My Life Works

Our base at Harlor House in Standish is open from 9am to 5pm, five days a week, throughout the year. Our rolling programme of sessions led by experienced tutors are work-based opportunities and micro-enterprises which take place both at Harlor House and in the community under supervision and with support. 

No previous experience or ability is necessary; you can try whatever you think suits you, or try something completely new! The aim is that you learn new skills, increase your confidence and transfer those skills into your community through work roles, volunteering or even your own enterprises. 

Our programme includes… 

• Bicycle maintenance and repair 
• Hospitality roles 
• Estate and Facilities Management and maintenance 
• Uniform upcycling/retail sales 
• Craft and design including woodworking, metalworking, furniture upcycling
• E-Commerce, inventory management and retail
• Gardening services and site maintenance
• Reception and admin roles

This is not an exhaustive list by any means; if you have an idea for a work-based role or micro-enterprise which you would like to see My Life Works offer, let us know.  Somebody came to My Life Works interested in candle-making; we secured the equipment necessary to produce candles at scale and now he’s off making candles for the Christmas market!

We offer 3, 6, 12 or 24 month placements, 1 to 5 days a week. 4-6 week placements and placements over summer holidays are also offered from July to September for those in specialist further education 

Many people will come to My Life Works using their funding for social care or a personal budget, and we can help with the process of signing up to a day or number of days a week at Harlor House. You are more than welcome to do a short-term, 12 week placement to start with at My Life Works, where we sit down with you and work out exactly what you’d like to do and what you’d like to achieve.

Not everybody who will benefit has funding attached however. Please don’t let that be a barrier – get in touch and we can explore other avenues including through education.  

We are also open to philanthropic donations to fund people who would gain from sessions at My Life Works.  

Please contact us today if you would like to find out more about how you or your loved one can benefit from My Life Works. 

Because you will be experiencing work-based roles under the supervision of fully trained, experienced tutors, in some instances you may be able to work towards recognised qualifications through the Open Awards, an Awarding Organisation approved by Ofqual the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). They also support the delivery of traineeships and apprenticeships.  

All our staff are skilled, DBS-checked and fully trained in how to work with people that have additional needs.  

My Life Works and Harlor House should be a happy, purposeful and safe place where people feel enabled to be the best they can be. My Life has full safeguarding policies, procedures and officers which cover My Life Works and Harlor House.  

If you would like to see a copy of our safeguarding policy and procedure, or you have a query or concern you would like to raise, please contact us.   

One of the objectives of My Life Works is to make the community a better and kinder place to live.  We have been very grateful of the offers of support from local businesses who have donated everything from tools to cleaning products and excess stock – but we need more!  

Your business might also want to sponsor a specific area of Harlor House – please get in touch to find out how your CSR programme might align with our vision. 

We’re also keen to speak to volunteers who want to use their skills to help others at My Life Works.   

As soon as we took the lease on Harlor House, we gradually began to offer people in the community the opportunity to experience My Life Works. We’re delighted to say including people in meaningful work-based activity has already resulted in some incredible outcomes. But don’t take our word for it – listen to our first My Life Workers! 

“We’re learning so many different things at My Life Works, there’s lots I could do for a job after being here.” 

Robert 

“I enjoy my time at My Life Works, it helps me with my stress and anxiety. I feel more confident when I’m here.” 

Edward 

“I’ve never been taught how to use tools before. Now I feel so confident with them I’ll be able to put some shelves up in my bedroom on my own.” 

Richard 

To find out more about My Life Works, please contact us today!

Telephone: 01257 472 900

Email: info@my-life.org.uk

Address: My Life Works, Harlor House, Grove Lane, Standish, Wigan, WN6 0ES