Housing Justice UNLEASH email bulletin September 2007

Hello and welcome to this the September 2007 Housing Justice UNLEASH news update. There are lots of interesting events and courses coming up this month - I hope you will find some items of interest.

Later in September the Autumn UNLEASH newsletter will be mailed out to Housing Justice members, so why not take this opportunity to join if you are not already a member. There will be reports from our Open Space Conference: a hand out or a hand up? and Shelter's National Soup Run Conference this summer, as well as news, think pieces and other useful resources. Housing Justice members additionally receive free training in homelessness and a special reduced rate membership of Homeless Link. For a full list of membership benefits and a joining form please scroll down to the end of the page.

About this bulletin + subscribe/unsubscribe
This monthly news and info bulletin aims to be a worthwhile 5 minute read with links to further information and resources for people working in or concerned about housing and homelessness in London. It is prepared particularly with these groups in mind: churches and other faith groups, individuals working in housing or homelessness agencies, people who are or have been homeless, and anyone with an interest in housing, homelessness or related issues. It goes out currently to almost 1200 people each month so if you have news, a need or an event you’d like to tell others about drop me a line. Also your comments or feedback on any item are always welcome.

If colleagues or friends might find this useful please forward to them. If you receive a copy in this way and you would like your own let me know.

To unsubscribe anytime please email or call. Thanks
Call Alastair Murray 020 7723 7273 x.242
Email a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Privacy/Data protection: I will not share your email or personal details with other people or organisations without your permission, and this email is always sent blind copy to prevent spam and viruses.

Scroll down for
NEWS + EVENTS
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008: Opening Doors, Opening Hearts 27th January to 3rd February 2008
London Week of Peace 9th-11th September
Birkbeck Symposium: Involving Excluded Communities in the 2012 Olympics. 14th September
London Soup Run Forum 17th September
Winter Shelters Forum 1st October
Homelessness Prayer Meeting Thursday 27th September
Home, Homelessness and Community Saturday 29th September

TRAINING
Housing Justice UNLEASH Volunteers Training Autumn dates
Asylum Support Appeals Project free training on “Support options for failed asylum seekers” 15th October
London Civic Forum FREE Learning Programme for Community Leaders
McKenzie Friend Training Courses Autumn dates
Homeless Link Training Autumn Dates

OTHER RESOURCES
Network 2012 Launch Event Thursday September 13th
Private Rented Sector new website
Join Housing Justice!

NEWS + EVENTS

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008: Opening Doors, Opening Hearts 27th January to 3rd February 2008
Opening Doors, Opening Hearts is about opening hearts to hear the stories people have to tell about being homeless, badly housed, and poor. It offers opportunities for dialogue, springing from the conviction that together we can open doors to a better housed, better paid and more just society.

In 2008 Homelessness Sunday and Poverty Action Sunday are only one week apart. Poverty and Homelessness Action Week is your chance to make a difference. The Opening Doors, Opening Hearts resource pack contains all the materials that are needed for Homelessness Sunday, for Poverty Action Sunday, and to organise events during the Action Week.

Events Our target is for at least 100 events to take place in communities all over the UK in Poverty and Homelessness Action Week. The resource pack materials will assist you to pray, reflect and act on homelessness and poverty; to encourage your church to get involved; to uncover the reality of hidden poverty or homelessness in your community; to celebrate what is already going on locally; to work with others.

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week is organised by Church Action on Poverty, Housing Justice, Scottish Churches Housing Action, the Church Urban Fund and others. http://www.homelessness-sunday.org.uk

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week Training events in London this Autumn
Thurs 4th Oct 10.30am - 2pm     URC Church House, Tavistock Place, London
Contact Geoff Duncan, North Thames URC Synod 020 7799 5000 geoffrey.duncan@urc10.orgLondon
Tues 30th Oct   St John's, Waterloo (part of the Housing Justice AGM)
Contact Judith Maizel-Long, Housing Justice 020 7723 7273 x. 254 j.maizel-long@housingjustice.org.ukLondon

Monday 5th Nov 12.30-2.30pm Trinity House, Borough High St. SE1 1HW
Contact Terry Drummond, Southwark Diocese 020 8769 3256 mailto:terry.drummond@southwark.anglican.org

