||If you have any items of news that you would like us to include here please email the UNLEASH office: News|
For more news and articles please click here to download the September e-bulletin.
Birmingham: 11 October 2006
This Seminar organised by Shelter will explore some of the new thinking around tackling street homelessness. The event marks the publication of "New Directions in Homelessness" and each delegate will receive a free copy.
Workshops will discuss key street homeless issues featuring projects in rural and urban locations.
The day is for local government housing staff, registered social landlords, workers in hostels and other supported housing or anyone else interested in good practice in housing and homelessness.
To download the flyer and booking form, please click on the following link; Shelter "New Directions" flyer
For more information or booking details please contact Jan Mitchell on 0151 236 8236 or streethp@shelter.org.uk.
^^Back to top|
Westminster Coucil has written to London Soup Runs to inform them of other ways they could help the homeless, in an effort to as they say "curb the over provision of soup runs, as they can undermine efforts to help people off the streets".
The 5 ways are as follows;
Alastair Murray, Development Co-ordinator for Housing Justice UNLEASH and Chair of the London Soup Run Forum has responded with the following Statement;
"Soup Run Forum members reject the criticism of soup runs by Westminster City Council and others that they “keep homeless people on the streets".
Soup runs have a positive impact on the lives of many people, particularly the homeless and vulnerable. Soup run volunteers provide not just food but friendship and other help to those who are homeless, isolated and poor, the most vulnerable in society, and all at no cost to the taxpayer.
Soup runs are sometimes the only source of food and contact for people such as homeless Polish and other new Europeans, and those who do not claim benefits. For this reason it is no exaggeration to say that they do save lives."
If you would like more information about this issue or the London Soup Run Forum please contact Alastair Murray on 020 7723 7273 Ext 242 or by emailing a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
^^Back to top|
Now that we have merged with the national housing and homelessness charity Housing Justice, this website will be shut down and we will have a sub-site on their new website which is due to be launched next month. This website will incorporate all the same information (just in a different order), and include an online forum for soup runs. Members will also be able to search a vast database of London agencies and other contacts.
To find out more about Housing Justice and to visit the new domain name, please click on the link below:
http://www.housingjustice.org.uk
^^Back to top|
North London Action for the Homeless operates a drop-in centre in Stoke Newington. Over the past year, like many day centres in London, they have seen a sharp rise in the number of Central and Eastern Europeans using their services. Recently a Polish speaking NLAH volunteer helped to shed light on the difficulties they have faced:
“Krysztof, Vladic and Jarek are all in their 40s and live in squats, whilst Jan is “camping” in a local park. None of them claim benefits, but rely on whatever work they can find to earn money...More>
Alastair Murray, development co-ordinator for Housing Justice UNLEASH responded:
"One of the best ways to resolve this issue would be to have a dedicated reception centre for European workers to go to when they arrive in the UK. A sort of Job Centre plus “plus” helping people find out their rights, get registered on the workers registration scheme and be given a national insurance number. Most importantly it should help them find affordable rented accommodation and put them in touch with reputable employers, so that they are not as vulnerable to exploitation, or forced to work without regard to proper health and safety standards and insurance. It is totally unacceptable that this has not happened already. Our government was willing to open up the borders to welcome European nationals to come and work here, but by providing no help or orientation has allowed many simply to fail and end up living homeless in the squats and on the streets of London"
On the 10th of July 2006 Housing Justice UNLEASH organised a meeting to discuss the possibility of setting up a welcome centre for Central and Eastern Europeans arriving to work in London. The meeting was attended by over 50 people representing 33 different agencies working with “New” Europeans in London or otherwise concerned with the problem.
Further meetings are planned. If you would like to be involved in this network please contact Alastair Murray on 020 7723 7273 Ext 242 or email a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk.
^^Back to top|
URGENT REQUEST FOR HELP
Quaker Homeless Action is seeking a venue for Quaker Open Christmas 2006. Quaker Open Christmas is a London based shelter running from December 23rd to December 30th 2006. The venue needs to comprise a hall, a kitchen and toilet facilities. Open Christmas would expect to feed, clothe as necessary and provide social and medical support facilities for up to 150 homeless people. There needs to be sleeping space for about 50.
In order for us to allow enough time for plans and preparations the venue needs to be confirmed as soon as possible or by September at the latest.
