www.leatherheadstart.org
NEWS
01372 377 790
Charity number: 1137054
Issue 6 • Autumn/Winter 2014
Milestones
Since the last Newsletter... • John passed his motorcycle Compulsory Basic Training • Ben is on his way to a career in IT Support - see pg 2 • Jean went from a zero hours’ contract to a permanent contract working as a Carer. • Alan is now 6 weeks abstinent Pictured left: Local Singer-Songwriter, Adam Wedd, performs for LHS clients
More than music at LHS House Concerts! In April, musician Jim Lee came to 3 Church Road to give clients a House Concert and offer a guitar lesson. The project was funded by the Arts Department at Mole Valley District Council and developed jointly by LHS’s Learning Development Worker, Katherine Moore and MVDC’s Arts and Communities Officer, Lesley Spiers. They now plan to extend it to February of next year. Not only will there be five more concerts, says Kat, “We are also going to try to add an element of video production. We will teach anyone interested how to film the evenings, and we will organise later editing
sessions with the aim of compiling a video at the end to show at the final concert in February 2015.”
Kat says the second House Concert in June went very well and featured a different artist, local singer-songwriter Adam Wedd: “Two clients received a guitar lesson for the first hour and three more joined in for the concert. “A great time was had by all with one client commenting that it really ‘lifted his spirits’. Adam was brilliant and played some wellknown songs along with some of his own. He brought a really fun and inspiring feel to the evening.”
Lights, camera, action ...on homelessness
Above: Learning Development Worker Katherine Moore is interviewed for a new film to raise awareness of our work.
• Susan got a job at a local hotel. • Richard received his Driver CPC - see pg 3 • Mark underwent a hip operation • On the 5th June LeatherHead Start thanked its volunteers with an evening BBQ. • LHS Allotment is Highly Commended by the Leatherhead Horticultural Society in its annual allotment competition! [Some names have been changed.]
In April LeatherHead Start made a film about our work at 3 Church Road. The film, produced by Media2U, will be • Meet two new clients and launched at our AGM on 4th read their stories - pg 2 October and will be available on • Sam tells about her our website leatherheadstart.org experience with the Prince’s soon after. The AGM, to start at Trust Team Programme - pg 3 3pm, is a really good opportunity to learn more about our • LHS client Georgina speaks work, the people who make it to 12 young people about happen, and the clients we homelessness - pg 4 do it for so please feel free • Vote for LHS! - details on pg 4 to come along.
In this issue...
Mark faces new challenges
Ben goes back to the books
Talk to any LeatherHead Start client and you soon ditch the notion that homelessness is self-inflicted. Even where ‘substance abuse’ is part of the story, there is usually some earlier cause. Mark, now 51, left school at 18. In his early 20s, he learned to fly, then landed what he calls “a dream job” as an airline captain, flying turbo-props all over Europe for DHL: “I felt proud doing that.” He lived with his mother in a postcard Surrey village with actor Oliver Reed as a neighbour.
Until nine months ago Ben lived with his parents in Leatherhead. When his dad retired as a vicar, they moved back to Guildford where Ben, now 24, had grown up with an older brother and sister. He gets on fine with his parents but decided to stay where he was. He has a lot of local friends and a year ago had begun work he likes at Domino’s in Fetcham. He had nowhere to live so LeatherHead Start offered him a place. Ben is severely dyslexic. But though he left school at 16 without much in the way of qualifications, he’s now determined to make a career in IT mechanical support. His parents and friends rely on him to fix their computer hardware: “Everyone has told me I should do IT because I’m good at it.” So Ben has faced going back to the books, working for his qualifications in functional skills English at Guildford college, and studying maths to prepare for an IT apprenticeship with one or other of the IT businesses in the Leatherhead area. His next step is to carry on with his English at Sutton College of Learning for Adults (SCOLA). He does the maths at the hostel, where LHS volunteer Sheila (pictured with Ben above) tutors him once a week in preparation for sitting his exam in Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths. Ben’s as keen as anyone his age to have his own place: the 11pm curfew is difficult to combine with either evening work or a lively social life. But “there’s a nice atmosphere, and it’s better than being outside.” He appreciates the help with maths, and he’s also very chuffed that a local charity has agreed to part-fund him through the driving test and lessons, which he has been studying for the theory element with another volunteer, Donna. At the moment, he can’t think too far ahead: “I’m making enough money to just about survive, but it’s difficult on a low income.”
