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housing

are encouraged to experience three
separate work placements with support
from their dedicated work coach.
The programme has deliberately not
sought out placements in advance with
employers but, instead, tries to match the
dreams and ideas of each trainee with work
experience that meets their aspirations.
Julia Baird, John Lennon’s sister and
honorary president of the Strawberry Field
project, says: “I’ve been really impressed by
the Salvation Army’s vision and now there
is huge potential to make a real change in
the lives of young people who will grow in
the precious soil of Strawberry Field.”
Salvation Army territorial commander,
Commissioner Anthony Cotterill, says:
“John Lennon found sanctuary here as a The visitor centre, where the cafe includes a ‘talking table’ where people can make new friends
child and that’s exactly what we want to
offer by opening the Strawberry Field graduation ceremony was led by the Steps about life in the children’s home and about
gates for good. to Work team and mission director Major Salvation Army band, the Joystrings, who
“We know thousands of Beatles fans Kathy Versfeld. Each graduate received a reached number 32 in the UK charts.
already visit the site and we saw an certificate from Baird, and more than 50 The Imagine More Cafe serves locally
opportunity to channel that interest into a guests could find out how each trainee sourced food. It has a ‘talking table’,
responsible tourist attraction. has been transformed by the programme. where visitors can chat to a team member,
“The Salvation Army ran a children’s providing a place to socialise. There is also
home at Strawberry Field from 1936 until What to see meeting space for community charities.
2005, helping some of Liverpool’s most In 2019, the red gates opened to the public Toilets are fully accessible, meeting
vulnerable children. Today, we are using for the first time; the centre is open every Changing Places standards.
Strawberry Field to give Liverpool’s young day. Attractions include a virtual Mellotron, Visitors can also buy a coffee for
people a step onto the employment ladder. where visitors can recreate the opening of someone in need to have later, as well as
“I like to think that John Lennon would Strawberry Fields Forever, and an Strawberry Field memorabilia and items
be pleased that his special association with interactive display – Strawberry Fields from local suppliers in the shop.
Strawberry Field is being used in this way.” Nothing is Real – where visitors can ● ●www.strawberryfieldliverpool.com/
After 15 months on the Steps to Work explore stories with help from characters
programme at Strawberry Field, the first including Elvis Presley, as well as Lennon’s Peter Rainford is a volunteer for the
group graduated in January 2020. The school friend Mike Hill. People can find out Steps to Work programme

‘I learnt more than I ever did in school’

At the heart of Strawberry Field is the meant but not what to expect – but I
Steps to Work programme. Rumbi can honestly say I love it. I’ve learnt
Musango is a trainee. She moved to things like travelling, how to do things
England from Zimbabwe aged five and by myself and be more confident
could not understand let alone speak and independent.
any English. She tells her story I can sometimes get confused,
especially with reading, which can
I grew up in a special educational needs make me uncomfortable. I always knew
primary school in Liverpool. It was a how to work with money, read a book
good experience and I had friends but I and write but I’m much better now
did struggle and had a support teacher through the support the programme has rather than just one, has taught me a lot
helping me with my English and maths. given me. and given me variety.
I first found out about the Steps to I told the work coaches of my interest The Salvation Army is a good charity
Work programme at college; my tutor in working with children, from babies which really helps the local community.
thought it would help build on my skills and toddlers through to teenagers, but I’m so glad they picked me to be on the
didn’t know where to start. They helped
programme. They’ve helped my life by
and confidence and I felt it would be
Strawberry Field/Salvation Army different from school and has helped me the best place for me to undertake a ever learnt in school. I now feel I have
picking me and taught me more than I
good to support me with my learning. It’s me, guided me and looked around for
work placement.
learn about real life things like realising
the skills to get a job and what I need to
I’ve worked as a nursery assistant in a
do now to be successful. I’m really
what skills you need for interviews.
When the programme started, I was
couple of nurseries now. Gaining
happy I got involved – thank you,
Salvation Army.
nervous. I knew what it all entailed and
experience in various organisations,
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 33 No 3 | Spring 2020 19