CAN YOU HELP US?
Please contact Colin Rendall on 01434 320419 or email colin.rendall@btinternet.com.
Added: 09/08/2006
^^Back to top|
At the launch conference of Housing Justice| UNLEASH on the 23rd of May we introduced the concept of “Speed Seminars”. Based on “Speed Dating”, participants attended a 20 minute seminar from one organisation before a bell was rung and they would move onto another. Each organisation gave the same presentation each time so no one missed any information. There was also an opportunity to ask questions.
A major part of the work of Housing Justice| UNLEASH is encouraging and supporting Christian groups who work with homeless people in London. The aim of the day was to showcase projects already in existence to inspire participants and give them an idea of the range of projects they could set up or become involved in. Working with the homeless isn’t just about being able to provide secure accommodation or a day centre. There are other schemes that smaller groups with fewer resources can run.
Housing Justice| UNLEASH member Nightstop is a good example. They train and support local volunteers able to offer a bed on an emergency basis to homeless young people aged 16-25. Greenwich and Lewisham Nightstop co-ordinate their local network but are desperately in need of more volunteers. All Souls Local Action Network (ASLAN) and the Simon Community both operate weekly soup runs providing the needy with food and company. Traditionally this was one of the easiest and most popular schemes for churches to get involved in and church groups choosing to do this now enjoy extra support from the UNLEASH Soup Run Forum. Finally, Waltham Forest BRANCHES night shelter was originally part of a network of local churches that opened their church hall to the homeless just for the winter. This takes place every year in ten boroughs across London, supported by the UNLEASH Winter Shelters Forum. Last December after 10 years of operation Waltham Forest BRANCHES became a permanent shelter.
Feedback on the speed seminar approach was very positive, one attendee said “it helped to keeps things focused and packed more information into less time”. Stuart Freeman of CHAS Central London who was involved in giving a speed seminar admitted “I was a bit sceptical, but it worked really well”.
^^Back to top|
The aim of the Housing Justice| UNLEASH launch conference was to showcase projects already in existence and inspire others to get involved. Below is the list of organisations who presented "Speed Seminars";
All Souls Local Action Network (ASLAN) operates a soup run and a befriending scheme.
Cardinal Hume Centre works mainly with families in temporary accommodation and also runs a drop-in for young people aged 16-25.
CHAS Central London provides free and independent housing and debt advice.
Connection@StMartins operate a large day centre with many support services.
Emmaus offers homeless men and women a home and full time work refurbishing furniture which are then sold for profit.
Empty Homes Agency is a campaigning organisation that aims to highlight the waste of empty property and bring it back into use.
Field Lane works with homeless families amongst other vulnerable groups.
Green Pastures encourage ethical investment to provide homes for the poor and homeless.
Homeless Link is a national membership body for organisations supporting the homeless and is campaigning to end homelessness.
Hope World Wide, Two Step supports volunteer hosts offering homeless individuals short term accommodation.
Housing Justice helps people in immediate housing need through networks of independent housing advice centres and community projects, while mobilising support locally and nationally to improve housing policy.
Nightstop provides safe emergency accommodation for young people aged 16 - 25 in the homes of approved volunteers.
Simon Community are a partnership of volunteers and homeless people supporting those who are homeless or roofless through outreach, street work and soup runs.
Southwark and London Diocesan Housing Association seek to provide affordable housing in Southwark.
Streetwise Opera are a professional opera group made up of professionals, homeless and ex-homeless people.
Waltham Forest BRANCHES is a former winter shelter that became permanent last December.
West London Churches Homeless Concern run a day centre and a winter night shelter.
For more ideas on what you could do to help, please visit the Homelessness Sunday website: http://www.homelessness-sunday.org.uk
^^Back to top|
PRESS RELEASE
"From rough sleeping to affordable homes: What should churches be doing?
Over 100 people from churches and projects active in combating homelessness came together for a conference to mark the launch of Housing Justice UNLEASH on 23rd May. The merger of the two organisations in January creates a more united voice for the churches on housing and homelessness in London.
Those who attended heard inspirational keynote speeches from Housing Justice Chief Executive Robina Rafferty, the Reverend Ken Leech, Maff Potts of the Department for Communities and Local Government (formerly Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) and Reverend Nick Holtam of St Martin in the Fields.
