Housing Justice UNLEASH email bulletin June 2007

Hello and welcome to this Housing Justice UNLEASH news and info update.

I walked 54 miles with the St Martin-in-the-Fields Pilgrimage to Canterbury on the Bank Holiday weekend, returning to London on Monday tired and blistered but uplifted by the wonderful fellowship. I definitely plan to do it again next year, and also to do more preparatory walking! More about the experience in the next UNLEASH Newsletter. If anyone would like to add to my sponsorship then the web page is open till end July http://www.justgiving.com/AlastairPilgrimage More about the Pilgrimage - go to http://www.smitf-pilgrimage.org.uk/

About this bulletin + subscribe/unsubscribe info
This monthly news and info bulletin aims to be a good 5 minute read, with links to further info and resources for people concerned about housing and homelessness in London. It is prepared with churches, other faith groups, individuals working in housing or homelessness, and smaller projects providing help to homeless people in mind. It goes out to about 1200 readers at the moment so if you have news, a need or an event you’d like to let others know about drop me a line. Also if you have a comment or feedback on any item.

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Housing Justice UNLEASH Open Space event: a Hand out or a Hand up? Thursday 19th July
Launch of London Churches Refugee Fund Sunday 17th June 6.30pm
London Soup Run Forum Wednesday 13th June 6.00pm
Shelter National Soup Run Conference 27th June
Who Runs London? New website
Advanced Professional Certificate in Working with Homeless People New Course
Faithworks Awards Deadline 31st July
10 Feet Away International Festival 2007 26th - 29th July 2007
"Filthy Rich and Homeless" on BBC3

Housing Justice UNLEASH Open Space event: a Hand out or a Hand up? Thursday 19th July
Voluntary church and faith groups are good at giving essential help like food and clothes to people who are homeless and excluded. Is there a tension between meeting immediate needs and encouraging people toward independence? How best can we help people move on from homelessness? And who decides?
All are welcome to this one day event which HJ UNLEASH and Groundswell are putting on together. The day will use "Open Space Technology" to enable everyone to contribute.
Date: Thursday July 19th 2007 9.00am-5.00pm
Venue: St Paul’s, Robert Adam St, London W1U 3HW
Suggested Donation to cover refreshments and lunch: £10 per person/£5 to HJ members/free to unwaged
For more information click here>>
To book contact Ellen Byrne or Alastair Murray at Housing Justice
e.byrne@housingjustice.org.uk
020 7723 7273 x.235

Launch of London Churches Refugee Fund Sunday 17th June 6.30pm
This new fund is an initiative from London Churches to provide help to destitute refugees and asylum seekers. It will be launched on Sunday 17th June at 6.30 pm. at Westminster Abbey. The fund will raise money to help destitute asylum seekers and will work primarily through church-based organisations responding directly to their needs.
From the Mission Statement: "We commit ourselves to action and support aimed at
Activating the generosity and hospitality of churches, community groups, other organisations and individuals
Raising funds
Supporting initiatives that respond to the needs of refused asylum seekers, such as night shelters, food distribution, refugee projects
Lobbying for change
Encouraging responses to inaccurate media stereotypes."
Further info from Geoffrey Duncan on 020 7799 5000 or email geoffrey.duncan@urc10.org

London Soup Run Forum Wednesday 13th June 6.00pm
Volunteer with a soup run? Homeless or formerly homeless? Do you have a point of view about soup runs? Then this forum is for you!
Guest Speakers: Sister Ellen Flynn of the Passage and Janet Haddington of Westminster Council.
Date: Wednesday 13th June at 6.00pm
Venue: St Vincent's Centre, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1N L
To be included in minutes and other info relating to Soup Runs or the Soup Run Forum email me
email a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Click here for the Online Soup Run Forum>>

Shelter National Soup Run Conference 27th June
Wednesday 27th June 11am – 4pm, Birmingham Central Library
Cost: Free to soup and breakfast runs (up to two places); £30 for subsequent places or for other agencies. Lunch Provided.
Further details and application form email Samantha_Byrne@shelter.org.uk

Who Runs London? New website
The governance of our towns and cities has become increasingly complex: Where does power lie? How can we have a say? Who runs London helps explain what the capital's key public bodies do and how we can be involved. This useful, interactive website will help you to improve your understanding of how the different organisations fit together.
http://www.whorunsmycity.org.uk/

Advanced Professional Certificate in Working with Homeless People New Course
This new course is being piloted at YMCA George Williams College
More details from Mike Seal (Senior Lecturer) on 0207 540 4913 or email mike@seal1.freeserve.co.uk

Faithworks Awards Deadline 31st July
What could you do with £5,000?
Applications are now open for the 2007 Faithworks Awards. This year Faithworks will award a total of £20,000 to four Christian projects that are effectively serving the needs of their local communities.
Are you involved in a community project that is committed to making a positive difference in your community despite limited resources? Are you aspiring to professionalism and valuing people as you serve those around you? Does your work within an inner city seek to promote inclusion and challenge injustice? Are you improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in your local community?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions you could be eligible for a Faithworks Award of £5,000.
http://www.faithworks.info/SubSection.asp?id=3318

10 Feet Away International Festival 2007 26th - 29th July 2007
Ten Feet Away International Festival will take place in London for one week between 26 - 29 July 2007. The festival hub will be St. John’s Waterloo. There will be workshops and performances in circus, music, poetry, art, drama, with much of it by people who are or have been homeless. Not to be missed!
Further info from http://tenfeetaway.wordpress.com/international-festival-2007/#draft_programme
or email info@tenfeetaway.org

"Filthy Rich and Homeless" on BBC3
Two programmes in this excellent series have already been shown, although the series will probably be repeated on terrestrial TV at some point, and there are DVD's as well. There are still 2 to go showing over the next 2 Tuesdays at 9.00pm, Thursdays at 8.00pm and Sundays at 10.00pm. The volunteers who have been taking part in the programme - all from quite wealthy backgrounds, hence "filthy rich" - have really begun to understand what it feels like to be homeless. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/

best wishes,
Alastair Murray