Five years ago, back inflammation robbed him of his sixmonthly mandatory medical certificate. He has been grounded ever since. He had to fall back on his experience as a self-taught bricklayer: “There was no stopping me in the old days. I would do anything.” But, without flying, his building, decorating and gardening work didn’t pay the bills. “As a young man I never drank. I used to go to parties at Oliver Reed’s house and come home sober because that’s how I am.” That changed when “in mourning for the loss of my job,” he began drinking too much. By the beginning of this year he’d cut back from a bottle of vodka a day to two cans of cider. Then, in February, he was in an off-road car crash. “I was in hospital for a month not knowing what had happened.” Neither he nor, he says, the police think the crash was drink-related, but after a month in hospital his mother didn’t want him back. He found LeatherHead Start and hasn’t had a drink since. The hostel “has been great because there’s been so much support.” He says seeing Lance, his key worker, in the mornings cheers him up, “but I could go to any member of the staff and say I need help and I would get it. It’s constant support. Even if they’re busy, and they have a job to do, they will stop everything and help you.” He does what he can on the hostel’s allotment, four or five days a week and regularly delivers extra produce that the hostel kitchen cannot use to the Fairfield Centre, a meeting place in Leatherhead for those over the age of 60. He doesn’t like the room inspections—”It’s very strict”—but he accepts that the routine is a necessary check so that residents can look after themselves when they leave. And he has hope of getting his own place. LeatherHead Start has supported him with his housing application: “They think I’m fit to go out into the world, which gives me confidence.”
To read Ben and Mark’s full stories please visit our website (address on page 4)
Ben says of his dyslexia, “It’s a struggle,” but adds that it does have benefits to it: “I can think through a problem without having to write it down or draw it out.” It gives you “a special awareness” and a highlydeveloped memory.
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Above: Mark presenting his veggies to Christina May, manager of the Fairfield Centre.
Sam takes a big step Leatherhead Start client, Sam, tells about her experience on the Prince’s Trust Team Programme - a 12 week course for people aged 16-25 designed to build the confidence and skills they need for their future.
and after m. I’m 22 years old Hey, my name is Sa ince’s Trust go on about this Pr hearing my friends ently quit my rec give it a go. I had thing I thought I’d ke my life ta za and wanted to job with Domino’s Piz in a new direction. t Open Day, I met to the Prince’s Trus When Kat took me vious group had someone from a pre Paddy who told me ay company PGL. the children’s-holid gone on to work for ucation in my past work in outdoor ed I had done a year’s like a good programme seemed am Te t us Tr s ce’ in Pr and the that line of work. way to get back into ent, the be my work placem s Trust for me has to ce’ in Pr ling e th sei of ab e rts The best pa lly enjoyed th unity project. I rea mm co e and th g d in an mb p cli Dartmoor tri ed the rock Dartmoor and I lov in s ge my g len in al Do ch . m rk y Sports Pa and the tea placement with Surre rk wo my g of bin cts im pe -cl ck teaching as taste for being a ro s really given me a My next steps will r. ree ca a work placement ha as do at I want to wh ly ite fin uctor. de is is Th instructor. industry as an instr job in the climbing a t ge to m Sa est rd by ha be to try my
Ellen shows the way to go Three years ago Ellen’s life was stealing from supermarkets to fund a drug habit. She’d survived near-drowning, a road collision, drug overdose, unspeakable child abuse and domestic violence. Then she found LeatherHead Start. Now at last she has a place of her own, where her green fingers bring a smile to her neighbours faces. Ellen is a living example of how courageous people can be if someone believes in them. And we do! We’re so pleased for her and wish her every success in her new life.
