2017 Sep-Dec Streetwise

STREET WISE

September – December 2017

The Story of Our Food Where does the Wild Goose get its food?

Church Partnership Find out about partnering with us

THE SUPPORTER MAGAZINE OF CRISIS CENTRE MINISTRIES

Bristol’s Housing Need – how you can play a part

Contents / 1 News in brief / 2 Bristol’s Housing Need / 6 More Than Food / 8 Impact & Finance Figures 2016–17 / 10 Church Partnership / 12 The Story of Our Food / 14 Harvest appeal / 15 Upcoming events

Editorial

About us

One of the hot topics of recent local and national elections has been around housing.

The cost and lack of housing have been the main narratives. Up and down the country, the number of homeless people is increasing at an alarming rate. We explore in Bristol’s Housing Need why and how the homelessness landscape has changed in the past decade and what you can do to be part of the housing solution in Bristol.

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

Our Wild Goose drop-in centre receives food from many sources on a daily basis.

In The Story of Our Food we explain the many food routes whereby food ends up at our centre, and which items are always in great demand.

In More Than Food, the East Bristol Foodbank tells us how they are helping service users make their money go further by making savings on their water and energy bills.

We hope that you enjoy this packed edition of inspirational and encouraging stories behind our work.

Yan Lau Fundraising & Communications Manager

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.

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 Changing Lives acquired by RE:MISSION

Using contactless to help the homeless

Crisis Centre Ministries is pleased to announce that the charity RE:MISSION has bought Changing Lives (Clevedon) Ltd.

The next phase in the ‘Safer off the Streets’ campaign is the setup of contactless points in Bristol’s city centre to encourage contactless donations. When you tap with a phone or credit/debit card at one of three donation points (outside Tesco Metro, Primark and on the waterfront), a £2 donation is made to the appeal. The campaign brings together four Bristol shelters: Crisis Centre Ministries, Caring in Bristol, St. Mungo’s and the Julian Trust. It raises awareness and funds for the four charities.

The Changing Lives charity shops were jointly set up by CCM and Alabare in 2010, to provide an income stream to the two charities as well as offering volunteering opportunities to service users. In 2016, both charities entered into sale negotiations with RE:MISSION. Based in Clevedon, they help people recovering from addiction by providing training for employment, access to advice and support, and accommodation. With synergy between all three parties’ activities, amicable discussions resulted in an agreement to transfer full ownership of Changing Lives to RE:MISSION on the 1st April 2017. Proceeds from the sale will help to support CCM’s income targets.

David Tomlinson, chairman of Trustees at RE:MISSION, said: “This is a major step for the charity to take and we are excited to be able to help by investing in Changing Lives so it can build on the successes already achieved.

There is a growing demand for donated goods of all sorts together with helpers for many different roles.”

Look out for these contactless points to donate. To find out more about the campaign please go to www.fundsurfer.com/project/ bristol-rough-sleeping-partnership

Andy Street, Chair of the CCM board added: “Changing Lives has established an important presence in Clevedon, Weston and Bristol, and the new owners are committed to its further growth and development.”

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Bristol’s Housing Need

By Jonnie Angel, Wild Goose Drop-In Manager 2

Ten years ago, Bristol City Council reported that they had zero rough sleepers. Eight years ago, if someone approached Crisis Centre Ministries to find emergency accommodation for that evening, we would have been able to find a shelter space after a few phone calls. Today, it is more likely that there would be no shelter available for rough sleepers. So the question is ‘What has happened between then and now?’

The latest official street count of rough sleepers remains around 75 people, although it is estimated that there could be up to 180 people rough sleeping currently in Bristol.

‘Why isn’t more being done?’ you may ask.

The answer to this question is straightforward, however the solution is not so.

Bristol is currently the third most affluent city in the UK with the fifth highest challenge around homelessness. Ironic maybe, but one does impact the other. As the city has grown economically, attracting larger businesses, the demand for housing has increased. Therefore property prices and rents have increased, which has priced people on lower incomes out of the market.

This can be seen particularly in the increase in people who are working, but who do not have a home. Evictions of those on lower incomes or housing allowance have increased substantially, including families, couples and single people. This has put a high demand on the limited accommodation available from the council, whilst also reducing the stock available to the public sector within the private sector. It’s simple, really: the demand far outweighs the supply with diminishing affordable stock.

The most important point to understand is that the current situation has evolved over a period of time. A number of factors have influenced this, but the two main contributors have been the encouragement for home ownership and year on year financial cuts in government spending. During the mayoral elections a few years ago, rough sleeping and homelessness was one of the subjects for the various hustings. I was asked by the local media whether we were in a crisis in respect of homelessness, to which I responded “No, we are at the start of a crisis which will increase before we see decrease.” With the growing number of encampments around the city at the time, Bristol was starting to look more like a third world city.

