Helen, a Routes to Roots member, recently told us how a dinner guest spotted and read through the Autumn R2R newsletter featuring the Big Breakfast appeal. At close of dinner he asked firstly for everyone’s attention and secondly for £3.50 each as tribute for their hostess’ lovely food – to buy a hot breakfast for a rough sleeper. As a result Helen handed over £21 for six breakfasts. What a great idea!
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Under the musical direction of Dr Jane Oakland, Cantilena ladies choir gave a Christmas concert in aid of R2R at Broadstone United Reform Church on 13 December 2013, raising £170.
In October 2013 Routes to Roots added a large quantity of suitable clothing to our supplies by collecting tops and trousers discarded by runners at the start of the Bournemouth Marathon.
GSI Events, organisers of the Bournemouth Marathon Festival, invited R2R to collect clothing left at the start pens by some 6,000 runners in the half-marathon and full marathon. This involved a pre-dawn start for the volunteer collectors, wearing hi-viz vests, who picked up and then sorted numerous bags of clothing. In addition £37.50 was added to our funds from selling unwanted items to Cash for Clothes – this was immediately used to buy storage equipment for the space kindly donated us by our supporter Big Yellow. Many thanks to our R2R volunteers, staff and family members, students from Bournemouth University.
Pirates flocked to Poole in October when staff at Halifax Bank, Falkland Square held a charity auction at the branch to raise money for Routes to Roots.Among the reprobates at the pirate-themed fun day were Gabi (below) and Liz from R2R.
Among the prizes on offer were two tickets to a home AFC Bournemouth match, a family boat trip around Brownsea Island and meals out at top local restaurants. Money-raising activities also included a cake stand, face painting, tombola and second hand bookstall.
Halifax staff have chosen R2R as their charity for the year. They donated £363.70 in February 2014.
Following Routes to Roots’ successful involvement in the launch of Holton Lee’s Project Flourish, they have been asked to select clients to take up places that become available as the initial volunteers complete their commitment.
In an exciting new move in the summer of 2013, Routes to Roots became an allotment holder at Holton Lee. The guys really benefit from the experience, finding it a time to relax (despite the hard work) and put aside the day-to-day greyness and sameness of their lives. Joining with other disadvantaged people in undertaking these activities helps our clients to build on their team working and social skills as well as developing land-craft and horticultural skills, all of which improves their CVs. In October 2013 Routes to Roots took on a second adjoining plot, in which the team intend to plant fruit bushes and flowers. Holton Lee allotments will be a long-term project, which will provide opportunities for engagement for many years to come.
In offering R2R this opportunity, Holton Lee’s Volunteer Co-ordinator Emma Browning said: “With the allotment plot you are essentially your own bosses; you can come and go whenever you want (when we’re open) and do whatever you want on it (with a few rules about sheds, trees etc). I hope this will give more scope for a greater sense of autonomy for the guys and the levels of achievement are bound to be greater as they will have to come up with every idea off their own back and make it work through their own hard work.”
Three Project Flourish ‘graduates’, John Parsons (new R2R Executive Committee member), Sid and George, are the first to take part in the allotment scheme. They are already hard at work. At the end of September those at R2R’s drop-ins were able to sample the allotment’s first crop of lettuce.
You can follow John’s Holton Lee Allotment Diary on FaceBook:
http://www.facebook.com/RoutestoRootsHomeless
THE R2R ALLOTMENT DIARY
September 2013
WEEK 7
TUESDAY – WATERED ALLOTMENT AND DID GENERAL TIDY ROUND.
WEDNESDAY – FILLED FIRST OF COMPOST BINS WITH MANURE AND COMPOST.
THURSDAY – WATERED, TIDIED UP EDGING, CUT GRASS.
WEEK 8
TUESDAY – WATERED, LIAISED WITH HOLTON LEE TO GET WOOD TO MAKE A KNEELING BOARD WHICH THEN CUT AND NAILED.
WEDNESDAY – WEEDED OPEN AREA OF POTATO PATCH AND TIDIED BORDERS.
FRIDAY – WENT TO LIBRARY TO RESEARCH A TOOL BOX WHICH FOUND AT ROBERT DYAS.
WEEK 9
SUNDAY – WATERED AND TIDIED.
MONDAY – ASKED R2R CO-ORDINATOR TO BUY THE TOOL BOX FOR US.
TUESDAY – ASSEMBLED TOOL BOX AND SECURED WITH A PADLOCK BOUGHT FROM BOONES. MADE A SHORTER HANDLE FOR THE RAKE SO IT COULD FIT IN THE TOOL BOX ALONG WITH OTHER TOOLS. LEVELLED GROUND BESIDE THE COMPOST AREA.
WEDNESDAY – WEEDED AND WATERED.
