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"I enjoy being with family and friends, and I guess most of my free time is spent with them. I play guitar and mandolin, and I enjoy fly-fishing, hill-walking, cycling, reading, and there’s usually some unfinished project going on somewhere - so I’m rarely bored!" |
Archie MacArthur
Housing Support Worker
My job consists of helping young people to gain confidence in the skills needed to keep a tenancy going – things like budgeting and bills, responding to letters, keeping things cool with neighbours, finding ways through the Benefits maze and other difficulties that come up.
I get a real buzz from this work, because in dealing with people’s very different needs and situations, I’m constantly learning and listening, juggling with so much information and tools, and trying to find ways to help them resolve the tensions they’re dealing with. I appreciate the Calman team, and the variety of what’s available in life experience and skills in each other, and it feels like we’re making a significant difference to people’s lives by being here.
In the very different jobs I’ve done over the past 25 years, with older folk and young folk, there’s been a common theme of ‘maximising independence’ – helping people make the most of what they have, and building confidence on that. I’ve always enjoyed watching folk come to realise what they’re able to achieve, and it’s often by not doing something for someone, and letting them try it out themselves (mistakes and all), that people come to learn and enjoy something new. That’s true in this job, too – though sometimes I have to demonstrate that this works, to get people started!
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"I like chilling out with good friends and family. Enjoy arty stuff, have always got some sort of craft project on the go, and my favourite all time saying is “I could make that” which I’m sure drives some folk nuts! Heads always buzzing with ideas, but don’t seem to have all the hours that I need in one day to do them!" |
Karen Nicholson
Housing Support Worker
I help support 16 – 25 year olds to live independently, and sustain their tenancies.
What I like most about working at Calman is that every day is different, and the support is based on individual needs.
I worked for the council for 10 years, dealing with housing and housing benefits, then moved onto support work, working with people who had or were recovering from mental ill health, offering them training and guidance into employability or training opportunities, and then onto working with offenders, ex offenders and people at risk of offending and helping them taking steps into employability or training. All my previous employment has given me a wide varied range of experience, which I have found useful in my current role within Calman.
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"I like walking with my collies, playing badminton and dancing. I’ve started learning Spanish with my daughter ----for those lovely warm Spanish holidays?" |
Helen Robertson
Housing Support Worker
As a Housing Support Worker I help people gain the confidence to manage their own tenancies.
What I like most about my job is the variety of what I do. No two days are ever the same. I love meeting people and facing new challenges. I think Calman is a great place to work. There is always something happening and colleagues are always there for each other.
I have worked with young people for many years through my job as a teacher. I’m now able to use those skills to help my clients develop their abilities to be confident and more independent.