The good news is that since last year’s election of the Mayor, Marvin Rees, there has been a drive to reduce rough sleeping and homelessness in our city, with a number of initiatives already being implemented: ‘100 beds in 100 days,’ the Churches’ Winter Night Shelter, the Safer off the Streets campaign, and the provision of a dedicated assessment centre with additional shelter accommodation.

The current situation is that the majority of housing pathways are full with limited availability at the places of entry and exit.

The impact on those who find themselves in this situation is lack of hope, frustration and a downward spiral of emotional, physical and mental health.

‘Evictions of those on lower incomes or housing allowance have increased substantially, including families, couples and single people.’

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The Christian Action Bristol website www.christianactionbristol.org.uk also lists many ways in which you can help in this and other social action areas. Alternatively, do get in touch with CCM on 0117 330 1230 or by email at admin@crisis-centre.org.uk to find out more.

So what can we do? There are a number of initiatives currently being explored through the city office in respect of providing additional housing stock. These initiatives might take up to three years before the stock becomes available. This a medium to long term solution.

The immediate and short term solution is the provision of night shelters. I would encourage you to explore how you may be able to help as there are current opportunities as well as potential new ones.

The harsh reality is that there are insufficient volunteers to run the existing night shelters.

This creates caution in providing additional ones. Could you commit to supporting existing services on a regular basis? Have a look at our list of ways to help to see how you could be part of the housing solution.

Prayer and financial support are also always needed. However, I do firmly believe that God our Father is currently challenging His church to give our time and practical support. Matthew 25: 1–46 is a passage that has stayed with me over the last twelve months or so. I would encourage you to read and meditate on it. As a nation we see poverty overseas as our mission field. Let us not be deaf and blind to the needs in our own city and country.

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Ways to help ■■ Donate into a deposit scheme to help people into the private rented sector ■■ Volunteer at an existing shelter in the city ■■ Explore ways that your church/ organisation could acquire/finance property to house people.

■■ Partner with CCM as we explore acquiring property to house the homeless ■■ Offer your spare room to help someone who is homeless for a short time

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Next month, we’re officially launching a new project at East Bristol Foodbank called ‘More Than Food’. We’ve been planning and trialling this work since May, thanks to funding from Wessex Water and Bristol Community Energy. It is great to have this work fully implemented in all four of our outlets. So far we’ve helped 18 people, but we hope to help 600 over the next 18 months.

Food More Than

By Andy Irwin, East Bristol Foodbank Manager

A volunteer team has been trained to help foodbank clients get more in control of their money. This may involve making savings on energy or water bills, getting more income through grants or understanding what benefits are available to them. The team have access to a variety of both money-saving and money-making resources that can make a real difference to people. We hope that being in control of their budget will help them weather crises a bit better.

These are two recent examples of how More Than Food has helped people: “A young man called us saying he hadn’t eaten much in two weeks, so we invited him in and gave him a food parcel. He was suffering with anxiety and paying all his bills but had

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little money left over. We applied to Wessex Water and got his water bill reduced to £5 a month from nearly £40 a month, so he could budget better and buy food for himself rather than visit the foodbank. He also got a support worker to help him over the time we saw him.”

Other clients have been referred online for debt advice or have been helped to apply for extra money to pay their rent, which isn’t quite matched by housing benefits.

These small differences mean a lot to people. Saving on fuel bills, accessing water savings schemes or getting extra benefits or grants can change people’s budgets around. We’re already seeing the difference it makes.

“A mum of four had her freezer pack up and her fridge was very old. So we applied to a local trust for a new energy-saving fridgefreezer – which will allow her to freeze food and also save money on her electricity bill.”

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Impact & Finance Figures 2016–17 Impact: In 2016/17, Crisis Centre Ministries:

placed 424 persons into short term accommodation

provided 177 new women with emergency shelter

placed 87 people into long term accommodation

served 3,200 meals every week, 50 weeks of the year

gave out 1,734 food parcels which fed 3,939 people, of which 1,649 were children

made 107 visits accompanying clients to courts, rehabs and hospitals

provided 2,874 sessions of listening support, telephone and computer use, prayer and financial support

provided 1,279 counts of practical help, including sleeping bags, clothing, toiletries and shower and laundry use

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Summary of Financial Activities for year ended 31 March 2017 Fact:

We received an estimated value of £298,585 of donated items, which plays a vital in the running of our projects.

