Streetwise Jan–April 2018

STREET WISE January – April 2018

Client story: Mary “They never gave up on me.”

LIFE painting How art is helping people heal

THE SUPPORTER MAGAZINE OF CRISIS CENTRE MINISTRIES

“Without the Wild Goose, I wouldn’t be here.

They’ve saved my life.”

Contents / 1 News in brief / 2 Staff highlight / 4 Simon’s story / 6 LIFE painting / 9 Volunteering / 10 Mary’s story / 12 Finance and fundraising / 15 Upcoming events

Editorial

About us

A new year is upon us! Time for setting good habits, and perhaps trying to un-set some bad ones (before making renewed attempts at Lent).

We are a Christian charity that has been working in Bristol for over 30 years. We’re dedicated to helping the most vulnerable and marginalised in society achieve healthy and independent lives.

However, it’s not all about resolutions.

Around this time, a lot of churches across the world will be celebrating Epiphany: the revelation of God incarnate as the person of Jesus Christ. Some commemorate the revelation to the Magi; others Jesus’ baptism and the Wedding at Cana. It is a time when we think about eyes being opened; about looking and seeing what’s really there in front of us.

Our mission is to empower personal change through offering food, shelter, hope and support through our four main projects: the Wild Goose drop-in centre, the LIFE Recovery project, the East Bristol Foodbank and the Spring of Hope women’s night shelter.

In some parts of the world the festival is also referred to as ‘Theophany,’ meaning ‘God shining forth’. So this is our prayer as we begin the year: that in the world, our community, and especially in the lives of the people we work with, we might glimpse just that: God shining forth.

Matt Parsons Editor

Contact us 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY T. 0117 330 1230 admin@crisis-centre.org.uk www.crisis-centre.org.uk Company No. 2214814 Registered Charity No. 298528

News in brief Award-winning work at the Wild Goose

A weekend away with LRG

In September, Jonathan and Jonnie attended the Premier Love Britain + Ireland Awards in London. The Wild Goose was nominated in the Community Building category, which it didn’t win. Our pair of hopeful nominees were understandably disappointed by this – but were then shocked and humbled when the Wild Goose was awarded the top prize of the evening: the overall Love Britain + Ireland Award.

The Life Recovery Group’s fourth annual weekend away was their ‘best one yet,’ according to Sophy Teasdale, Deputy Manager of Life Recovery. 36 people enjoyed the weekend, all of whom have struggled with addiction and mental health issues, some just managing to stop using for the three days the group were away.

If you want to find out more about the weekend, you can read Sophy’s full report at www.crisis-centre.org.uk/weekendaway2017

Our Celebration and AGM

The award, of course, isn’t just for Jonnie and Jonathan – it’s for everyone who supports and shares in the work of the Wild Goose.

We’re so glad that everything you do has been recognised in this way. Thank you to all who support this project.

We are going through a rebrand

Our annual general meeting was held on October 9th, and this year featured a Q&A with the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees. It was great to celebrate with so many of you – thank you all for coming.

You might have noticed that several different ministries make up CCM: there’s the Wild Goose, Spring of Hope, the LIFE Recovery project and East Bristol Foodbank. So in order to help our partners and supporters better understand what we do, we’re going through rebranding. We’re in the early stages at the moment and will update you as we go.

You can read more about the evening at www.crisis-centre.org.uk/AGM2017summary.

Here, you’ll also find a copy of our Annual Report.

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Staff highlight

Andy Kinnersley Deputy Manager for Provision, Wild Goose 2

Andy joined the team in August 2017, so we thought it was high time we got to know him a little better.

What were you doing before you joined CCM?

What has been the highlight of the job so far?

I was working as a chef de partie for the Ministry of Defence, and before that for Waitrose and John Lewis. I was very content – I certainly wasn’t looking to move!

Other places I’ve worked have been a bit cold and corporate. But there’s a great team here, with a real serving heart. So there’s that, there’s making a difference in Bristol, and then there’s all the wonderful and eccentric clients.

What made you apply for the role?

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

A friend tagged me in the job posting on Facebook, and then a separate person from church said I should go for it too. But I didn’t have the right qualifications. Then I couldn’t make the interview. Then the person I’d put down for a reference got sacked. All the same, Jonnie graciously invited me in for an interview and a trial shift. And after they’d seen me interacting with the clients, they offered me the job. Even if you don’t know where you’re going, God does!

