Building social confidence through the People Hub

When Caitlin first joined the People Hub Programme through Specialist Partner Pluss, she faced significant challenges with her mental health, including social anxiety and a lack of confidence.

Attending activities and appointments independently was a struggle, and she often needed support to overcome fears and feelings of isolation. These barriers made it difficult for Caitlin to fully engage in day-to-day activities, holding her back from progressing.

Caitlin learned about the People Hub through Sarah, her Jobcentre coach, and throughout her time in the programme she took part in a range of partnership activities, including training sessions focused on interview skills and travel training to plan routes from Truro to Plymouth. A key achievement was her growing confidence in using public transport independently.

This support highlights the programme’s commitment to equality and diversity, ensuring individuals from all backgrounds have access to opportunities, and sustainability, by equipping Caitlin with essential life skills for the long term.

The interventions and support Caitlin received through the People Hub led to significant improvements in her mental health and overall wellbeing. Previously, she found it difficult to attend appointments alone, struggled with social exclusion and experienced intense anxiety in public spaces. She avoided eye contact and steered clear of busy areas, making everyday tasks like attending appointments overwhelming.

Through targeted support, Caitlin has made incredible strides. She began her volunteering role at the end of January, a major milestone in her journey towards independence. Not only has her confidence grown, but so have her social skills—Caitlin is now comfortable making eye contact, attending interviews alone and engaging more easily in social situations. She no longer feels isolated or anxious in public spaces, and her sense of social inclusion has strengthened considerably.

Looking to the future, Caitlin is focused on achieving her goal of securing paid employment in retail. She is determined and positive about her path ahead, knowing that the skills she has developed through the People Hub will help her succeed.

When asked how the People Hub and Pluss helped her, Caitlin said: “The People Hub and Kayleigh, my Community Coach, have always been very proactive and supportive. They have done a lot of job searching for me within my local area, and to help research and capture employers out there that are supportive of neurodivergent people like me. They have helped me to gain confidence and come out of my shell in social environments and this has had a massive impact on helping me improve my mental health. I am due to start a volunteering role, and I would never have been able to do this without Kayleigh and the People Hub boosting my confidence and supporting me every step of the way.”