with a trusted partner, their device may be hacked and the photos on it shared.
‘Revenge porn’, the act of sharing explicit images of ex-partners, has now been criminalised.

Typically, sexting can result in being blackmailed and extorted for money or favours.

What goes online, stays online: Sexting

Reputational damage Other than being illegal, this can also cause reputational damage. Damage to your reputation can lead to you losing your job, and employers are increasingly concerned about the public image of their employees. As such, you need to be very careful about the image you present online! Click on the image below to watch a short video

Remember the message: What goes online, stays online.

Just like in everyday life, racism, homophobia, and hate speech are not tolerated online. However, every interaction on social media can be perceived by others as supporting certain messages. So, whilst you may not say something directly, sharing, liking, or promoting certain content can still be conceived as racism, homophobia, or hate speech.

What goes online, stays online: Racism, homophobia and hate speech

Searching for ‘How to remove your data from the internet’ offers many helpful guides.

Useful Contacts: Victim Support (sexting): NSPCC (online safety): UK Safer Internet Centre:

You right to get your data deleted. The right to get your data deleted is also known as the 'right to erasure'. You can ask an organisation that holds data about you to delete that data and in some circumstances they must do so. This is called the 'right to be forgotten' and more information can be found about this on the Information Commissioner's Office website:

Useful contacts

Recap: Online Safety

Explain how to create healthy sexual relationships..

Reflect on what healthy and unhealthy relationships are to you.

Understand what a ‘healthy relationship’ is.

Healthy Relationships Module Aims

Click to open Activity: Building a positive mindset

How we treat ourselves affects how well we look after ourselves and our ability to build good resilience. There are lots of little things we can do that might improve self-esteem, including positive thinking.

Relationships, including the one you have with yourself, are vital to our mental wellbeing. People with healthy, positive and supportive relationships are more likely to be happier, healthier, and less vulnerable. Creating and maintaining good connections with others can also help to combat loneliness and improve mental health issues, such as stress and anxiety.

What is a 'healthy relationship'?

Active Listening Being an "active listener“ can help you strengthen your relationships. This means repeating back to the person what they’ve said to you, or asking for more details if it’s not clear. Active listening can help you to check you understand what someone is saying to you.

In session 3, we talked about our physical, mental, and social health. Building healthy relationships can improve our social health. We need to work to build good relationships and keep them that way. Key ingredients to healthy relationships include:

respecting and supporting others
having open and honest conversations
being able to speak openly about the way you are feeling
actively listening to other people

Ways to build Healthy Relationships with others

Life's challenges can affect our relationships as difficult emotions build up. This can lead us to take out these difficulties on those around us. Here are four things you can do to make sure you're taking care of yourself in your relationships.

Ways to build Healthy Relationships with others

Activity: Create a Relationship Circle A relationship circle aims to identify the people who are or have been in your life. It can help a person to maintain or re-establish relationships with important people.

Draw three circles with you in the centre, like the picture opposite.
Reflect on your relationships and complete the circle.
Add notes to the circle with the current status of your relationships. Are these all healthy?

My relationship circle

Age of consent

Sex can be a healthy part of relationships. However, there are some important factors to consider when entering sexual relationships. Consent Consent happens when all people involved in any kind of sexual activity agree to take party by choice. They also need to have the freedom and capacity to make that choice. We all have the right to not want sex or any other kind of sexual activity and we all have the right to change our minds at any time. Without consent, any kind of sexual activity is sexual violence.

