Life Skills
Developing Independence, Confidence and Everyday Skills
At Orchard House, we believe that every young person has the potential to live independently and confidently — they just need the right support, guidance and opportunities to get there. Our Life Skills programme is designed to help young people build the essential skills they’ll need for adulthood, from managing money and cooking meals to understanding responsibilities and looking after their wellbeing.
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Led by our dedicated Life Skills Lead, the program is practical, hands-on and built around each young person’s own goals and progress. It’s not about ticking boxes — it’s about learning through experience, growing in confidence, and celebrating progress at every step.
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Watch the video to hear more about how our Life Skills sessions work in practice, and how we help young people prepare for the next stage of their journey.
Life Skills at Orchard House
At Orchard House, we believe that every young person deserves the tools, confidence, and opportunities to thrive in adulthood. Our Life Skills programme is at the heart of how we support young people to make that transition — from learning to manage their daily routines to developing the confidence to take ownership of their future.
Our Approach
Life Skills support is not a standalone activity — it’s woven into everyday living. Whether a young person is learning to budget, cook, maintain their home environment, or manage appointments, our staff are there to guide, encourage, and celebrate progress.
Each young person works through an individual Life Skills plan that focuses on their current abilities, their goals, and the steps needed to get there. We recognise that independence looks different for everyone, so we tailor our support to each person’s pace and potential.
Core Life Skills We Support
Our Life Skills sessions and ongoing support cover a wide range of areas, including:
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Practical Living: Cooking, cleaning, laundry, personal hygiene, and maintaining a safe and healthy home environment.
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Money Management: Budgeting, saving, understanding bills, managing benefits or wages, and planning for future expenses.
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Education and Employment: Support with CVs, job applications, interviews, timekeeping, and workplace expectations.
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Health and Well-being: Understanding nutrition, registering with health professionals, managing medication, and recognising when to seek help.
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Travel and Community Awareness: Using public transport safely, developing local knowledge, and building confidence in the community.
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Personal Responsibility: Learning about boundaries, respect, personal safety, and positive relationships.
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Digital Life Skills: Safe use of technology, managing online communication, and digital independence skills such as online banking or job applications.
Progress and Independence
We use ongoing assessment and feedback tools to help young people reflect on their progress. This enables staff to adapt support where needed and ensures achievements are recognised — whether it’s cooking a first meal from scratch, managing a weekly budget, or successfully attending an interview.
Our goal is for every young person to leave Orchard House feeling capable, confident, and ready for the next chapter of adulthood.
Promoting Well-being
Alongside Life Skills, we place a strong emphasis on well-being. We understand that practical skills mean little without emotional stability and self-belief. Our Life Skills and support teams work together to promote positive routines, build resilience, and encourage healthy coping strategies.
Through regular one-to-one sessions, group activities, and access to well-being workshops, we help young people develop the emotional resilience to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.
At Orchard House, learning life skills isn’t just about independence — it’s about feeling good, being capable, and believing in yourself.