The day also introduced the concept of speed seminars, 20 minute slots for delegates to learn more about the work of the many different projects supporting homeless and badly housed people in London. Speed seminars covered everything from homelessness prevention by independent advice centres like CHAS Central London, to the life saving help provided by day centres, night shelters, outreach and befriending runs and family centres. Newer initiatives such as Streetwise Opera, Nightstop, the Empty Homes Agency and Green Pastures also featured.
Opening the conference Robina Rafferty said "UNLEASH was created 25 years ago out of a joint initiative between CHAS (Housing Justice's predecessor) and the Anglican Diocese of Southwark to improve standards of accommodation for homeless people. We have been working very closely over the years, and share the same values and goals. Our merger is therefore a very welcome step forward for homeless and badly housed Londoners, whom we hope will benefit from both better services to church-based projects and a stronger campaigning voice."
Rafferty highlighted the role played by churches in preventing homelessness saying “churches play a vital role on the ground working to support homeless and badly housed people and prevent homelessness. Often the churches are the only organisations that are there for destitute asylum seekers, homeless Eastern European workers who are not entitled to benefits and rough sleepers who, for whatever reason, are not able to access other homelessness services.”
Well known Urban Theologian and former Chair of UNLEASH Ken Leech said “In the history of the church in relation to housing and homelessness, there has been a movement away from retreat i.e. doing nothing, towards rescue: helping individuals but avoiding conflict with principalities and powers. However the gulf between rich and poor has grown under 'New Labour' while the obsession with security has made resistance more difficult. The fact that the church's values are in fundamental conflict with those of governments must be recovered, recognised and reaffirmed.”
This event celebrated and affirmed the vital role that churches are playing in supporting and advocating for the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, the homeless and badly housed.
--Ends--
Attendees participate in Speed Seminars
Housing Justice| UNLEASH Launch Downloads|
Speeches:
Revd Ken Leech:
"Why Churches cannot ignore Poverty and Oppression"
Delegate List:
Launch Delegate List
^^Back to top|
The Changing Lives Award programme provides financial awards of up to £2000 to solitary people who have been homeless to help them move towards a work based, vocational goal.
The Changing Lives Award could be used to pay for a course, for materials to use at work or for start up equipment to set up a business.
The application round is now open. The closing date for applications is the 14th July 2006. Awards will be made during the last two weeks of August.
To download an application form please visit:
http://www.crisis.org.uk
^^Back to top|
On the 8th of May 2006 working in partnership with Borderline and Scottish Churches Housing Action, UNLEASH organised a meeting with housing and homeless agencies across London to discuss the possibility of setting up a “Starter Pack” scheme.
Starter Packs have proved very successful in reducing rates of repeat homelessness in Scotland. Homeless families are moved into new accommodation sometimes without furniture and often without basic household items such as pots and pans, toiletries or bedding. Being forced to return to a local day centre to have a wash or a hot meal can be a great barrier to becoming independent. We felt the time was ripe to introduce a scheme to London and help stop the “revolving door”.
How it works: Volunteers collect unwanted good quality household items from their local community or congregation. These are then grouped into boxes such as ‘toiletries’, ‘kitchen utensils’ or ‘bedding’. Local Authorities, Housing Associations or Charities supporting people in resettlement can then arrange for these to be picked up and handed over to the individuals or families they work with to help them settle in.
The meeting was well attended by 16 organisations supporting or re-housing homeless individuals and families in London. The idea was received with great enthusiasm and 9 organisations have volunteered to form a steering group to take the idea forward by organising a launch conference for the autumn and piloting a localised six month scheme. If successful it is hoped that the idea could be rolled out across London, creating several local networks co-ordinated by a central agency.
If you are interested in getting involved or would like more information please contact Ellie Clifton on 020 7723 7273 Ext 249 or email e.clifton@housingjustice.org.uk
^^Back to top|
Following on from the success of last year's conference: "A City to Dwell in", the Shaftesbury Society invite you to "A Strong City", a one day conference that will give you inspiration and practical ideas on how to get the most out of your church building.
Tuesday 16th May, 10am to 4pm at St. John's in Hackney, Lower Clapton Road, London, E5
For more information please contact Anne Williams at Matthew Lloyd Architects on 020 7613 1934, to book please contact Kim Pearson on 020 8239 5527.