Sexual Relationships and Consent

Torbay Domestic Abuse Services (TDAS) provides practical, non-judgemental support, advice and protection for all victims of domestic abuse. They offer a wide range of help to individuals and families in the Torbay area, including confidential advice, one-to-one and group support sessions, and safe refuge houses. You have the right to feel safe. For further information follow this link to the TDAS website:

Domestic abuse is an incident of pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men. Domestic abuse can include:

Coercive control (intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use of threat of physical or sexual violence)
Psychological and/or emotional abuse
Physical or sexual abuse
Financial or economic abuse
Harassment and stalking
Online or digital abuse

Domestic Abuse

Castle Circus Sexual Health Clinic, for Torbay:

Find a Sexual Health Clinic near you: NHS search:

It is vital that you keep a check on your sexual health as part of being in sexual relationships. This includes engaging in safe sex, using condoms, and getting regularly checked at a Sexual Health Clinic. Sexual Health Clinics (or GUM clinics) typically offer:

Information and advice on sexually transmitted infections
Free screening and treatment for all sexually transmitted infections
Advice and treatment for genital skin problems and sexual function problems
Confidential HIV tests, HIV treatment and management
Blood borne virus screening
All methods of contraception, including emergency contraception
Free condoms and trial packs of the female condom
Chlamydia screening testing kits
Well woman smears

Sexual Health

Recap: Healthy Relationships

Reflect on how we can protect ourselves from exploitation.

Explain some key types of exploitation, and their differences.

Understand what ‘exploitation’ means and some of the main signs of someone being exploited.

Exploitation Module Aims

What does 'exploitation' mean?

Exploitation involves taking advantage of others for personal gain, often at the expense of their rights, well-being, or dignity. Sometimes exploitation can involve being forced or coerced into doing something that you don’t want to do for someone else’s gain or gratification. Other times, someone can be made more susceptible to exploitation and being taken advantage of over time, using tactics such as peer pressure, which also be called grooming. Often, those who are exploited may find themselves in situations where they experience abuse, violence, and may be forced to take part in criminal activities.

How to spot the signs of exploitation.

Signs of exploitation can vary depending on the context, but here are some common indicators to look out for:

Friendships, relationships, or association with controlling individuals or groups.
Isolation from friends, family, or their wider social networks.
Unexplained injuries, ill health, or suspicion of assault.
Changes in emotional wellbeing, such as drastic shifts in mood, anxiety, depression, or emotional distress.
Changes in behaviour and lifestyle, especially significant alterations in behaviour or daily routines.
Unexplained changes in spending habits.
Increased use of the internet, especially chatrooms.

Terrorism and Violent Extremism

Slavery

Child Sexual Exploitation

Criminal Exploitation

Types of exploitation

There are many different types of exploitation, each of which have specific signs. Below are some significant forms of exploitation in the UK today, click on the shapes below for more information.

Activity: watch Emma's Story Click to watch the video below.

County Lines

A particularly common form of exploitation in Torbay and the South West is known as ‘County Lines'. County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children and young people to store drugs and money and/or transport them to suburban areas, market towns and coastal towns. It can happen in any part of the UK and is against the law and a form of child abuse. Phrases that young people may use to refer to county lines include: ‘running a line’, ‘going OT/out there’ ‘going country’ ‘going cunch’.

Signs of cuckooing

Activity: watch video Click to watch the BBC 'Cuckooing' report below.

Cuckooing

Cuckooing is a crime where a criminal, or criminal gangs, exploit vulnerable people. The most common form of cuckooing is where drug dealers take control of the victim’s home and use the premises to store, prepare or distribute drugs often as part of county lines networks. It is often used as part of County Lines networks. It is common for gangs to have access to several cuckooed addresses. They can move quickly between people’s homes for just a few hours, a couple of days or sometimes longer. This helps the gangs evade detection. By cuckooing, the criminals can operate from a discreet property, which is not associated with them and probably under the radar of the police; this is what makes it an attractive option for these gangs.

Knowing the types and signs of exploitation can help protect you from being exploited. However, there are also some specific actions you can take to protect yourself today. Click on the shapes below for more information

Activity: what actions can I take to protect myself?

Read the list of actions on the next slide.
For each, write down:

One way how you may be vulnerable to this.
One action that you can do to protect yourself.

Then, come up with an action plan to implement these.

How to protect yourself from exploitation

There are many services that you can use to report suspicions of exploitation, or find support for those who have been exploited. Some of these are listed below: NSPCC Anti-Slavery International Action Counter Terrorism CEOP

Exploitation: support and reporting services

Recap: Exploitation

Congratulations! you've completed the module. You can return at any time if you need a reminder of any of the information.

