Supported housing
Changing Lives (previously 'The Cyrenians') is one of the country’s leading and most progressive homeless charities.
Through ''Changing Lives, Building Futures’' they offer an holistic approach to tackling the needs of vulnerable and socially disadvantaged people. They support people in need by helping them make sustainable, positive change in their lives.
The Fells is Changing Lives' first supported housing project in County Durham. Direct Access and Supported Accommodation is provided to 45 residents in 13 chalet bungalows each of which has four or five bedrooms with shared sitting rooms and kitchens. The site is in a tranquil, rural setting between Chester-le-Street and Durham, just off the A167, and covers almost 4½ acres.
Changing Lives took over the project (under their former name, The Cyrenians) in Spring 2009 and has begun work to encourage local support service providers to deliver their services from The Fells site, in partnership with Changing Lives. Plans are being developed to provide purpose built facilities to meet the development needs of service users and providers and to create structured training and skills programmes which relate to real employment opportunities within the County which meet local workforce needs both now and in the future.
You can not self-refer to this project but if you are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, please contact the Housing Solutions Service at Durham County Council and they will discuss your options (telephone 03000 268 000).
Contact:
Central Office
Architectural House
Plummer Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7AB
Tel: 0191 273 8891
Fax: 0191 256 2914
Email: central.office@tcuk.org
website: www.changing-lives.org.uk
Durham Action on Single Housing Ltd. is an independent charity, although it is in contact with other similar charities dealing with supported accommodation and homelessness. The trustees meet bi-monthly and are responsible for the overall management and control of the charity, receiving reports from the Business and Personnel sub-committees.
Objectives of Durham Action on Single Housing:
- The relief of poverty, in particular by the provision of housing to people 'lacking the necessities of life'.
- To promote the care, education and training of people with a mental or physical disability.
DASH support includes:
- Help with accessing Housing and Council Tax benefit.
- Help with accessing mainstream housing.
- Setting up and maintaining a new tenancy.
- Directing to and liaising with specialised support agencies.
- Budgeting guidance and other daily living skills.
- Information on local services and amenities.
- Service user involvement at DASH Focus group meetings.
- Regular supervised drop-ins.
Registered Office Address:
Durham Action on Single Housing Ltd.
32-34 Dragonville Industrial Park
Dragon Lane
Durham
DH1 2XW
Tel: 0191 3845073
Fax: 0191 3843534
Email: email@dashorg.co.uk
website: www.dashorg.co.uk
Supported Accommodation Base Address:
Durham Action on Single Housing Ltd.
Harry Mears House
25 Dragonville
Sherburn Road
Durham
DH1 2DX
Tel: 0191 3845155
Email: hmhouse@dashorg.co.uk
The vision for Moving On (MO) is to break the cycle of youth homelessness in County Durham.
They aim to contribute considerably to improving the health and well being of young people aged 16-25 so that they become less vulnerable and have the opportunity to improve their chances of leading happy and productive lives.
- Moving On is an established charitable organisation, operating since 1998 and making the transition to a company limited by guarantee in 2005
- They have professional staff who are skilled and knowledgeable in the specific field of housing and homelessness issues and with a wider experience of social issues that affect vulnerable young people.
- A Board of Directors who have a wide range of skills and experience govern the organisation.
- The organisation is funded through grant and statutory income.
A young person can access Moving On's services at any point and not necessarily in any pre-determined order. The choice of when and at what stage they want to enter or exit the service is theirs.
Information, Advice & Guidance: The initial enquiries from young people often relate to advice on housing and benefits. At this time MO inform young people of their rights and responsibilities, taking them through what they term a ‘reality check’. An Outreach Worker delivers housing advice in community locations around the County.
Employment & Training Support:The Coalfields Regeneration Trust Community IAG service will provide you with practical assistance and advice to help you access training, find employment, access benefits/debt advice and tackle any further barriers to employment which you feel are obstructing your progress. An Outreach Worker delivers housing advice in community locations around the County.
Pre-Tenancy Support: Moving On provide continual support to help young people through the process of securing long-term accommodation and help to plan for independence.
Floating (Tenancy) Support: Housing related support is offered to young people to enable them to set up a home in the community, live independently and achieve personal goals.
MO's Army Tenancy Survival Group: Young people get together on a weekly basis every Wednesday from 2pm-5pm to share experiences, gain skills and support each other. Members of MO’s Army also participate in Lifeskills courses, a Peer Education programme, Fundraising and have access to free sports facilities.
Lifeskills:The range of modules covered is designed to support the individual needs of the group and will prepare members with skills for living independently. Modules include: Anger Management, Employability Skills, Cooking on a Budget, Sexual Health, and Drug & Alcohol Awareness.
Peer Education: The programme provides advice and information so that other young people can make informed choices when the time is right, and reduce their chances of experiencing homelessness. Ex homeless young people of MO’s Army deliver these sessions in a variety of different settings across the County, including schools and youth groups.
Sports Group: Free fitness suite and sports activities at the Maiden Castle Sports Centre in Durham.
Starter Packs: For young people in need or setting up home containing essential items including food, toiletries and cleaning material.
Free laundry service: For Moving On service users.