^^Back to top|
UNLEASH are holding a meeting on the 8th of May between 2-4pm in central London to discuss an exciting new scheme known as Starter Packs.
Starter Pack schemes have proved very successful in reducing rates of repeat homelessness. Many new tenancies fail in the early stages due to a lack of financial resources to buy basic household items. Being forced to return to a local day centre to have a wash or a hot meal can be a great barrier to becoming independent.
How the scheme works:Volunteers collect unwanted but usable household items from their local community or congregation. These are then grouped into boxes such as toiletries, kitchen utensils or children’s toys (for homeless families). Charities and voluntary organisations supporting people in resettlement can then arrange for these to be handed over to the individuals or families they work with to help them settle in.
More information about existing schemes can be found at www.starterpacksangus.org.uk
www.starterpacks.co.uk
If you work for a church or organisation that you think would be interested in getting involved please get in touch. To attend the meeting please contact Ellie Clifton on 020 7723 7273 to book a place.
^^Back to top|
Homeless Link has launched a new award to celebrate the contribution of service users towards the development of services for homeless people.
The Michael Whippman Prize, established in honour of the former Chairman of one of the predecessor organisations of Homeless Link, aims to encourage innovative thinking or work in the area of homelessness.
The prize (£500) is open to individuals or groups and to people who have experienced services in the past, as well as existing service users. Nominations will be accepted from other service users or from organisations that work with homeless people.
To make a nomination please click on the following link:http://www.homeless.org.uk.
The deadline for nominations is 5pm Friday 5th May 2006.
^^Back to top|
Now that winter is over 5 more church run cold weather shelters have closed and will now not re-open until November time later this year. The 5 shelters that closed at the end of March were Camden and Clerkenwell, Croydon, Hackney, Islington and West London. For details of the 3 remaining (all year round) shelters as well as details of 2 other free shelters operating in central London, please click on the link below:
All year round shelters for London's homeless.
For up to date information on all types of accommodation for the homeless, please visit the Resource Information Services' public access website: http://www.homelesslondon.org
^^Back to top|
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, volunteered his services at Christ Church Highbury last Friday evening (10th March 2006).
On the night Dr. Williams was just one of a number of volunteers who work at the church providing a cold weather shelter for homeless people within the locality.
The Archbishop rolled his sleeves up and got on with the job in hand, serving food, making beds and chatting to the guests using the shelter. Jonathan Brewster, Vicar at Christ Church, was delighted to welcome Dr. Williams to the church.He said;
"It was an honour to have Dr. Williams with us at Christ Church. It was a chance for him to see the Islington night shelter in action and his help and support was appreciated by everyone".
A team of volunteers from the Christ Church congregation and surrounding community make sure that each guest is given a warm place to stay, a hot meal, a bed for the night and breakfast the following morning.
The Christ Church Shelter is open every Friday evening from 1st January until the end of March every year.
^^Back to top|
There is currently only one church run cold weather shelter operating south of the river Thames (in Croydon). There has been talk for some years of the need for a shelter to open closer to the centre of London in Southwark or Lambeth.
Now Father Louis Darrant invites you to an exploratory meeting to discuss the possibility of organising a cold weather shelter across Lambeth and Southwark.
With Guest Speaker: Alastair Murray (Housing Justice - UNLEASH)
8.00pm, Tuesday 7th March 2006 at St John the Divine Community Centre, Frederick Crescent, SW9.
For more information please contact Fr Louis Darrant on 020 7582 2162 or email louis.darrant@btinternet.com.
Download your invitation here.
^^Back to top|
Waltham Forest Churches have long operated a seasonal cold weather shelter for the homeless of Walthamstow. On the 14th of December The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, officially opened “Branches”, a new combined day centre and night shelter which in partnership with the YMCA will accommodation and support to homeless people all year round.
Dr Williams joined the staff, volunteers and users of the night shelter for breakfast and a chat before viewing the facilities and services on offer at the Branches to people who are homeless in east London.
Later Dr Williams, along with Cllr Milton Martin, Mayor of Waltham Forest, Clare Shinner, Chief Executive of Forest YMCA, and Cllr Clyde Loakes, Leader of Waltham Forest Council, took part in an official opening ceremony, each delivering a short address.