Activity: Checklist

Write down the list on a piece of paper.
Go and get each of these documents, or think about whether you have these already.
For each you do not have, create an action to get these documents.

Young Devon

Young Devon provide accommodation across supported lodgings and living with hosts families in Torbay.Some hosts have one young person, other might have up to three. Young people supported by Young Devon will have an allocated support worker from Young Devon plus their host.

Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel mentally and physically, so it's important to get enough. Get simple tips for improving how you sleep with this video.

Being active, enjoying the outdoors and having a healthy, balanced diet all impact how we feel. Also, binning bad habits like smoking, and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine can have a positive effect on our mood. For tips on how to live healthily, watch this video.

As we have discussed previously, unhealthy relationships can be a sign that someone is exerting pressure, control, or coercion over you. If someone is putting pressure on you to do things you don’t want to do, or offering rewards if you do so, then consider whether they are exploiting you for their own ends.

Be aware of unhealthy relationships.

Terrorism and Violent Extremism

Withdrawal from family and friends, or changing circle of friends, and increasingly being hostile towards others.
Being secretive, particularly around what they are doing on the internet.
Expressing the values of extremist or terrorist organisations (including political or religious based grievances).
Possession of extremist literature or other material, or trying to access extremist websites, or any material about weapons, explosives, or military training.

Activity: Checklist

Write down the list on a piece of paper.
Go and get each of these documents, or think about whether you have these already.
For each you do not have, create an action to get these documents.

Make a list with the headings Cyber threats and Social threats, like on this page.
As we go through the session, tick next to each if you are protecting yourself from these threats.
At the end of the session, look back and create an action plan to protect yourself from the threats you have not ticked.

An important distinction here is that you ‘can be homeless even if you have a roof over your head’. Housing can also be referred to as accommodation.

If we take time to be aware of ourselves and be in the present moment, noticing our own thoughts and feelings, and the world around us, we can gain a better perspective. Sometimes this is known as being more mindful. Mindfulness and meditation help you to be in the present. Try our mindful breathing video. It can help you feel more calm.

1. Have a go now at creating or editing a budget using the Budget Planner below: 2. Include the cost of your shopping list, and any other bills you may have missed. 3. Take some time to think about your current financial situation. What stands out? If you completed session 2, what has changed?

If you’re worried and need to talk to someone about exploitation then there are people who can help. It’s important to understand that the person you trust with your worries may need to tell others in order to help protect you or someone else.

Know the support services.

An important distinction here is that you ‘can be homeless even if you have a roof over your head’. Housing can also be referred to as accommodation.

Reach: https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/i-want-volunteer

NHS Volunteeting: https://volunteering.england.nhs.uk/volunteer

National Council for Volunteering Organisations: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/want-to-volunteer/

Volunteering opportunities

Download a Weekly Planner:

Complete the Weekly Planner, identifying where you may have some free time.

Choose at least one opportunity from the list, or find another, and add that to your weekly planner.

From enjoying your favourite hobby, learning something new or simply taking time to relax, it's important to do things that make you happy, like trying a new hobby or learning a new skill. Setting goals and learning new skills can be a great way to meet people, build your self-esteem and feel a sense of achievement. Watch our video for tips to get started.

Malware Malware (short for malicious software) are programs that install and run on your computer without your knowledge or consent. Malware is often downloaded from email attachments or websites that are not properly protected. Some websites are designed to trick you into downloading malware. Once installed, malware usually (but not always) causes harm to the computer or user by deleting data or gaining access to personal information. Signs that your computer has been infected are that it runs slowly, there is a lot of internet usage, or your accounts are hacked. It can be difficult to rid a computer of malware, and special programs called anti-virus software are required to clean malware off a computer. To protect yourself, you can:

Avoid going to unsafe websites.
Install anti-virus software on your digital devices.