I’ve got a young daughter, so I spend a lot of time with her and my wife. We (my wife and I) are setting up a home group at church. Other than that, I enjoy getting out to see a gig or two.

They’re showing Raiders of the Lost Ark with full orchestra at Colston Hall, so I’m hoping not to miss that!

“Other places I’ve worked have been a bit cold and corporate. But there’s a great team here, with a real serving heart. So there’s that, there’s making a difference in Bristol, and then there’s all the wonderful and eccentric clients.”

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Client story

Simon started working life with 14 O Levels, 4 A Levels and an honours degree in philosophy. He worked as a carpenter for the National Theatre, before becoming Master Carpenter at the Bristol Old Vic. But when he got made redundant, things started going wrong.

“A lot of people work because they have to – they don’t particularly enjoy their jobs, but they’ve got bills to pay. But I really loved my job. Being made redundant broke my heart.

Then my wife decided she didn’t like me anymore, and shot off with my two young sons and my dog. I don’t know where my family are now.

That’s when it all started going wrong. I got depressed and started drinking quite heavily.

I lived in Bristol for a while afterwards, then moved to Haywards Heath with a new

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girlfriend and a new job. But neither worked out. I had no money after we split up, and I couldn’t get accommodation, because it wasn’t where I came from. Those are the rules, apparently. So I had to come back to Bristol.

and I woke up in the BRI, with tubes and wires sticking out of me.

They said they suspected I had tuberculosis – TB. They told me I wasn’t going anywhere until my blood tests came back. I ended up being in there for a fortnight over Christmas. But it turned out to be pneumonia – from living in a damp, mouldy dungeon I think!

I had an Audi estate car so I lived in the back of that for a while. Then I went to the Compass Centre and they found me a place in Easton, a room in a shared house. I’m still living there now, but I’ve got my name down with Home Choice. Soon I’ll be able to start bidding for somewhere else to live. Because I almost died last year. My pal found me unconscious. It was winter time, and it’s freezing where I live, and damp and horrible. He called the ambulance

I still wasn’t very well. I was suffering from depression, confusion – hopelessness, basically. Then one of my housemates said, “Do you know there’s a place round the corner, a café, that’ll help you?” I explained I didn’t have any money, but he said, “No no, it’s free!”

I’ve been coming [to the Wild Goose] most days for over two years now I think. Not every day – I think it’s cheating a bit if I’ve got enough to get by. It’s a bit of company, apart from anything else. I’ve made friends here.

There’s a gang that plays chess, a strange sort of club!

Without the Wild Goose, I wouldn’t be here. They’ve saved my life. It sounds a bit melodramatic, but that’s the truth! I would’ve just spiralled into depression and drink.

They’re really, really kind people, in there. You get all sorts of help. It’s just nice to know that somebody cares, really.”

We continue to support Simon by helping him to apply for benefits, submitting bids for alternative suitable accommodation and accompanying him to council appointments.

Simon 5

Painting LIFE

By Matt Parsons, Communications Officer

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life,” Pablo Picasso has been quoted as saying. Some of us might feel like we’ve experienced this ‘washing away’: perhaps a particular painting, book, or piece of music has moved us, and caused us to look at the world in renewed wonder. What once seemed everyday or humdrum has become re-enchanted.

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‘Problems can seem to amplify until they become too much to bear, too difficult to face up to.’ they become too much to bear, too difficult to face up to. This can often lead to tragic consequences.

However, it’s not just everyday dust that art deals with. It can be a powerful healing tool too, which has been the basis for a new course in the LIFE Recovery project.

But painting helps people to get out of their heads, says Rachel. “Once they’re painting, even the most introverted person will start talking about how they’re feeling, emotions that are coming up, sharing their stories.”

Once these stories are shared, the problems that once seemed so overwhelming become easier to process.

LIFE Recovery teaches essential life skills to people struggling with addiction, recovering from abuse or suffering from other mental health problems. It also hosts support groups in church settings for clients who want to know more about Christianity. Clients are helped to take the next steps on their journey to recovery, equipped for the road ahead.

Now, as part of a partnership with Severn Vineyard Church, LIFE Recovery are running painting lessons for clients. The sessions encourage them to explore creative expression, which can help with the processing of difficult and traumatic emotions.

