The ‘Spaces of opportunity’ theme is about how people move through a service - quite literally, in the case of entrance ways, rooms and corridors; and more metaphorically, in the networks, pathways and 'service eco-systems' that we create, to come to any service by, and to move on to.
*NB: this page is an excerpt from 'The Book of PIE', one of the 'Other writings' : HERE
Networks and surroundings
The actual buildings that service providers own - or rent – and manage are not the only physical spaces we can use. Thinking more laterally on how we use the availables spaces might include a spontaneous decision by a worker, or even a team philosophy or policy – written or un-written - on using local social spaces, such as a café or a park; or deciding to use ordinary local venues, such as a coffee bar, for meeting with clients.
In the case of outreach work, there may be no actual 'core' building to the service at all. But still workers must take great care over how they enter another person’s space; and how they can use that space. One perceptive blogger writes about her use of her car, as a space where relationships change. There is a whole skillset here to explore (HERE).
Comparable in flexibility is something more like the “Key Ring’ model, where there may be no central building that people have lived in and moved on from, as a core-and-cluster creates. But still there is a conscious effort here to develop, in ordinary, dispersed housing, a supportive community network of people who have shared some other bonding experience, both to avert the risk of isolation, and to provide group support and a new kind of belonging.
NB: It is noticeable that many services have responded to this need for on-going relationship by developing a different project to move on to, as part of their service, such as a range of 'move on' housing, with lesser levels of support. In some cases, it may be something quite different, such as an employment or training project. The advantage of such a project, integrated within one agency, can be that it keeps the link with peers, the others in the same boat, whilst making the relationship, and the common bond, now one of moving on. There seems to be some real value in the sense of continuity that comes from moving on, whilst remaining within the same agency. Where this is the case, it is better to explore this under the 'built environment' element.