WEEK 10
TUESDAY – WATERED AND TIDIED AROUND EDGE OF PLOT 1 AND STARTED ON PLOT 2 BY MARKING AND LINING ITS EDGE WITH STRING. WENT TO SYDENHAMS TO GET QUOTE FOR TIMBER FOR THE EDGING.
WEDNESDAY – WEEDED PLOT 2AND WATERED PLOT 1. GAVE QUOTE FOR EDGING TO R2R CO-ORDINATOR.
THURSDAY – HARVESTED LETTUCE AND TOOK TO SKINNER STREET DROP-IN.
In September 2013 StreetLink, a new campaign to help rough sleepers, was launched across Dorset.
Over 2000 people are estimated to be sleeping rough on any one night in England. The Department of Communities and Local Government recorded 39 rough sleepers across Dorset in 2012. In the Poole area the annual street count conducted in November 2012 found 16 rough sleepers – an increase of 25% over the previous year (and the highest ever seen by Routes to Roots).
New research shows that nearly half (48%) of all adults said they felt guilty when they see a rough sleeper and do not know the best way to help; 46% would welcome an easy way to take action. The Streetlink Service comprises a telephone line, website and app to enable concerned people to help connect rough sleepers to the local advice and support that may be available to them.
People can take action by making a phone call, through the website or by downloading the free app. Posters giving this information will be displayed at libraries, medical centres and other locations across the county, and stickers will be displayed on parking meters.
StreetLink is an England-wide service, run by the charities Homeless Link and Broadway, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and supported by the Dorset Rough Sleepers Partnership (a partnership of all the six Local Authority housing departments in Dorset). The Dorset Rough Sleepers Partnership has also adopted the government’s official ‘No Second Night’ policy, ensuring that rough sleepers do not have to spend a second night sleeping rough on the streets in Dorset. It has been awarded £304,000 for this purpose.
Cllr Peter Adams, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing, Borough of Poole, said: “By signing up to Streetlink, housing authorities across Dorset are offering residents a simple way to help people they see sleeping rough. It is never easy to witness a person in that situation and a call to Streetlink could make a massive difference to someone.”
Tel: 0300 5000 914 (24-hour)
http://www.streetlink.org.uk
Casey Townsend and friends ‘did’ Swanage Carnival in July 2013 in aid of R2R by dressing up their Volkswagen and, with a couple of R2R collection tins, raising £26.40 plus a £10 on-line donation.
Thanks to the Landmark No 2 Settlement Trust for a grant of £7,500 in August 2013.
August 2014
• An average of 4 clients are taking part every week in a cooking project started with No 34 Café – with 9 individuals in total having a go.
• Met the Footprints Project, which mentors people leaving prison or serving a community sentence, to discuss possible joint projects.
• Agreed a ‘taster’ session with Dorset Wildlife Trust for October, with a view to starting a project focused on a dedicated area of Upton Heath involving up to 12 of our clients.
• Discussed the possibility of a Forest School for up to 10 of our clients in partnership with Footprints/Quay Foyer.
• Supported St Mary’s Longfleet with a client who was sleeping in the churchyard.
• Assisted numerous clients in the office with phone calls, appointments and housing issues.
• Accompanied client to appointments with SMART and PACT.
• Received and sorted numerous donations of clothing and assorted household items for our clients’ use or to go to Cash4Clothes.
• Assisted clients with doctor’s appointments and telephone calls to doctors.
• Assisted clients with benefits issues including JSA and ESA claims, liaison with DWP, transfer to ESA and telephone calls to the Council.
• Liaised with a landlord, supported a client to a housing interview and assisted with a return to accommodation.
• Helped a client with a job interview.
• Liaised with CRI over the death of a client.
July 2014
• Discussed new projects at Holton Lee, such as doing bush craft etc.
• Explored how we can work more closely with Quay Foyer to help people keep their housing, possible joint projects etc.
• Visited Bournemouth and Poole College to investigate possibilities of their students helping with projects and access to basic courses for our clients.
• Confirmed Route 34 cooking pilot project to take place in August.
• Assisted client with housing issues.
• Assisted client with ESA issues in liaison with Diverse Abilities Plus.
• Assisted client with mental health issues including calls to crisis team, hospital attendance and support.
• Helped client with transportation for self and property in move to new location.
• Assisted client with letters for Police and landlord re stalking.
• Enrolled new clients at Holton Lee Project.
June 2014
• Made a presentation on R2R at the Salisbury Deanery Synod meeting.
• Spoke with a potential partner about a new food/catering project.
• Arranged transportation and introductions for new clients participating in Holton Lee Project Flourish.
• Successfully supported a client in an application for a place at Quay Foyer, which provides accommodation, personal support and access to training and employment opportunities for young people.
• Successfully supported a client in obtaining backdated Housing Benefit from Poole Council.
• Arranged on-going, one-to-one counselling sessions for two clients.
• Assisted a client with the paperwork for claiming Employment Support Allowance.
• Met the Bishop of Sherborne, who agreed to become our first patron.