Rachel Goodchild, who teaches the sessions, says that self-expression is a key part of building self-confidence, and can open up ways of communicating that had previously seemed blocked. This makes painting a surprising but incredibly useful tool for people who are suffering and in pain.

The anxiety that can accompany depression, addiction and any form of abuse often causes people to report feeling ‘trapped’ inside their heads. Problems can seem to amplify until 7

Quite how this works psychologically or physiologically, Rachel isn’t entirely sure of – but she’s observed it happening time after time. She sees it as being directly to do with God: “We have a creative God, and I really feel Him encouraging us all to be creative, in His image.” Perhaps painting, then, is a way of rediscovering our relationship with our loving creator.

community that it creates within a group,” she says. Painting together helps people build the relationships that are so important both in recovery and everyday life.

In Rachel’s own story, God and art are closely linked. At 18, she had hit rock bottom, and was on the verge of suicide.

But through art, she found a way of reconnecting with herself and the world, and ultimately with God. She went on to study art at university, and now spends her life teaching painting skills to vulnerable people, who are often in similar situations to her 18-year-old self.

We’ll be talking to one of our clients about how painting has helped them in their recovery, so make sure you look out for their story on our website. In the meantime, we think it’s best to let the art speak for itself. We hope it washes some dust away.

Rachel has been teaching the art sessions at LIFE Recovery for only four weeks, but she can already see the difference they’re making.

People are already more confident, and feel more able to talk about the things they’re going through. And Rachel is adamant that change doesn’t simply take place on an individual level: “Often it’s more about the sense of

The paintings featured in this article are all the work of people participating in the LIFE course.

‘Painting together helps people build the relationships that are so important both in recovery and everyday life.’

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Volunteering “I do this because I love the ethos. God is doing powerful work here and that’s why I keep coming back.”

Vanessa

“The conversations and breakthroughs with the clients make each week worthwhile.” Judith

“These people have fallen on hard times. It’s important to talk about these things. If I can help somebody along the way, I will.” Andy

CCM provides a wide range of services to rough sleepers and those living in high risk and vulnerable situations. But none of this would be possible without the 500+ volunteers that contribute in all aspects of our work.

Whatever your talent or time commitment, we will find a role for you. Please get in touch with our volunteer coordinator Steve at steve.smith@crisis-centre.org.uk or call him on 0117 405 7112.

Poverty is steadily increasing, so we’re always in need of additional volunteers. If you’re able to help us on a regular (or irregular) basis, we’d love to hear from you. There are lots of different tasks that need to be done in order for our services to run smoothly. This might be sorting out our clothing or food stores, preparing/ serving food or filling out forms with clients.

We also host student placements and corporate volunteering days.

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MARY 10

Client story

Once I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, my life was never the same. My five children were all put into care and I was in and out of psychiatric units up until three years ago. One day the NHS Crisis team came to get me and put a six-month section on me, and during those six months I got evicted. They used to send me home for a night or two during the section, and I would go back to my flat and I wouldn’t be able to get in. It was at that point that I ended up on the streets. and drink, a mattress, a nice hot shower and a hot breakfast.

I became aware of Spring of Hope when I became homeless. I bumped into this nice guy who showed me where to go when I needed food and all that. So when I was really, really desperate, I would go there for a bed for the evening.

It provided me with somewhere warm to come and have a talk and have a prayer with somebody. They also provided me with hope, strength and encouragement to carry on. That was four years ago. It led to better things.

When I am down and low I blame myself.

They just made me feel warm and I felt I belonged in society even though I felt all alone. It made me feel that there were good people out there. I was really unwell a lot of the time that I stayed at the women’s night shelter. They never gave up on me. They provided me with hot food

Now I have got myself a one bedroom flat in Cornwall and I am happy there. But all my family are up country. I spend a lot travelling back and forth to see them.

I still miss Val [the shelter manager].

The place means a lot to me.

“They never gave up on me.”

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Will your final wishes be carried out?

A recent YouGov survey has revealed that nearly two thirds of the British adult population don’t have a will, reminding some of us that we ought to get writing. If you’re putting yours together, would you consider leaving a gift for Crisis Centre Ministries?

After providing for your loved ones, of course, please do consider including us in your will.