Before blessing the project, Dr Williams told of how delighted he was to be invited to witness 'this expression of God's love and human community' that he felt characterised the Branches. He said: 'It's a great project, a great achievement, and I'm really impressed at the way volunteers have gathered around.'
Cllr Martin, a long-term supporter of the project, said people who are homeless deserve: '...somewhere where they can have shelter, an ear for them to be listened to, compassion to be shown on them, and a little bit of love and warmth.'
-Ends-
If you would like to volunteer to help out at Branches in Walthamstow please contact Peter Baldwin at Forest YMCA on 020 8509 4674 or email: peter.baldwin@forestymca.org.uk
^^Back to top|
As winter fast approaches, conditions are quickly worsening for those bedding down on the streets. Once again this year church communities across 10 London boroughs are responding by opening up Cold Weather Shelters, to provide a hot meal and basic accommodation for between 8 and 35 people. The majority of the shelters are open from 1st January - 31st March, exceptions are Croydon, Harrow and West London. The Quaker's, in addition to Crisis are running a Christmas hostel, which sleeps 120 and will be open from the 23rd to the 30th of December.
Please click on the link below to download more information on the shelters that will be open this winter. This information has been reproduced with kind permission of the Resource Information Service:
(link removed - please refer to 2006/2007 information on Housing Justice website)
.
If you're looking for emergency accommodation for tonight, the Resource Information Service have detailed information of all the winter shelters that are currently open on their new website. Please click on the link below and fill in the online form:
www.homelessuk.org/Search/hostelSearch3.asp|
The Arbishop of Canterbury shares a meal with rough sleepers and volunteers at Islington Cold Weather Shelter, March 2006.
^^Back to top|
Imperial College Community Action Group is organising a conference on Soup Runs for Saturday the 18th of February 2006, Imperial College South Kensington, Mech Eng 220, 10am – 4pm.
Imperial College has its own soup run. This conference will aim to debate whether Soup Runs are a useful resource for helping rough sleepers in London or whether they propagate the problem of rough sleeping by providing a convenient way to pursue a life on the streets.
With Speakers and project talks from Westminster Council, Shelter, Crisis, UNLEASH, ASLAN, The Passage, STAR and the Big Issue.
Please download the full Conference programme for more information.
^^Back to top|
Homelink - 100 people housed
HomeLink, Quaker Social Action’s rent in advance scheme, has reached a major milestone, housing 100 homeless people in the last 8 months. The project has housed and supported 1225 homeless east Londoners since 1994. Based in Tower Hamlets, HomeLink, works to house and support ‘non–priority’ homeless people in east London. More>
^^Back to top|
The first meeting of the new London Soup Run Forum hosted by UNLEASH was held on the 23rd of November 2005 at the American Church in London. It was attended by 34 people which included representives from 11 large soup runs operating in central London. It was also attended by an Inspector from the MET (Malcolm Barnard), one rough sleeper and several journalists.
There was much debate around co-ordination, who uses soup runs, and the negative portrayals in the media. The main outcome of the meeting was agreement that better co-ordination, good practice guidelines and information are needed. Please click on the following link to download your invitation to the next soup run forum and a summary of what was agreed: SOUP NEWS 1105
The next Soup Run Forum will be held on Wednesday 8th of February at 7pm. Venue: All Souls Clubhouse, 141 Cleveland St, London, W1T 6QG.
For background information on the recent debates surrounding soup runs please click on the following link: http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/hjunleash/oldweb/htmdocs/download.htm#articles
^^Back to top|
Photo exhibition IMPRISONED: the damaging effects of immigration detention
Asylum Aid, Bail for Immigration Detainees and Detention Advice Service invite you to a photographic exhibition by Isabelle Merminod at the Spitz Gallery, 109 Old Spitalfields Market, Commercial Street, London E1 18-30 January 2006. Open each day 12 noon to 5pm. Free entry.
Over 2,200 people are locked up in immigration detention in the UK at any one time. More than 75,000 people are estimated to be detained each year. Children, families, single women and men are held for indefinite periods even though they are not accused of committing any crime. The UK regularly detains families with babies as young as one month. It is estimated that over 2000 children are locked up each year. There is no time limit - official figures show that nearly half of detainees are held for longer than a month, with nearly 10% held for more than six months. Seven immigration detainees took their own lives between January 2003 and September 2005. The Government intends to increase the use of detention despite having already doubled detention places since 1997.
