Welcome to The New Leaf Centre

Reiki
A Japanese technique to provide relief from stress and other life problems with a fully qualified Reiki Therapist.

Counselling
Support to deal with any issues that tenants bring along. Referral to specialist
services if necessary. CTH provide a qualified counsellor for one half day/week.

Careers Guidance/Lifecoaching
Support to formulate strategies to access training and employment over the short and longer term. DipCG trained practitioners.

Support into volunteering
An invaluable way to learn new skills, work in a team and get an up to date
reference – in partnership with Volunteers Greenwich.

Aims of The Centre

The centre is open to all tenants and leaseholders in the CTH community, and is free of charge at the point of entry. Approximately 60% or more of our tenants are claiming benefits at any one point in time and may have a range of barriers to enter the workplace. These may include:

  • Lack of employment history
  • Out of date or absence of skills
  • Mild, moderate or severe mental health issues
  • Lack of other employability skills such as appropriate business communication, punctuality, teamworking etc….
  • Need for esol
  • ICT skills
  • Lack of current references
  • Other disability issues
  • Lack of confidence and/or self esteem
  • Pressures of single parenting
  • Poverty
  • Social alienation

Such difficulties are compounded by what is currently a slow economy, and all indicators are that this will remain the case for a significant period of time.

A national skills audit published in 2010 predicted a fall in demand for some areas of entry level employment, against the backdrop of a predicted take up of 50% of available jobs by graduates, often from outside of London. Increased competition for existing opportunities is coming from unemployed graduates or those with high skill levels who have been made redundant from all areas, but especially the public sector.

Even with DWP initiatives, such as the Work Programme, nationally branded careers advice models such as Next Step (adults) and Connexions (13-19 yrs), we need to look at how we can best support our tenants and leaseholders to make positive changes in their lives.