We are an established charity of 30 years’ experience, trusted by thousands of clients for

support. Your gift, large or small will provide practical, financial and emotional aid including food, clothing and temporary accommodation to those in need.

Types of gifts There are four different types of gifts that you can leave us in your will:

A share of your estate

A cash gift

A specific gift

A gift in trust

You could choose to leave a share of your estate, known as a residuary gift.

Some people choose to leave a fixed sum of money, although the value of this can decrease with inflation.

You might wish to leave us a specific item, which we can use ourselves, give to a client or sell to raise funds for our work.

You can choose to leave estate or items to loved ones to enjoy in their lifetime, and specify that the gift is passed on to us upon their death.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT We continue to be blessed by your support in funding our projects which are a lifeline to many of our service users. Thank you to all of you who have undertaken challenges, nominated us as your charity of the year, donate to us on a regular basis or fundraise for us.

We simply could not run our work without you.

A big thank you.

RAISED SO FAR £5,915

TARGET £12,000

Trauma appeal update

Our Current Financial Status

In the previous Streetwise, we ran an appeal for the Life trauma support group and we are pleased to let you know that we have raised £5,915 so far towards our £12,000 target. This extension to our existing work is to help vulnerable service users tackle and process their childhood trauma. We will be working to start up this group with the faith that the rest of the funds will come in.

To donate please go to www.crisis-centre.org.uk/ donateliferecovery

2017/8 Second quarter year to date (Apr-Sep): Actual Income

£239k

Actual Expenditure

£240k

Deficit

£1k

Our actual income is higher than targeted and our expenditure is lower than budgeted and therefore this deficit is expected and better than planned.

At the end of last financial year, we had reserves of £152k which represents 3.3 months of income.

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Become a regular supporter As we enter a new year, we’re asking people to think about becoming regular supporters of Crisis Centre Ministries.

You might already donate on a semiregular basis, or you might not have thought about giving before.

health problems all mean that our clients’ lives can be highly chaotic.

In the face of this chaos, one of the greatest things you can offer them is stability. Your regular donations mean that, while everything around them is uncertain, there’s always somewhere people can rely on for support and love.

“But if I already give to CCM, what’s the problem?” you might ask. There’s no problem at all! We’re incredibly grateful for your donations, and the help they provide to Bristol’s most vulnerable people.

We fully appreciate that it’s not something everyone will be able to commit to. But if you’d like to set up a regular donation, you can do so on our website, or using the form on the back of this magazine.

So why are we asking you to think about donating regularly?

Homelessness, addiction, and mental

Thank you.

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What our service users say about us: “If I didn’t come to the Wild Goose, I would never leave my flat.”

“Thank you for your help and support with everything and helping me move to Bristol. I really could not have coped with everything. I’m now starting to feel a little better and safer and now, thanks to you, I can really see a future for myself.”

“‘The quality of mercy is not strained.’ The staff in the Goose are the kindest and most patient people in the world.”

“I’m sorry you’ve seen me in bad shape and in a bad way. You’ve seen me in the worst of times and you never once judged me and I’m grateful for that. I admire you for what you do because it shows you have a big heart.”

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Cut out and keep me!

Upcoming training Addiction & Recovery Training This training series, now in its third year, equips churches and pastoral care workers to better understand and support people struggling with addiction.

Trauma and Attachment Date: Sat 13th January Time: 9:30am–12:30pm Venue: Woodlands Church, Woodland Rd, Bristol BS8 2AA This session explores the effects of trauma, and how relationships can help people recover.

Mental Health Date: Sat 10th March Time: 9:30am–12:30pm Venue: Woodlands Church, Woodland Rd, Bristol BS8 2AA

LIFE RECOVERY GROUP | SUPPORTING RECOVERY – GROWING FAITH | 2017–18

UNDERSTANDING

ADDICTION & SUPPORTING RECOVERY IN THE CHURCH Saturday Morning Training Seminars 23.09.17 18.11.17 13.01.18 10.03.18 12.05.18 08.07.18

Addiction & the Brain Relapse & Recovery Trauma & Attachment Mental Health The 12 Step Programme & Mutual Aid Groups From Homelessness to Independent Living

Dr. Fergus Law, Consultant Psychiatrist Ant Newman, Recovery Navigator Fr. Giles Lascelle, Trauma Specialist P-J Charters, BABCP Therapist Lydia Davenport, Drugs & Alcohol Counsellor Richard Sayer, Salvation Army Hostel Manager

VENUE: Woodlands Church, Upper Hall, BS8 2AA TIME: 9.30–12.30am Coffee from 9.15am Suggested donation £5 per session on the door | Refreshments provided To book your place or for more information please go to: www.liferecoverygroup.org or call 07858 757 226

This sessions looks at the physical, psychological and spiritual roots of mental health problems, and provides an introduction to psychosis and self-harm.