Items such as food, clothing, toiletries, crockery and cleaning products mean that we can divert funds to where it is most urgently needed.

Income sources Businesses & Organisations £38.5k (7%) Churches £72k (13%)

Total incoming resources

£552,008

Individuals £259.5k (47%) Trusts & Foundations £171k (31%)

Total resources expended

£491,803

Other £11k (2%)

Net surplus/deficit

£60,205

Note: figures are rounded to the nearest £500 Full report and accounts will be available at the upcoming AGM celebration event on 9th October (pg.15) and on the website after the event.

Expenditure breakdown Wild Goose Drop-in £178.5k (36%) Life Recovery £94.5k (19%) Women’s Night Shelter £94.5k (19%) Foodbank £47k (10%)

Our Current Year to Date Financial Status 2016/7 First Quarter (Apr to Jun): Actual Income £127,005 Actual Expenditure £115,116

Fundraising £77k (16%)

Actual income is above target and expenditure is below budget.

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Church Partnership Photo: Rachel Mason, link person at St Michael’s Church with CCM, helping at the Wild Goose drop-in

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Crisis Centre Ministries is heavily reliant on churches in Bristol and beyond to promote, volunteer, donate and pray for the work that God has called us to do. We asked one of our partner churches, St. Michael’s Stoke Gifford, why they chose to partner with us.

How and when did St. Michael’s Stoke Gifford get involved with Crisis Centre Ministries?

What benefits does it bring to your church?

We are able to bring awareness of homelessness to our church members.

Being in North Bristol, we don’t see many homeless people so it is important that people know that there is a problem in our city. We are also able to encourage our church members to be more involved with the work of CCM and to help channel support for the needs.

In 2011 one of our church members, who helped in the Wild Goose café and office, proposed that CCM should become one of our mission partners. This was discussed by the Mission Action Group and was agreed, so St Michael’s Church has been supporting CCM for six years now. Thus in 2016 when Jonathan Lee, the CEO of CCM, asked us to sign a formal partnership agreement, we were already doing many things that were part of the agreement. We have a link person who liaises with CCM, and we advertise the volunteering opportunities, prayer meetings, other events and news. A couple of groups have been on visits to view the work. We list CCM on our missions page on our website at www.stmichaelsbristol.org/mission/CCM. Some church members help at the Wild Goose café. We pray for the work and we donate as a church on a regular basis.

What do you think of the work of Crisis Centre Ministries?

We can see that the work has been expanding. When we started our link with CCM six years ago, there were only two projects, the Wild Goose café and the LITE course (as it was known then). The course has developed into a broader support and training project and there are now two more projects, the women’s night shelter and the foodbank. We are pleased to see the increase in collaboration with other agencies to tackle the problems in the local area and also that there is more of an emphasis on tackling the root causes of homelessness, rather than just addressing the immediate needs.

Why does your church think it is important to get involved with this type of work?

Homelessness in Bristol is a big problem and we want to be involved in Christian ministry to help the homeless and marginalised people in the local area.

Many people want to help but don’t know how, so it is very useful to channel support through an organisation. For example, we held an event last winter to collect sleeping bags and socks for CCM and lots of items were donated. Also, as government cuts in funding are affecting more and more people, we feel it is increasingly important for Christians to get involved in this type of outreach work.

If your church would like to find out more about partnership with CCM, please contact Jonathan Lee on 0117 405 7123 or by email at jonathan.lee@crisis-centre.org.uk 11

The Story of Our Food On a typical day by 8.30am, Mike, one of the Wild Goose’s volunteer van drivers, arrives at Costco to collect the surplus food, which they donate to us on a daily basis. We regularly receive fresh meat, vegetables, salads, fruit, bread and cakes from them. Meanwhile Jonnie, the Wild Goose Manager, shops for instant coffee and sugar, two items that we get through in high volumes. Our service users are looking forward to porridge, which Jean, our resident cook, is preparing. She is also wondering what food will arrive.

Most of it will be on its use by date. When the deliveries reach the centre, Jean will quickly prepare a menu for lunch and the evening meal.

breakfast, dried lentils and tinned tomatoes for healthy stews and curries, dried herbs, spices, and black pepper for flavour, along with tomato ketchup and brown sauce. We also regularly need to buy instant coffee, sugar, washing-up liquid, cling film, greaseproof paper and foil; these donations allow us to spend our finances elsewhere where they are most needed.

The food that comes in from many different sources allows us to show God’s love and care to our service users every day. Shared meals create a valuable sense of community, and provide an opportunity for Esther (Deputy Manager for Engagement) and her team to build relationships and provide them with help.