This exhibition is sponsored by Asylum Aid, Bail for Immigration Detainees, Detention Advice Service, Churches' Commission for Racial Justice, Two Garden Court Chambers, Sigrid Rausing Trust, Spitz Gallery and the Dandelion Trust.
^^Back to top|
This Christian investment scheme has been running in the North West, in Southport now for several years and has re-housed over 300 people whilst caring for them pastorally.
If you would like to learn more, All Souls Langham Place is holding an event to launch Green Pastures in London on 28th January 2006 at St. Paul's Robert Adam Street in W1 from 10am to 2pm. Buffet Lunch and Refreshments provided.
RSVP to:office@argylechurch.co.uk
More information is available from www.greenpastureshousing.co.uk
^^Back to top|
New RIS website - Now Live!
RIS's previous Hostels Online and Homeless London websites have been combined and updated to produce a brand new England wide homelessness website.
The new version is a public access website where users are able to view details of both residential and non-residential services for homeless people across England.
Click on the following link to access the new site: http://www.homelessuk.org/|
^^Back to top|
Enterprising Action Event – 8th December
This event is for people with experience of homelessness who might be interested in setting up their own enterprise: self-help group, business, service user group or social enterprise.
Date: Thursday 8th December
Time: 10.00-2.00pm
Venue: HMS President, Victoria Embankment
Free lunch provided and travel reimbursment within London
For more information please call Atholl Halle at Groundswell on 020 7737 5500 or email athol@groundswell.org.uk
Article by Chigor Chike, UNLEASH trustee
Anybody who is familiar with the homelessness scene in this country would not be surprised to learn that there is currently a debate in central London about soup runs – whether they are making a positive or a negative contribution to the life of the people on the street. The case against soup runs is being led by Westminster City Council* and it can be summarized as follows: 1) there is an over provision of soup runs compared with rough sleepers; 2) soup runs are contributing to keeping homeless people on the street and are “drawing them out of accommodation and back into street culture”; 3) soup run provision is often not integrated into any other service to help people get off the street; 4) the vast majority of soup run users are not rough sleepers, and 5) many of the providers travel into Westminster from outside London. We will address each of these claims, specifically, later, but since Westminster City Council also point out that two-thirds of soup run operators are faith groups (predominantly Christians), a more fundamental task is setting out some of the ideas that might lie behind the actions of the Christian soup runners. More>
* Westminster City Council's concerns are summarised in the following report which charts the results of a mapping exercise they undertook into Soup Runs operating in Westminster. To download it, click on the following link: WCC Soup Run Mapping Report. For further background on this debate, please click on the link below: Download/articles_Soup Run Debate|.
^^Back to top|
PRESS RELEASE
New Forum debunks Soup Run myths:
There has been heated debate over recent months about services for homeless and vulnerable people in London, especially volunteer led soup runs. They are criticized for providing a service that keeps people on the streets, even that they “lure people who are too lazy to cook.” (The Times, Saturday 10 September 2005). Westminster City Council says that there are too many of them. At their recent Soup Summit, it was asserted that there is “One soup run for every two rough sleepers”.
UNLEASH and Housing Justice believe that these myths need to be challenged and debunked. Soup runs have a vital part to play in bringing homeless people the help they so desperately need. More>
For further information on the London Soup Run Forum contact Alastair Murray at UNLEASH, tel: 020 7723 8874 email: alastair@unleash.org.uk|.
Released: 16/09/2005
^^Back to top|
Every year a service of Commemoration is held at St. Martin-In-The-Field's for those who have died homeless. The service this year will be held at 12 noon on Thursday 10th November.
The main focus of the service is the reading out of the names of people who are known to have died homeless in the last year. We are often shocked by the number who have died, especially so young.
The aim of the service is to show respect to people who may have died without the knowledge of anyone particularly close to them. The outcome is an accessible and moving occasion.
If you know of anyone who has died homeless in the last year, please get in touch with Roger Shaljean, it is not too late to add their names to the list. Tel: 020 77665544 or Email mailto:info@cstm.org.uk|.
^^Back to top|
"POINTS OF VIEW: SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS IN WESTMINSTER"
Please note: This conference is now fully booked.