To find out more about this training series or to register for this session please go to: www.liferecoverygroup.org/cms/index.php/training

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Five

reasons why you should donate today 1 2 3 4 5

The number of people rough sleeping in England has risen for the sixth consecutive year, to an estimated 4,134.1 One in every 170 Bristol residents is homeless.2 Recent changes in welfare have led to people being evicted due to the inability to access benefits.3

The growing housing crisis is also fuelling homelessness. For example, rental prices in London have increased 24% since 2010 whilst average wages only 3%.4 A homeless rough sleeper is 35 times more likely to attempt suicide than someone who has never faced homelessness.5 1. Department for Communities and Local Government, 2016: Rough sleeping in England: autumn 2016 2. Shelter, 2017: Far from alone: Homelessness in Britain in 2017 3. Housing Justice, 2017: Homelessness Overview 2017 4. Ibid 5. Ibid

As homelessness increases, your help becomes even more important.

ÂŁ8 ÂŁ17 ÂŁ30 could help provide a homeless person with a hot meal, emergency supplies and initial support work.

could help provide a vulnerable woman with a clean, warm bed in a safe environment.

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could help support someone towards employment and independent living.

Sign me up!

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Other Full Name: Address: Postcode: Phone: Email: D.O.B: Please send me Streetwise 3 times a year in the post Please send me your fortnightly email bulletin Please complete and return this form to: FREEPOST RSTX-XTYH-CJCA, Crisis Centre Ministries, 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY Data protection: Crisis Centre Ministries will not share your information with any third party except the HM Revenue & Customs. Crisis Centre Ministries would like to regularly update you on our work, news and activities.

I would like to give a gift!

(You can also donate online via www.crisis-centre.org.uk)

Single Donation I would like to make a single donation of

£10

£20

£50

other £

I enclose my cheque/postal order payable to Crisis Centre Limited.

Regular Donation I/We would like to make a monthly gift of: £8

£17

£30

starting from

other £ (dd/mm/yy) until further notice.

Name(s) of Account Holder(s)

Bank/Building Society Name

Bank/Building Society Full Address

Postcode Sort Code.

Account No.

Instructions to your Bank/Building Society: Please pay this sum to Crisis Centre Limited, a/c number 01408518 sort code 40-14-13 HSBC, 62 George White Street, Cabot Circus, Bristol, BS1 3BA.

And your gift will mean 25% more!

For every £1 you donate, Gift Aid allows us to claim 25p from HM Revenue & Customs – increasing the value of your gift at no cost to you.

Gift Aid Declaration: Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts made: in the past 4 years/today/in the future* I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.

Full Name (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms*) Address Postcode Tel/Mobile

Email

Signature

Date

Please return this form to: FREEPOST RSTX-XTYH-CJCA, Crisis Centre Ministries, 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY

Thank you for your support

JA18

Get involved

Pray

Donate

Volunteer

Fundraise

Pray for current developments, for our service users, staff and trustees. Join our expanding team of prayer supporters tackling homelessness in Bristol by emailing prayer@crisiscentre.org.uk

Your contributions help us to provide free hot meals, practical & emotional support and a safe, nurturing environment for homeless and vulnerable people. You can set up a donation online via our website or fill out and return the attached giving form.

Come and be a part of our life-impacting work. We are a small charity and there is always more that can be done. We need volunteers across the whole organisation from back office admin to front line support of clients.

Call Steve Smith, our volunteer coordinator, on 0117 405 7112 and we will find a role for your skills.

Host an event, take part in a challenge event or nominate us as your preferred charity at your work, church or community group.

Follow us facebook.com/crisiscentreministries @crisiscentre Subscribe to our fortnightly e-bulletin at www.crisis-centre.org.uk