A closely linked initiative is -
Micah Challenge UK http://www.micahchallenge.org.uk Tearfund and Shaftesbury have developed a course for churches to help them discover how tackling poverty and pursuing justice, both locally and globally, are at the heart of Christian mission. It is called Just People: the Micah course. http://www.micahchallenge.org.uk/resources/justpeople.htm

Saturday 15th September 10am-4pm St Mark’s, Battersea Rise, SW11 1EJ
£10/person to be paid on the day (lunch included)
Contact Jill Clark at Shaftesbury 0207 452 2018 mailto:jclark@shaftesburysociety.org

London Week of Peace 9th-11th September
London Week of Peace (LWOP) is an annual week long series of events, initiatives and action. 2007 week of peace is a campaign and a festival celebrating diversity and promoting justice, equality and respect at the local level throughout boroughs in London. This year the focus is on reconciliation, celebration and collaboration in support of dialogue and truth, for healing and sharing and for renewing the capital’s commitment to peace in all its forms.

More info from mailto:info@weekofpeace.org.uk or http://www.weekofpeace.org.uk/

Birkbeck Symposium: Involving Excluded Communities in the 2012 Olympics. 14th September
Can regeneration improve the lives of the homeless?
This is the first in a series of seminars organised by Birkbeck College to examine the opportunities that the regeneration of east London will present to the homeless sector.

Dr Helen Carr is the seminar organiser, and says: “It is crucial that we start discussing how we can use the massive regeneration of the east of London to help vulnerable people living on the streets and in temporary accommodation in the area. The London Olympics will bring tremendous opportunities to the capital. We want to get together the policy makers and the care deliverers with service users, to discuss the opportunities available for homeless people. By doing this we can make sure that this often excluded group is able to take advantage of the regeneration."

Cost depends on your circumstances. Places are free to the unwaged and there are reductions for the relevant sector participants.

Further info from Bob Reid, Business Relations Unit, Birkbeck on 020 7079 0733
On-line booking form: https://www2.bbk.ac.uk/business

London Soup Run Forum 17th September
Are you involved in a voluntary soup or food run in London? Would you like to know what others are doing? Do you have a point of view about the work of Soup Runs? Are you homeless or formerly homeless? Then this forum is for you!

Date: Monday September 17th 6.30pm-8.00pm
Venue: St Vincent's Centre Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NL
Please RSVP if you would like to attend and I will send minutes and agenda mailto:a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Why not join the national On-line Soup Run Forum, a discussion board and point of contact for soup runs across the UK?
http://www.souprunforum.org.uk

Winter Shelters Forum 1st October
For churches and others running winter shelter schemes in London and all who are interested in this work.
Date: Monday 1st October 6.00pm
Venue: Housing Justice 209 Old Marylebone Rd London NW1 5QT
Please RSVP if you would like to attend and I will send minutes and agenda mailto:a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk

Homelessness Prayer Meeting Thursday 27th September
Following our Open Space Conference: hand out or a hand up? in July there was a call for a regular prayer meeting for Christians involved in homelessness action in London. So here it is: the date of the first one for your diaries!

The format is likely to be quite simple, with a short introductory word, space to share any particular prayer needs and requests, and opportunity to spend time seeking God with each other in prayer and reflection. All are welcome.

Venue Housing Justice 209 Old Marylebone Road London NW1 5QT
Date Thursday 27 September at 6.00pm
If you would like to come please RSVP mailto:a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk

Home, Homelessness and Community Saturday 29th September
This one day workshop aims to explore the meaning of home and community through in-depth consideration of the experience and the meaning of homelessness and ‘unhoused’ states of mind.

