About The Skillnet Group

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The Skillnet Group is a not-for-profit organisation working with people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

The Skillnet Group was set up following the success of the original company, Skillnet Swale, which was established in 2001.

The Skillnet Group is the umbrella organisation of all other Skillnet services and projects.

We are soon to become a Community Interest Company. We offer a wide range of support and projects.

The vision of the Skillnet Group is to support people to speak up, make choices and be heard.

People with learning difficulties and people without learning difficulties work together equally.

We support people to develop opportunities and become more independent in all aspects of life, including; learning, work, housing, health, money, transport, leisure and relationships.

Work We Are Involved In

Person-Centred Planning facilitation and Individual Support, including working with people with high support needs and people living with older family carers.
Self-Directed Support – training, awareness-raising and support – including our own Direct Payments Team.
Speaking Up Groups - Self-Advocacy Groups and support about rights, choice and independence.
Independent Living Skills and Support.
An Independent Living Scheme and Support - in partnership with Casa Support (part of the Amicus Horizon group).
Group learning – Skillnet Group courses (including courses developed by people with a learning difficulty that will be accredited with the Open College Network) and ASDAN (in partnership with Canterbury and Thanet Colleges).
Basic Skills, Key Skills and Skills for Work.
Paid Work Opportunities for people with a learning difficulty within the Skillnet Group - Research, Consultancy, Training, Support, Music and Arts and Publicity.
Support to find and move into Work – in partnership with Kent Supported Employment.
Eco-Shed – a Recycling Project and emerging Social Firm – in partnership with the Amicus Horizon Group.
Music and Arts Project – an emerging social firm and travelling company focusing on DJing, events, performing arts and live performances.
Oasis (Social) Club and Speaking Up Group in Canterbury.
Consultancy, Research and Training – including a secondment to the Valuing People Support Team (to develop a Jobs Action Network for the South East Region), taking the lead for developing Valuing People Focus Groups in Kent, a joint project with Keyring to develop training about learning disability for prison officers, research about people that have used acute mental health services.
We are currently supporting Voice 4 Kent to become established as the new independent self-advocacy organisation for Kent.

We are funded by various District Partnership Groups (for People with a Learning Disability) across Kent, Kent County Council Adult Social Services, the Learning and Skills Council, Supporting People, the Department of Health, Kent and Medway Partnership Boards (for People with a Learning Disability) , the Care Services Improvement Partnership, Dover District Council, Swale Borough Council, Godington Trust, Fresh Visions (part of the Amicus Horizon Group) as well as other independent organisations and individuals.