BCAN
Homeless Forum
Information Share
Projects
Bristol Nightstop
For the period 1st September - 1st October 2014:
- 17 referrals
- 26 host nights offered, 25 used
- Gender 47% male / 52% female
- 20 active hosts (some temporary unavailability due to illness
/ holidays)
We think the recruitment of a female keyworker is helping young
women to engage.
Open Evening held 3rd November to recruit more hosts but not many
people came. Annual report available on request.
Staff are increasingly being invited to speak at conferences and
events and we have been asked to advise/mentor a prospective scheme in
Bath.
We are undertaking a review of the Deposit Bond Scheme as it is not
producing the required outcomes for young people so far; we suspect
more intensive keyworking is required over a longer period.
Bristol Soup Run Trust
From Steve Jones, Bristol Soup Run Trust Chairman.
The Bristol Soup Run Trust now has an operating storage facility in
Safe Store Pennnywell Road. It has initially been stocked up with:
- blankets, socks, pants, hats, gloves;
- toothpaste (with toothbrushes in box);
- shower gel, both men's and women's.
This is the start and we will monitor how we go. So far it looks
promising and if the teams use it enough we will look to expand the
storage area.
The new magnetic car stickers have now been produced and are being
issued to teams. We really hope it will help members of the public
identify us, and help to bring in more volunteers or maybe just
cash donations.
Caring at Christmas
Shifts are filling up nicely but we are currently short for
Christmas Eve overnight and the clean-up shift on 1st January. We are
advertising for volunteers in the Big Issue.
The online application system has saved us several hundred pounds
in postage costs, and many man-hours of administration. Applications
and references are paperless; shifts and training sessions are booked
online and confirmed by return email. Shift sign-in and sign-out
sheets are automatically generated and updated with any changes so
will be more accurate on the door.
BDP have provided training material and the Samaritans will be
giving a talk. We are expanding the training material available for
Supervisors.
We have bought a walk-in fridge. Lee is returning as storesperson.
We anticipate a shortage of free parking for volunteers as the
council won't grant us sufficient additional permits. Places for
People and Cabot Circus have offered us some spaces but it won't be
enough; we continue to look for solutions.
Caring in Bristol
The National Lottery Reaching Communities application was submitted
at the end of September. The Finance Committee is considering options
for the temporary investment of surplus funds if we are successful.
We are developing a fundraising pack for schools and businesses,
and are in the early stages of planning a nationwide cycle ride in
2015 between the various cities with Nightstop projects.
Staff have attended additional safeguarding training.
On 21st November CIB is hosting a "Homeless Children & Young
People, Rough Sleepers, Missing & Runaways" workshop in partnership
with the University of Wolverhampton.
Strangers' Friend Society
The CAB housing dept continues to receive items for its clients on
request including bus passes.
Other
Bear Pit Redevelopment
Richard Hawkridge from Bristol City Council has been in touch about
feeding homeless people in the Bear Pit.
The Bearpit Improvement Group (chair: Alan Morris) have the licence
from the Council to use the space, and one condition is that no
handouts are provided.
The two key issues seem to be:
- large numbers of homeless people congregating in the Bear Pit
make the public uncomfortable and less likely to use the space; and
- this has a negative effect on the traders present, both from the
reduced footfall, and also from free food being given away when they
are trying to make a living by selling food.
There will be a meeting for interested people on the evening of 27
November: ask Paul for details if you are interested.
Digital Empowerment for Homeless People
Lemos&Crane have created a web site called 'SupportActionNet' (www.lemosandcrane.co.uk/supportactionnet) - "Long-term well-being
and resilience for homeless people".
Homeless Forum
The BCAN Homeless Forum was set up as one of the activities of BCAN
- the Bristol Christian Action Network. This provided an identity and
a degree of accountability, although in practice we just got on with
our own work.
In the past few years, BCAN has slowly ceased to operate as a
number of reasons led to most of the key people who had been involved
moving away. The BCAN Homeless Forum is the last remaining activity.
Paul Hazelden is seeking support to establish a new, improved
version of BCAN. If anyone is interested in contributing to this,
please let Paul know.
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