With: Christopher Scanlon, Group Analyst and Organisational Consultant; Brother John Mayhead, Benedictine Monk, Monastery of Christ Our Saviour; John Adlam, Psychotherapist, Henderson Hospital Services; Dr Jo-Anne Carlyle, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Organisational Consultant, Chair

Date Saturday 29th September 2007: 10.00 – 5.00 pm (9.30 for tea, coffee and registration)
Venue Turvey Abbey, Nr. Bedford
Cost £40 including lunch (some bursaries are available for the unwaged)
Further info from Christopher Scanlon mailto:c.scanlon@btinternet.com or 07880 501 014

TRAINING----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Housing Justice UNLEASH Volunteers Training Autumn dates
Housing Justice UNLEASH runs a programme of training for volunteers who work in the field of homelessness. Places are FREE to Housing Justice member organisations, or individual members (please scroll down for membership info)

The Basic Training Day covers: Overview of homelessness including local authority tests, role of the voluntary sector etc, Mental Health Awareness, Drugs and Alcohol Awareness and Dealing with Conflict.

The Basic Training day is very popular and is nearly always oversubscribed.
The other training days provide more in-depth training on Mental Health and Drugs and Alcohol Awareness and are particularly suitable for volunteers with some experience or for those who have done the introductory Basic Training day.

All training days run from 10.00-4.00pm.
Saturday September 8th - Basic Training - NB SOME PLACES STILL AVAILABLE THIS SATURDAY -
Venue: Chelsea Methodist Church Kings Rd SW3 5TX
Saturday September 22nd Drugs and Alcohol
Venue: Chelsea Methodist Church Kings Rd SW3 5TX
Thursday October 4th Basic Training
Venue: Emmanuelle Church, Marsham St. Westminster SW1 3DW
Saturday October 27th Mental Health Awareness
South London Mission, 256 Bermondsey Street SE1 3DW
Saturday November 17th Basic Training
All Saints Church Carnegie St London N1 9QW
Booking is essential. If you or your volunteers would like to book places on any of these training dates please email me for further info and a booking form mailto:a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk or call 020 7723 7273 x.242

Asylum Support Appeals Project free training on “Support options for failed asylum seekers” 15th October
This training session looks at basic information on housing and welfare support available for some failed asylum seekers (such as section 4 support and community care) and explains who is able to get it. The training is available free to Refugee Community Organisations and other voluntary sector organisations working with destitute asylum seekers. We ask all the organisations which benefit from our training to become members. Membership is free.

Date 15th October 2007
Time 10am to 1pm
Venue Friends Meeting House, Euston
Contact Eiri Ohtani, Co-ordinator mailto:eiri@asaproject.org.uk
Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)
Tel - 020 8684 5873
Cornerstone House, 14 Willis Road, Croydon CR0 2XX
www.asaproject.org.uk

London Civic Forum FREE Learning Programme for Community Leaders
London Civic Forum is running a learning programme aimed at community leaders and representatives who are interested in developing further their civic participation skills. The training is free to members of the London Civic Forum.

Dates: 8th, 20th and 27th September and 6th and 16th October 2007.
Further info http://www.londoncivicforum.org.uk/page.asp?n=51
Booking is essential. Contact Lorraine on 020 8709 9773 ext 620 or mailto:lorraine@londoncivicforum.org.uk
About the London Civic Forum
London Civic Forum is a network of 1300 member organisations and associate individual members from the capital’s private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Membership includes a wide range of community organisations, black, asian and minority ethnic groups, faith groups, disabled people’s organisations, young people’s organisations, older people’s groups, disabled and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people’s groups.

Membership is free. By becoming a member you have the opportunity to use the expertise and information that you hold in your organisation to influence the future of London.

See http://www.londoncivicforum.org.uk/page.asp?sid=1

McKenzie Friend Training Courses Autumn dates
From Vincentian Millennium Partnership and Zacchaeus 2000 http://www.z2k.org
This one day course is designed to enable individuals working among deprived families and individuals to support them as a volunteer McKenzie Friend when they are facing local authorities, bailiffs or court appearances for debt. There is a legal right to a friend in court won by a man called McKenzie. The course will be of interest to people who are concerned about poverty in the United Kingdom and might not wish to become a McKenzie Friend.