Richard gets his driver CPC After facing homelessness and losing a job he loved, things are finally looking up for Richard. Richard was a previous tenant at LHS (you might remember him as the chilli-growing guru from Issue 4) and he has recently received his Driver Certification of Professional Competence which opens the door wide to delivery jobs in a variety of industries. His certification was funded by the Job Centre, LHS and his own savings. Well done, Richard!
Activities that build confidence At the heart of all the work we do at LHS, is the aim to build confidence in the hearts and minds of our clients. As if homelessness isn’t a large enough challenge to face on its own, many of our clients face other struggles in addition - as you have read on these pages. So we try to have a bit of fun as well! Here are some photos of two of our trips - climbing & bowling. A huge thanks to our brilliant volunteer, Paul, for organising and funding them.
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Above: Sam Above looking very glam with the High Sheriff of Surrey at her final presentation
Young people ‘challenged’ to raise funds for LeatherHead Start Twelve young people from The Challenge Network paid a visit to LHS in July and have gone away determined and inspired to raise money for the work that we do. Georgina, an LHS client who has moved into her own place, spoke very articulately about her experience with homelessness and her time at LHS. She was able to tell them that though the experience was one of the hardest of her life, she was able to face it and, with support, rebuild her life. Georgina is now working in a restaurant at a local hotel for which she was interviewing at the time of speaking to these young people. They were thoroughly engaged and full of questions for Georgina. They went away with their eyes a little more opened to the world of homelessness and the fact that it really can happen to anyone. Hopefully they will come up with some brilliant fundraising ideas with fruitful results!
Front left: Georgina sitting next to LHS Tenant Support Worker, Chris Thorpe and surrounded by her young audience.
New Budgeting Course – Vote
LHS has been entered into a competition called “Heart of the Community” in the Surrey Mirror and the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser newspapers - and we need your vote! LeatherHead Start’s goal is that all our clients can move on into not just a more stable living situation but also with the essential life skills and resilience to sustain it. If awarded the funds from Heart of the Community, we would use them to fund a bespoke course to help our clients manage their money, including basic budgeting skills
and dealing with debt.
for us!
The closing date for voting will be the 28th September. To vote, simply text, SU HEART, our unique voting code: 1046, plus your name, house number and postcode to 65100. (E.g. SU HEART 1046 Jane Smith 9 RH1 1QT) Texts will cost 50p per text plus one standard network rate message. Don’t forget the spaces! Thank You! It’s really important to the people we’re here to help.
Over 20 years service... We want to say a huge thank you to the Dorking Quaker community for providing Leatherhead Start (and Leatherhead Night Hostel before that!) with delicious meals for over 20 years. Your generosity has been tremendous and we are so grateful for your support.
Don’t Forget! Our AGM is on the 4th October at 3pm and we will be showing our new film (see front page)
We’d also like to take this moment to thank all of those who donate or prepare food for us - it makes such a difference. We also have a wonderful group of volunteers and in June, we held a BBQ to to celebrate them and the valuable work they do (see photo, right).
LeatherHead Start
If you would like to get involved in the work that we do, please get in touch with our Learning Development Worker, Kat Moore on 07542 780919 or katherine@leatherheadstart.org
Phone: 01372 377790 Address: 3 Church Road Leatherhead Surrey KT22 8AT
Want to make a donation?
If you would like to make a donation to support our work with local homeless people, please visit our website - see bottom right. Click on the How You Can Help button and then the Make a Donation button. This will show you the options available including the link to a gift aid declaration form. If you do not have access to the internet, please call us and we will be happy to send you a gift aid form in the post.
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For general enquires: office@leatherheadstart.org For Manager: manager@leatherheadstart.org For the Chair of the Board: chair@leatherheadstart.org Website: www.leatherheadstart.org