Council tax – payable to your Local Authority, e.g. Torbay Council (occasionally payable direct to your landlord).
Internet/Broadband – often this can be bought as part of a TV package too (i.e. Sky)
Mobile phone contract
Contents insurance (must include accidental damage if renting) – protects you if your belongs get destroyed at home
Car tax and insurance
TV License – only needed if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer
Prescription and medication

Other bills

Torbay Foyer

Torbay Foyer is supported accommodation premises in Torquay, provided by LiveWest. They support young people aged 16 - 25 years old.

Torbay Young Parents' Service

Westward Housing's Young Parents' service supports vulnerable young parents aged 16 - 24 years old, either as a couple or the parent with parental responsibility solely. Accommodation can be provided from 24 weeks pregnant onwards in either Matlock House or Coverdale House.

Follow this button to take the NHS 'How are you?' quiz Note down three lifestyle changes that you could make in the next month to improve your health.

Hacking Hacking is a catch-all term for people gaining access to your information and accounts. Malware, phising, and social threats such as impersonation are ways hackers can get control of your accounts. To protect yourself, you can:

Avoid sharing, and limit the amount of, personal data online.
Use two-factor authentication security measures where possible.

If you’re involved in positive activities, hobbies or groups and clubs then this is a great way to develop a social network who will look out for you.

Get involved with something positive.

Slavery

They always appear scruffy, unwashed, and possible malnourished
They lack personal possessions and never seem to have any or much money, despite working long hours.
They are frequently dropped off or picked up at unsociable hours, yet don’t know their home or work address.
They have limited social contact or contact with their family, or don’t have possession of their passport, driving license or other identification documents.

More information is available on Shelter's website regarding holding deposits.

What is a holding deposit?A holding deposit reserves a property to a maximum of 1 week. ONLY pay if serious about taking the tenancy because you may not get your deposit back if you change your mind!

You usually have to pay some money before the tenancy starts, your main upfront costs when you privately rent are:

rent in advance.
a tenancy deposit (5 weeks rent).

Before you move

My needs

How much room do I need?
Is it in a suitable location? Think about commutes to work or for appointments.
What services are near by? This may be important if you are thinking of schools, or medical services.
What is the parking?
What extra amenities do I need? Think about whether you need access to super-fast internet, or other needs.

Spending quality time with friends or family, talking to someone about how we are feeling or finding ways to help other people can all help stop you from feeling lonely and improve your mental health and wellbeing. This can be online, by phone or seeing someone in person. Social contact is good for your mental health – even if you do not feel like engaging with other people when you are low or anxious. This video shows ways you can build more social connection into your life.

Child Sexual Exploitation

Going missing for periods of time or regularly returning home late.
Skipping school or being disruptive in class.
Possessing unexplained gifts or possessions that can’t be accounted for.
Showing signs of physical health problems, especially related to sex.

1) Have a go now at creating a budget using this online Budget Planner:

2) After you have completed this, write down on a piece of paper what your total is. Are you in the positive (surplus) or negative (debt)? 3) Take some time to think about your current financial situation. What stands out?

Blackmail (sextortion) Often conducted in combination with cyber threats, someone can use sensitive, embarrassing, or harmful content found on a person to blackmail them into giving money or doing favours for them. Sextortion is a particularly common form of blackmail, where illicit pictures and videos of a person are used to threaten them. To protect yourself, you can:

Not send illicit pictures and videos of yourself on digital platforms.
Be careful of what personal information is on the internet of you.
Do not engage with the blackmailer, instead report such incidents to the police.

When you're feeling good, think about what you would want to tell your future self if things get harder and you find you need more support. Reminding yourself of what's keeping you feeling positive right now can help you through those more difficult times in the future. Try some of the tips from Your Mind Plan and write down the ones that helped you, include ideas of how to get started and anything else that you have learnt about yourself.

Write a letter to future you.

Often our thoughts are automatic, and we do not notice them – but it can really help to tune into our thinking and check if it’s positive or negative. If you find that your thoughts are negative or unhelpful, try challenging these and thinking more positively. It can really help build confidence.