Please click on the following link for the official press release.
^^Back to top|
Every year the churches of 10 key boroughs across London join together to provide a meal and basic overnight accommodation to London's homeless in the coldest months of the year.
The first of the shelters opened over 10 years ago in Newham. The idea has gradually been taken up by other church communities across London, particularly North of the river. The only borough currently involved in South London is Croydon.
UNLEASH hosts a forum for those co-ordinating the shelters to discuss their experiences and concerns and work towards operations of best practice. However there is no overarching co-ordination. The majority of the shelters are almost entirely operated by volunteers and have an informal, open access policy. Consequently little was known about those using the shelters.
It was therefore felt that undertaking some research into who was using the nightshelters and why would be highly beneficial. The London charity Broadway funded by the London Housing Foundation undertook this research last winter and presented the findings at a Seminar in June. Both the summary and the full report (which includes a breakdown by project) are available to download from this site, just click on the link below.
Please visit our Download/research section| to download these reports.
Updated 13/10/2005
^^Back to top|
The Pavement is a free and independent monthly newspaper written for the homeless of London. Copies are distributed in day centres and night shelters used by rough sleepers, financially vulnerable Londoners and newcomers from other parts of the country or from abroad. The Pavement offers advice and entertainment as well as providing full listings of the free services available to London's homeless.
Alastair Murray, UNLEASH development worker said "This is a really great paper, much needed for its more radical perspective".
Visit http://www.thepavement.co.uk/| for more information.^^Back to top|
Earlier this year Westminster council undertook a mapping exercise* to ascertain the scope of soup run provision in Westminster. They now invite all faith and voluntary organisations to a meeting on 12th September to discuss the findings.
Westminster council say they are particularly concerned that "there are too many soup runs entering Westminster which are not in contact with us or aware of the many services in existence".
*Please visit our Download/articles section| to download this report and other related articles, including UNLEASH's response to the views expressed by Westminster council at this meeting.
^^Back to top|
All workshops are run by professional tutors and are free. All abilities are welcome!
The programme runs from the 25th of July to the 18th of September and is being held at Crisis Skylight, 66 Commercial St, E1 6LT. Full details are available from:
http://www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk/|
^^Back to top|
This summer's free festival is being held from the 19th -24th of July 2005, at Peoples Show, Pollards Row, Bethnal Green, E2.
Workshops include circus and stage skills, making CDs and creative writing. Vegetarian food will be provided by Food For All at 1pm and 6pm.
The full timetable of events is available at:
http://www.tenfeetaway.org/site.html|
^^Back to top|
^^Back to top|
^^Back to top|
^^Back to top|
^^Back to top|
^^Back to top|
^^Back to top|
The Union Chapel was the venue for the first festival of Homeless Arts, "Ten Feet Away". The Festival ran from 13th to 18th April, and included performances, workshops, an exhibition of visual arts, drop-in activities and an internet cafe.
Details and reports from the festival website:
www.tenfeetaway.net|
Tel: 020 7226 1686
Nearest tube/BR: Highbury Corner
^^Back to top|
Congratulations to Mike O'Driscoll of St. Ignatius Housing Association on his MBE in the Queens New Year Honours List. Mike was awarded this in recognition for his work with the Homeless Employment in London Project (HELP Van) over the last 10 years.
Here are some details about this project:
Homeless Employment in London Project -
Help Van Jobcentre
Tel: 0370 346 539
Office tel: 020 7853 3200
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square.
Hours: Mon - Thurs 9:30am - 12 noon;
Various sites: pm. (Telephone first to check.)
On Fridays the van is off the road and at:
Denmark Street Jobcentre
(Tottenham Court Road Station),
1 -3 Denmark Street,
London WC2H 8LP.
Services:
^^Back to top|
This partnership is an alternative to Police custody and includes St Mungos, police and Home Office.
More information on the First London Detox Project|
^^Back to top|
PHOTO GALLERY
Housing Justice UNLEASH Launch, May 2006
Revd Ken Leech, Founder of Centrepoint, Ex-Chair of UNLEASH
Attendees participate in Speed Seminars
Church Cold Weather Shelters
The Archbishop of Canterbury helps out at Islingston Cold Weather Shelter, March 2006
Archbishop of Canterbury meets with London Church Shelter Volunteers