Contact:
Jordan House
Finchale Road
Framwellgate Moor
Durham
DH1 5HL
Tel no: 0191 3831559
Fax no: 0191 3848989
Email: info@movingondurham.org.uk
website: www.movingondurham.org.uk
ROCSOLID opened in 2007 to help vulnerable young people, and care leavers in particular, successfully transition into independent living.
"Our motivation came from a teenager who we’ll call Katie. She had complex needs and had been successfully fostered within our agency for several years.
When her placement ended at 18, she was moved to a project more used to dealing with people with physical disabilities. Without the right kind of support and boundaries, she offended and now lives in a secure residential unit. Our team still keep in touch with her to this day.
But what, we wondered, could we have done to have ensured a better future for her?
Our answer was, good quality supported accommodation with key workers who are passionate about helping young people succeed in life.
We literally started with one young person and now have anywhere between 30 and 40, including young families, pregnant teenagers, those with complex needs, people with a history of offending - not all are care leavers but all are vulnerable."
ROCSOLID offer accommodation and life skills training to predominantly 16-25 year olds, who are:
- previously 'Looked After'
- subject to child protection plans in relation to themselves or their child/children
- homeless and vulnerable
Contact:
Hope House
Burnhope
Newton Aycliffe
Co Durham DL5 7ER
Tel: 01325 310009
Fax: 01325 320839
Email: info@reachoutcare.co.uk
website: www.reachoutcare.co.uk/rocsolid
Stonham
Stonham is one of England’s largest care and support providers. They offer a range of products and services to meet the needs of vulnerable people across the country at both a local and national level. Stonham actively reviewing their services and exploring new options to make sure they can continue to meet the needs of their clients.
Stonham apply their national expertise at a local level, so they can provide a responsive and professional service. As part of Home Group, Stonham can combine their expertise and experience in both general needs and supported housing.
Contact:
The Gateway
Bede House
Bock 1, St Cuthbert's Way
Newton Aycliffe
DL5 9NN
Tel: 01325 328054/ 0800 073 1837
Email: gatewaydurham@homegroup.org.uk
website: www.homegroup.co.uk/careandsupport/stonhamservices
The Cobseo (The Confederation of Service Charities) Housing Cluster (CHC) works to provide accommodation for the ex Service community and to integrate the veterans’ housing sector, seeking to provide clear pathways for ex-Service personnel in housing need throughout the United Kingdom to move into permanent homes.
Veterans' Housing Advice is a new service that brings together all members of the CHC into a single service. Provided by Cobseo in partnership with The Royal British Legion, Shelter and Connect Assist, its main aim is to make accessing the services of those charities easier through a telephone helpline open seven days a week from 8am-8pm.
There is now a Veterans' Housing Advice (VHA) web site: www.veteranshousingadvice.org.uk
Services provided by members of the CHC include:
• Supported Accommodation - providing temporary accommodation for veterans, with support.
• Long Term Housing - providing settled accommodation for veterans, with or without support.
• General Needs - Unsupported housing for members of the ex-Service community unable to buy or rent on the open market. Tenants will usually be self-sufficient, but may need to avail themselves of some of the floating support listed. Some adapted properties may be available or adaptations arranged as necessary.
• Floating Support - Services delivered by visiting workers to people in their own homes to help people maintain their settled accommodation.
• Outreach Services - Covering work with rough sleepers or people in temporary accommodation to help them access more settled accommodation and any support needs.
• Day Centres - The provision of activities and support to homeless and vulnerably housed people.
The Waddington Street Centre offers support and opportunities to people in the North Durham area who experience enduring mental health problems. They provide a wide range of quality services, including educational courses, within a welcoming environment.
Waddington Street Centre is an independent, voluntary sector organisation where service users, volunteers and staff work closely together to improve the quality of people's lives, support recovery and self-development and make care in the community a reality.
The Centre offers a wide range of learning and personal development opportunities to service users. These include social support, educational opportunities, group activities and advisory services.
In partnership with New College Durham, the Centre currently offers over 25 courses each week during the 3 academic terms ranging from arts/culture to
healthy lifestyles, personal development and lifelong-learning. Group activities include music and poetry performances and educational and leisure trips away from the Centre.
Contact:
3 Waddington Street
Durham
DH1 4BG
Tel: 0191 386 0702
email:- Steve Wakefield (Centre Manager): swakefield@waddingtoncentre.co.uk
email:- Susan Melton (Development Worker): smelton@waddingtoncentre.co.uk
website: www.waddingtoncentre.co.uk
Chester Le Street YMCA is home to 30 homeless people participating in training, supporting each other, and moving on in life. Many other people use training facilities, media equipment & activities. The aim of the project is to work with the homeless to offer support, create opportunities, to change an improve lives with not only people who reside at the project but also those from the local community. We offer people a chance to have some choice and power over their life, to find opportunities and new experiences, to think about who they want to be, and make a start on that journey.
Through the Market Place Training we have the initiative to develop holistic youth work and training courses which coincides with the development of citizenship and community development, whilst targeting those at risk of failing in education or committing crime or anti-social behaviour.
YMCA also offer a number of Training Opportunities for 16-18 year olds and a number of organised courses for 19+.
Contact:
47 Front Street
Chester le Street
DH3 3BH
Tel: 0191 388 8425
Email: housingchester@sunderlandymca.co.uk
Email for training: training@sunderlandymca.co.uk
website: www.sunderlandymca.org.uk/housing/chester-le-street-ymca-project