Get a piece of paper. Draw a picture of you in the middle (it doesn’t have to be good!).
Around this, write both positive and negative thoughts you have about yourself.
Think about how you may reframe these negative thoughts, using positive thoughts.

National Careers Service: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/find-a-course/

FutureLearn: https://www.futurelearn.com

Online training providers

Princes Trust: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/

South Devon College: https://www.southdevon.ac.uk/adult-learning/funded-courses

Young Devon: https://www.youngdevon.org/skills/independent-living-skills

Local training providers

You can find more information here

How to register with Devon Home Choice

The easiest way to register with Devon Home Choice is by completing the online application form: It should take about 30 minutes to complete the online form. Please ensure that you make a note of your unique login reference number, password and memorable date.Your online application must be completed within 28 days of initial registration. Any incomplete application forms will be cancelled after this time. For your application to be processed and accepted you need to:

Complete the application form fully, ensuring you answer all of the mandatory questions.
Provide any extra information requested on the application form or by the local housing team in the area of Devon where you would like to live once they have received your application.

If you are not able to apply online contact the local housing team in the area of Devon where you live.

Follow this button to take the NHS 'How are you?' quiz Note down three lifestyle changes that you could make in the next month to improve your health.

Once you are in a property there are some fees a landlord can charge you. These are:

Cost of replacement keys or fobs (if mentioned in your tenancy agreement).
Late rent payment (only after 14 DAYS and subject to a certain amount and if mentioned in your tenancy agreement).
If you want to end your tenancy early (there are rules regarding this!).
Changing or transferring your tenancy – max of £50.

During the tenancy

1) Have a go now at creating a budget using this online Budget Planner:

Rent

Rent is usually paid to your landlord. It is important to pay your rent in full and on time each month. If not, you can find yourself in arrears, and possibly evicted. This is likely to be your most important expensive bill each month.

Signs of cuckooing include:

Suspicious items in the property, such as weighing scales, multiple phones, sim cards or drug paraphernalia.
Unexplained presence of cash, clothes and other items of value.
Conversely, the property may appear almost sparse of valuable possessions inside and begin to go into a state of disrepair both inside and out.
Doors and windows which have been blocked off.
New faces appearing at the property and the property regularly changing residents, or the presence of unknown people in the property, who may act as friends of the inhabitant; their accents may indicate that they are not local and may have travelled to traffic drugs.

The property

How much is the deposit?
Are there any other charges/expenses?
Is the property furnished or unfurnished?
What are the other tenants like?
Does it allow pets? Many properties do not allow pets, so this may limit your search.

Create a week-long timetable, or open a diarising app (such as an email calendar).
Assign housework tasks to each of those days.
Add in additional housework tasks depending on your situation. For example, if you have pets, there may be more tasks.

Planning your time effectively means that you can assign tasks to the days that suit you, alongside your other activities.

If something feels wrong then trust your instincts. If you’re worried about any sort of situation then speak to a friend, family member, or support service about your concerns.

Don’t be tricked, forced, or bullied into doing something you don’t want to do.

Phishing You might receive emails from someone pretending to be someone you know. The emails are designed to trick you into giving away personal information, such as your usernames and passwords. For example, an email might appear to be sent from your bank. It might say that a password needs resetting, and might provide a link to reset it. The link would lead to a fake website which looks exactly like the real site. This site will capture your details, allowing people to access to your accounts. Phishing emails are often quite easy to spot. Although at first glance they may look very much like a genuine email from a company or website, on closer examination they often contain spelling or grammatical errors. In addition, many organisations now will not ask for your password by email. To protect yourself, you can:

Carefully read emails before opening them.
Contact organisations separately to check to see if they have contacted you.
Report phising emails using your Mailbox’s reporting tool.

Sometimes we have to be wary of other people’s intentions to look after ourselves. Those looking to exploit may be trying to gather information on you to see how they can exert pressure. Always ask yourself what are other people’s motivations to you. Are they saying or doing something because they are genuine or is it for another reason? Talk to someone you trust, such as friends or family, if you’re worried about someone’s intentions towards you or your friends.

