Practical support to overcome poverty and unemployment

S4ALL supports people experiencing unemployment, financial hardship, digital exclusion and social isolation in Stainforth and the surrounding DN7 area.

We provide practical, accessible support from a trusted community setting. Whether someone needs help finding work, gaining a qualification, accessing essential online services or overcoming an immediate financial barrier, our team works with them to identify the right next step.

 

Employment and Skills Support

Help 2 Work Job Club

Our experienced staff provide free, one-to-one support with job searching, CVs, applications, interview preparation and identifying suitable training.

We help people who may have been out of work for a long time, lack confidence or face practical barriers that mainstream services cannot always address. Our aim is to help each person progress towards secure, sustainable employment.

 

Barrier Buster Support

A relatively small cost can prevent someone from accepting a job or entering a new industry. Our Barrier Buster scheme helps unemployed people obtain essential items and qualifications such as:

• CSCS cards and construction training

• SIA licences

• Forklift-truck training

• Personal protective equipment

• Interview clothing

• Transport to interviews, training or a new workplace

Support is based on individual need and is designed to remove a specific barrier preventing someone from starting work.

 

Business Start-up Support

We help unemployed people with limited savings explore self-employment and turn viable ideas into small businesses.

Support can include business planning, choosing a legal structure, understanding tax responsibilities, setting up financial records and purchasing essential start-up equipment. This creates an alternative route out of unemployment for people whose circumstances or skills may make conventional employment more difficult.

 

Digital Inclusion

Free Digital-Skills Training

Our digital-skills support helps people build the confidence and ability to use computers, email and the internet safely.

We particularly support unemployed people, older residents and people who have had limited access to technology. These skills are increasingly essential for finding work, managing Universal Credit and accessing healthcare, housing and other public services.

 

Free Internet and Computer Access

People can use our computers, internet and Wi-Fi without charge. Volunteers are available to help with tasks including:

• Creating and using email

• Completing online forms

• Searching and applying for jobs

• Accessing online services

• Printing, photocopying and scanning

• Using computers and mobile devices

This service helps ensure that a lack of equipment, internet access or digital confidence does not leave someone excluded.

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Poverty Relief and Practical Help

 

Stainforth Support Hub
We provide practical help with benefit forms, crisis payment applications, online forms, accessing services and advocacy, together with referral to specialist organisations where appropriate.

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Charity Shop

Our charity shop provides affordable clothing, household items, books and other essentials for people living on limited incomes.

Income raised through the shop is reinvested into charitable activities, including employment support, Barrier Buster assistance, family opportunities and help for people experiencing hardship.

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Food, Warmth and Emergency Support

We provide targeted practical assistance to elderly, vulnerable and low-income residents. Depending on available funding, this can include food hampers, warm-space provision, winter items and other help during periods of particular hardship.

We also connect people with appropriate local services when they require specialist support.

 

Library and Learning

S4ALL operates Stainforth Community Library, the first community-run library in Doncaster.

Residents can borrow from a wide selection of books, large-print books, audiobooks and other resources. The library also provides a welcoming point of contact where people can access information, computers, learning opportunities and wider S4ALL support.

For many residents, the library is the first step towards asking for help, developing skills or reconnecting with their community.

 

Support for Children and Families

Poverty can prevent children from enjoying educational, cultural and social opportunities that other families may take for granted. Our activities are designed to reduce that inequality and ease pressure on low-income households.

 

Educational Family Trips

We organise free or heavily subsidised visits to museums, heritage attractions and educational venues. These trips give local children opportunities to learn, explore new places and build aspirations without family income becoming a barrier.

 

Kids’ Club and Community Activities

Our free Saturday Kids’ Club provides games, crafts, social activities and breakfast in a safe and welcoming environment.

We also organise seasonal activities, including Easter and Christmas support, so children from families experiencing hardship can participate without stigma or exclusion.

 

Community Connection and Wellbeing

Poverty and unemployment are closely linked with isolation, low confidence and poor wellbeing. Our social, learning and volunteering opportunities help residents develop relationships, rebuild confidence and become more active within their community.

Activities include language learning, arts and crafts, sewing, knitting, volunteering and other accessible community groups.

For some participants, joining a group or volunteering is an important first step towards further learning, training or employment.

 

Stainforth Museum and Local Heritage

The Annie Rodgers Stainforth Museum is named in memory of a much-loved and respected member of our community. Annie was a treasured volunteer who supported our charity shop for many years and helped collect and curate the museum’s artefacts. The museum honours her contribution to S4ALL and her dedication to preserving Stainforth’s history.

The museum celebrates the town’s heritage, including its mining past. Artefacts donated by local residents help connect generations and preserve the stories, experiences and identity of our community.

 

Across all our services, our purpose is the same: to remove barriers, relieve hardship and give local people a fairer opportunity to improve their circumstances.