The Wild Goose provides hundreds of meals each day to those who are homeless and in poverty. It is hard work, but we know what a difference it makes when we receive thank you notes from our clients, such as one saying ‘Thanks for looking after us when we can’t look after ourselves. We leave here with full bellies alive and kicking… Surely this is proof of God’s love in the world?’ Another client wrote to us: ‘The Goose is a real hope to lots of people, it keeps people ALIVE! It stops me from stealing from supermarkets. The food is delicious. I look forward to eating and it gives me routine and keeps me healthy.’

By 10am, the team are gathered for prayer, giving thanks for the food we will receive.

When we need extra items, FareShare, who redistribute in-date surplus food to charities, can often provide things such as butter, cheese and ham for us. We also receive sandwiches from Friska and Pret a Manger on a daily basis. When we receive too much fresh food that we cannot use that day, we share it with other charities working with vulnerable people, such as Emmaus and Borderlands.

Individuals, churches, schools and businesses generously support us with food donations, particularly at harvest time.

Some things on our harvest and ‘always need’ list may surprise you, as they are ones we don’t receive from our deliveries. These items make a big difference to our service users: jam, peanut butter and marmite for

Knowing where their next meal comes from gives our service users the stability to engage with their other needs, such as housing or tackling addiction. We give thanks for all those who provide food for the Wild Goose, which helps lives to be sustained and transformed.

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By Katy Gough, Deputy Manager for Provision

“We leave here with full bellies alive and kicking�

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WANTED (Neither dead nor alive)

“HARVEST DONATIONS” Have you seen any of these items lurking on the shelves of your local supermarket? They’re wanted for the nourishment of Bristol’s poorest and most vulnerable. Turn any of these desirables in and you’ll receive a most handsome reward (our deepest gratitude).

Instant coffee

Sugar

Jam, peanut butter and Marmite

Lentils

Tinned tomatoes

Rice

Black pepper and curry powder

Porridge oats

Cooking oil

Ketchup and brown sauce

Items can be dropped off at our main office at 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm 14

Upcoming events Recovery Addiction Training: Addiction and the Brain Date: Sat 23rd September Time: 9:30am–12:30pm Venue: Woodlands Church, Woodland Rd, Bristol BS8 2AA This training series, now in its third year, equips churches and pastoral care workers to better understand and support people struggling with addiction. This session looks at what addiction is and addictive thinking patterns. To find out more about this training series or to register for this session please go to www.liferecoverygroup.org/cms/index.php/training

CCM Celebration & AGM Date: Mon 9th October Time: 6:30pm–9pm Venue: Stapleton Road Chapel (Newton St entrance), Newton Street, Bristol, BS5 0QY An evening celebrating our accomplishments in the past year, and a chance to hear about our bold plans for the future. Light refreshments included.

Please RSVP at crisis-centre.org.uk/AGM2017 or call 0117 330 1230.

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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

What our service users say about us: “Being on your LIFE course has given me the confidence to do things that I didn’t think I could do.”

“I don’t think I would’ve managed without the food bank to be honest. I’d have just had to starve.”

“When I got there it felt like one big family. I was safe and warm and getting help.

They’re all very kind at the Spring of Hope, they don’t judge you and they’re really, really helpful.”

“The Goose continued to support, love, accept and help. This blew me away.

The unconditional love of God in action. God was working through open hands and his love would not let me go. Thank you to every person who has played a part in giving me my life back, I’m forever grateful.”

“Thank you for helping me when I was at a very low point in my life, I’ll never forget the kindness and support all your volunteers showed me and many others. Now I am volunteering to give a little back to my community.”

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Five

reasons why you should donate today 1 2 3 4 5

The average age of death for a homeless man is 47, the average age of death for a homeless woman is 43 (a).

Up to 70% of homeless people have mental health issues (b).

The pressures of the economic downturn, lack of affordable housing and housing benefit cuts mean more people are facing homelessness.

37% of homeless people have no qualifications whatsoever.

The experience of homelessness itself deskills and isolates (c).

Each homeless person carries an annual cost to the state of £26,000, which includes the cost of benefits, hostel accommodation and care of children (d). a. Crisis (2012) Homelessness Kills b. St. Mungo’s (2009) Down and Out c. Crisis (2013) Homelessness Briefing d. New Economics Foundation research (2008)

Make a monthly gift and provide the following every month:

£10 £30 £40 could provide eight hot meals for a homeless person.

could provide for one family’s emergency food for three days.

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could provide for a bed, shelter and a hot meal for a vulnerable woman.

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/quarterly* gift of: £10

£20

£50

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

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

Thank you for your support

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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