www.leatherheadstart.org
01372 377 790
Charity number 1137054
Issue 1
Milestones
Spring / Summer 2012
New Start for LeatherHead Start
Early 2008 – Planning begins to rebuild the Leatherhead Night Hostel at 3 Church Road.
By Angela Carter - Hostel Manager At the end of 2010, 3 Church Road was a building site. Now the remodelled hostel is not just up and running, everything about it, the way we operate and the way it benefits our residents, has changed for the better.
May 2010 – Name changed to Leatherhead Start.
Charity number 1137054
14 June 2010 It’s worth Leatherhead Night Milestones Hostel reminding incorporated as a private ourselves begins to company limited byEarly 2008 – planning rebuild the Leatherhead Night Hostel what guarantee. at 3 Church Road.
www.leatherheadstart.org
01372 377 790
LeatherHead
September 2010 – Hostel Start, Night 14 June 2010 – Leatherhead staff, volunteers and seven Hostel incorporated as a private the formerly residents move to Vincent company limited by guarantee. Leatherhead Road, Dorking. Building Night toHostel, May 2010 – Name changed work starts at Church Road. Leatherhead Start.
is about. For
1 January 2011 – Hostel many years 1 January 2011 – Hostel activity and activity and undertaking undertaking transferred a trust wefrom tried to transferred from a to trust to company.give those the new the new company. who found September 2010 – hostel staff,
volunteers and seventhemselves residents move May 2011 - New hostel, to Vincent of Road, Dorking. Building new landlord – Ownership homeless work starts at Church Road. 3 Church Road moves from more than - New hostel, new a landlord Mole Valley District[Date?] Council just roof – Ownership of 3 Church Road moves to Raven Housing Trust. over their from Mole Valley District Council to Raven Housing Trust.heads; we Move
LeatherHead Start resident Kevin, left,Kevin, honesleft, his gardening skills under the under watchful LeatherHead Start resident hones his gardening skills the eye of allotment volunteers Peter Almond and Kim O'Connell. See page 3.
watchful eye of allotment volunteers Peter Almond and Kim O’Connell. See page 3.
New Start for Head Start
helped them seek support for any physical or mental health problems 24 June 2011 – Bythe Angela Carter, they needed and generally tried to get them back they had, claim benefits back from Dorking 24 to June 2011 – Move back from Hostel Manager oncompleted their feet Leatherhead completed Dorkingin to Leatherhead in and address whatever difficulties had led them to our door. At the end of 2010, 3 Church Road was a building site. Now the remodelled hostel is not 24 hours. 24 hours. just up and running, everything about it, the way we operate and the way it benefits our Now, the rebuild and the relaunch have put LeatherHead Start in a better
residents, has changed for the better. 16 September 2011 – 16 September, 2011 – official than ever position to offer residents they may needthetoLeatherhead put It's worth reminding ourselvesthe whatsupport LeatherHead Start, formerly Night opening, attended among others by Official opening, attended homelessness behind them. For many, that means time to build enough Hostel, is about. For many years we tried to give those who found themselves homeless the acting chairman of Mole Valley among others by the acting more than just a roof over their helped them seek support for any physical confidence a planned move toheads; morewepermanent accommodation. But, or District Council, Cllr Caroline Salmon,to make mental health problems they had, claim the benefits they needed and generally tried to chairman of Mole Valley the chairman of the Homes and more, it means offering the inspiration to seek new opportunities, skills and get them back on their feet and address whatever difficulties had led them to our door. Communities District Council, Cllr Caroline Agency, Robert Napier, without which life be a struggle. Now, the rebuildan andindependent the relaunch have putcan LeatherHead Start in a better position than and the CEO of Ravenaspirations Housing Trust, Salmon, the chairman of the Jonathan Higgs (see photo, back ever to offer residents the support they may need to put homelessness behind them. For Homes and Communities This isn’t just about bricks but there’s notodoubt page). many, that meansand timemortar, to build enough confidence make a about planned the moveeffect to morethe Agency, Robert Napier, and permanent accommodation. But, more, it means offering theatmosphere inspiration to seek new new environment has had on staff and residents alike. The is more 17 September, 2011 – Open Day opportunities, skills and aspirations withoutwith whichpleasant an independent life can betells a struggle. the CEO of Raven Housing relaxed and the light, airy, attractive building furnishings over 40 members of the local This isn't just about bricks and mortar, but there's no doubt about the effect the new Trust, Jonathan Higgs (see were shown residents they are valued. Having own room gives youisspace to deal community round the that environment has had on staff andyour residents alike. The atmosphere more relaxed and photo, back page).hostel by Myfanwy Tothill, withchairman strong emotions safely and privately. don’t escalate as that theythey didarein the light, airy, attractive building with Frictions pleasant furnishings tells residents of the board of trustees.
valued. Having your and own room givesbathrooms; you space to deal with strong emotions safely and shared, dormitory bedrooms shared private ensuite bathrooms 17 September, 2011 privately. Frictions don’t escalate as they did in shared, dormitory bedrooms and shared and toilets help people feel more dignified and relaxed. – Open Day – overSome 40 things don't change bathrooms; private ensuite bathrooms and toilets help people feel more dignified and Leatherhead Start needs board members of the local relaxed. members and volunteers, as We as nowell longer decant the residents onto the street between 9 and 6pm, exposing We no longer decant the residents onto the street between 9 and 6pm, exposing them to community were shown donations. them to all weathers, often money or while feeling ill and Apart depressed. all weathers, oftenwithout without money or while feeling ill and depressed. from a tworound the hostel by hour spell between 10 and 12am, they are free to come and go and engage in activities, Apart from a two-hour spell between 10 and 12am, they are free to come In this issue: Myfanwy Tothill, chairman of training in andactivities, trips organised by the Learning Development Worker. and go–and training and trips organised by the Learning Meet four of our residents p2&3engage the board of trustees. Our experiment with a single staff member, instead of two, on sleepover (emergency)
The
learning
experience – p2 Development
Worker.
duty from 11pm until 8am has been a success. We have had only three call-outs in seven Some things don’t change Why homelessness is 'a real eyemonths. We attribute the drop in night-time disturbances to the privacy and peace opener p3-4 allowed Our experiment withbya single single staff member, instead of intwo, on sleepover bedrooms and the general increase self esteem afforded by a LeatherHead Start needs (emergency) duty from 11pm until 8am has been a success. We have had pleasant environment. board members and Finally, our sincere thanks are due to attribute our partnersthe in the project transformed only three call-outs in seven months. We drop inthat night-time volunteers, as well Leatherhead Night hostel to LeatherHead Start: Maff Potts and Richard Cunningham from disturbances to the privacy and peace allowed by single bedrooms and the as donations. the CLG’s Places of Change Programme, Alison Wilks from Mole Valley District Council,
In this issue:
Meet four of our residents – p2&3 The learning experience –
p2
Why homelessness is ‘a real eye-opener’ - p3-4
general increase inUtley selffrom esteem by Leon a pleasant environment. Lizzie Raven afforded Housing Trust, Goodwin from Baily Garner our architects and project managers, George Quinn of Quinn London, our builders and the Surrey
Finally, our sincere thanks are due to our partners in the project that Supporting People Team. Thank you, we Night made it!hostel to LeatherHead Start: Maff Potts and transformed Leatherhead Richard Cunningham from the CLG’s Places of Change Programme, Alison Wilks from Mole Valley District Council, Lizzie Utley from Raven Housing Trust, Leon Goodwin from Baily Garner our architects and project managers, George Quinn of Quinn London, our builders and the Surrey Supporting People Team. Thank you, we made it!