Cost is just £5 on the day for a light lunch
Course dates and registration:
22nd September Tottenham
20th October in Victoria
Contact Mandy Platt 020 7259 0801 mailto:admin@z2k.org
6th October 2007 High Wycombe,
Penny McLeish 01491 571 288 mailto:penny_mcleish@hotmail.com

Homeless Link Training Autumn Dates
Homeless Link provides a comprehensive range of training courses for everyone from frontline staff working to service managers. Here are just a few selected course dates for this Autumn:

Welfare benefits overview 18th September
Managing conflict, violence and aggressive situations 26th September
Motivational interviewing 27/28th September
Cognitive behavioural therapy: principles and practice 9/10th & 16/17th October
Drugs, the law and good practice 24th October
Working with clients from the new EU member states 8th November
Difficult, disturbing and dangerous behaviour 22nd November
For further info, including to sign up for the regular training e-bulletin, contact Kaite Welsh mailto:training@homelesslink.org.uk or 020 7960 3030

http://www.homeless.org.uk/developyourservice/training/courses

OTHER RESOURCES

Network 2012 Launch Event Thursday September 13th
Live launch and FREE networking event
Venue: The House of St. Barnabas in Soho
Date: Thursday September 13th 6.30 - 9.30pm.
To book http://www.network2012.net/community/index.php?page=launch_event
Network 2012 is a business and social networking site for the 21st century, offering members benefits including:
A warm, fun and friendly Business Networking Community and a FREE weekly newsletter with guest writers, lively debates, information that will help you grow your business, funding and grants news, information on coaching, healthy lifestyles, updates on "what's hot and what's not", in the Third Sector, articles from YOU and the Community about what you are doing to grow your business, ethical topics about the environment and business.

In our start up phase we are pleased to offer all new members a free trial. http://www.network2012.net/community/

Private Rented Sector new website
A new web resource from London Housing Foundation, aiming to be a portal for information, resources and innovation around how the private rented sector can provide a positive housing solution for people who are, have been or are facing homelessness.

http://www.privaterentedsector.org.uk/

Join Housing Justice UNLEASH!
You may join Housing Justice UNLEASH as an Individual Supporting Member or as a Member Organisation and
Support the work of Housing Justice – contributing to the prevention of homelessness and bad housing
Receive regular Newsletters and our Annual Report
Receive invitations to a programme of events, workshops and conferences
Feed into Housing Justice campaigns and connect with our other nationwide projects: Regenerate, Homelessness Sunday and the Housing Justice CHAS (housing advice) network

Member Organisations also benefit from
Connecting with the network of churches, projects and individuals involved in action on homelessness and poor housing in London.

Free Volunteers training
Free email subscription to Housing Justice Digest, a weekly round up of all the news on homelessness, housing and related current issues
Special reduced rate membership of Homeless Link
Management Committee Support e.g. Business Planning, Fundraising

There is a membership form below, or email me and I'll put an info pack in the post to you
You may also support Housing Justice with a donation
http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/hj/supportus/supportus.htm

best wishes,

Alastair Murray
Coordinator
Housing Justice UNLEASH
209 Old Marylebone Road
London NW1 5QT

T 020 7723 7273 x.242
M 078 7581 0216
E mailto:a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
W www.housingjustice.org.uk

Please print out and complete this form and post it to the address at the bottom, or email me and I'll put an info pack in the post to you

Name:
Name of Organisation/Church:
Address:

Post Code
Tel:
Email:

I/We would like to become an Associate of Housing Justice.
I/We enclose our subscription:
Individual – no set subscription, please give according to your means - £
Local organisation annual rate - £50
I enclose a donation of £ to support the work of Housing Justice.
Please make cheques payable to Housing Justice.
Signature:
Date:
For Individuals only
As a UK taxpayer I would like to increase the value of my gift (at no extra cost to myself) through the Gift Aid Scheme. I hereby declare that this and all donations I have made from 6th April 2000 are to be treated as Gift Aid until I notify you otherwise.

Please complete this form and return to:
The Membership Officer, Housing Justice, 209 Old Marylebone Road
London NW1 5QT - Tel: 020 7723 7273 - Fax: 020 7723 5943
Email: info@housingjustice.org.uk
Website: www.housingjustice.org.uk
Registered in England and Wales No 2017207
Registered address: 209 Old Marylebone Road, London NW1 5QT
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