Consider people’s intentions.

Age of consent

The age of consent in England and Wales is 16. This is the age when young people of any sex, gender or sexual orientation can legally consent to taking part in sexual activity. This means that sexual activity between two or more people is always unlawful if at least one of the people is under 16. It does not matter if those under 16 have given their consent and those involved are the same age or very close in age.

The way we think, feel and behave are linked. Sometimes we develop patterns of thoughts or behaviours that are unhelpful so recognising them, and taking steps to think about things differently, can improve your mental health and wellbeing. Check out our short video to get some practical tips on how you can challenge your thoughts and start to break unhelpful cycles.

Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel mentally and physically, so it's important to get enough. Get simple tips for improving how you sleep with our video.

Criminal Exploitation

Joining a gang or being involved in criminal activities.
Changes in behaviour, such as secrecy or withdrawal.
Unexplained money or possessions.
Associating with individuals associated criminal behaviour.

1. Download Nutrition.org.uk’s 7 Day Meal Plan template: 2. Use Sainsbury’s recipe search to find meals and populate your weekly meal plan: 3. Be sure to add items to the shopping list (including prices!) underneath the Meal Plan. 4. Total up your weekly food shop.

Utilities cover the bills for the essential services in your household, like water and electricity. Water –South West Water. Some properties are on a meter (you pay for what you use) or others are a set fee. Gas and Electric – you can chose your supplier but may have to set up initially with the one supplying your new home. This may also be on a meter. Included – Bills and utilities are part of some tenancy agreements, such as for a shared property. Landlords cannot overcharge you for using utilities, so it is helpful to keep records of what utilities you have used.

Utilities

Improper online conduct Remember, you can be held accountable for what you say and do online. Posting inappropriate or harmful content on social media website is illegal and can face real world legal consequences. This can include ‘liking’ or sharing harmful content. To protect yourself, you can:

Before you post anything, think about the impact of what you post.
Do not post or use social media when you are upset, angry, or want to get back at someone.

Now it is time to think about our digital connections. 1. Click on this 1 minute timer 2. Write down all the ways that we are connected to the internet.

Cyberbullying (trolling) It is tempting to forget that the internet is a social space like real life. Some people can behave badly in online situations where they think that no-one can identify them, by posting harmful content or making hurtful remarks. This is particularly prevalent on social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Trolling is a term used to describe this kind of behaviour. Often, trolls create fake accounts to post harmful content. .To protect yourself, you can:

Remain aware that the internet is a social space like real life.
Remember that what is said on the internet can cause harm, making it an offence.

Affordability

What are your weekly/monthly incomings and outgoings? Anything left over is your surplus.
How much can you afford in rent? Typically, an affordable property is where your annual incomings are at least 30 times higher than the monthly rent (for £800 per month, you’d need a £24,000 per year salary).
How much are bills per month? These may be fixed when looking at the tenancy, or included in the price.
How much are other expenditures per month? Don’t forget to factor in food, travel, and other expenses. You can find average amounts by searching the Internet.

Amber

Amber support young people aged 18 to 30 years old. They provide residential supported living and have three projects, one of which is Ashley Court in Devon.

An important distinction here is that you ‘can be homeless even if you have a roof over your head’. Housing can also be referred to as accommodation.

Full Independent Living Skills course

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Transcript

Independent Living Skills

Checkpoint

Torbay Young Horizons (National Citizenship Service)

Young Devon

Be aware of unhealthy relationships.

Terrorism and Violent Extremism

Know the support services.

Volunteering opportunities

Other bills

Torbay Foyer

Torbay Young Parents' Service

Get involved with something positive.

Slavery

Before you move

My needs

Child Sexual Exploitation

Write a letter to future you.

Write a letter to future you.

Online training providers

Local training providers

How to register with Devon Home Choice

During the tenancy

Rent

The property

Don’t be tricked, forced, or bullied into doing something you don’t want to do.

Consider people’s intentions.

Age of consent

Criminal Exploitation

Utilities

Affordability

Amber