• Attended a Poverty Summit at Bournemouth University.
• Liaised with Bournemouth and Poole Rough Sleepers Team about various clients.
May 2014
• Assisted numerous clients with phone calls for appointments with agencies, landlords, doctors, etc.
• Continued to provide clients with clothing, toiletries and other necessities
• Provided clients who have been found accommodation with move-in packs
• Liaised with landlord about accommodation which is becoming available
• Advised Soup Runs and Poole Citizens Advice Bureau of CRI day centre locations and times for rough sleepers
• Involved in initial discussions with Counsellor Sarah Templeton for assistance with Dialogue and with one-to-one sessions for clients at Afternoon Drop-Ins
• Attended Poole Clothing Bank Project meeting
• Held meetings with Sign It!, who work in partnership with Access to Work, DWP & Job Centre Plus, for possible collaboration on work placements for clients
• Liaised with Holton Lee about new clients wanting to participate in Project Flourish.
• Following a request from Poole Council Housing Services Manager, two R2R housed clients engaged in role play with housing officers on a training course
April 2014
• Facilitated clients’ access to mail that is delivered to the Routes to Roots Skinner St address for them
• Supplied donated items to a client to help with setting-up in newly acquired rental accommodation
• Supplied clothing and other necessities to clients in need
• Provided information to a client about access to the Food Bank
• Assisted clients with personal and health problems
• Held discussions with volunteers from Exeter Drugs Project which works with people across Devon and in Dorset affected by drug and alcohol problems
• Attended two Poole Core Group Meetings at Poole Council to review our top ten clients and actions
• Arranged with PC Simon Young to set up new Dialogue sessions at the Afternoon Drop-Ins
March 2014
• Funded a return train ticket for a client to take his exams in CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) in Tottenham, London
• Took a client to Poole Council about housing
• Liaison with CRI to ensure smooth handover of Poole early morning outreach services to rough sleepers
• Meeting with Christian Entrepreneurs
• Received notice of the death of one of our clients
• Discussions with SMART (Substance Misuse Assessment and Referral Team) about attendances at R2R Drop-Ins
• Attended JSA Claimant Commitment workshop at Poole Council
February 2014
• Assessed five new clients in just five days.
• Two Saints, who have a supported lodgings service in Poole, which helps householders to support vulnerable people in their community, visited the R2R office to see how we operate.
• Attended a Core Group meeting at Poole Council.
• Supported a client at a Job Centre interview.
• Attended a meeting at Parkstone URC about a proposed Clothing Voucher Scheme.
• Poole Addictions Community Team (PACT) visited to find out more about R2R and our activities.
• Helped a new resident into E-bed accommodation.
• After four months of trying to engage with a rough sleeper in the Ashley Cross area, they finally came to the office for help.
• The Kings Head on Poole High Street covered our Cooked Breakfast provision for four days when The Fisherman Café closed.
• Met CRI, the new providers of outreach services in Poole from April, to discuss handover and their plans.
January 2014
• Supported client towards getting a birth certificate.
• Supported three clients at Job Centre appointments.
• Supported client to a doctor’s appointment.
• Supported client with a police interview.
• Working alongside his social worker, helped client to bid on properties that he should be accepted on.
• Assessed nine new clients and developed support plans for them.
• Liaised with Diverse Abilities to accompany and stay with client at a meeting for his DLA claim completion.
• Met client to finalise his DLA claim and to assist with ESA missed appointment issue.
• Supported client with a Community Mental Health Team appointment.
December 2013
• Called ambulance for client when she fell on the path following R2R afternoon drop-in. Taken to A&E where she discharged herself.
• Helped client at DLA Tribunal where he was reinstated and higher payment was recommended.
• First winter breakfast vouchers issued for Fisherman Café.
• Supported client to reinstate Job Seekers Allowance and Housing Benefit and liaised with landlady to sustain the tenancy.
• Attended Poole Town Network Forum with Healthwatch Dorset, who are now attending drop-ins.
• Teen Challenge rep attended afternoon drop-ins to help individual clients with drug or alcohol issues.
• Community Mental Health Nurse attended afternoon drop-in to help those with mental health issues.
• Holton Lee client volunteer gained job interview.
• Client prepared a pasta soup and a pear and apple crumble with custard for drop-in attendees.
• Liaised with Highways Enforcement Officer, Anti Social Behaviour Team and Local Councillor to enable homeless client sleeping in a tent to be allowed to remain there rather than being moved on, until he moves into permanent accommodation in January.
• Liaised with various people offering rucksacks and warm clothing, Christmas gifts etc.
November 2013
• Joined clients in edging and digging on our second Holton Lee allotment.
• Shopped and prepared veggies for a Tuesday Evening Drop-In where a client then cooked cottage pie for 30.
• Helped at Afternoon Drop-Ins where a client made crumble twice and a savoury tuna bake for 30.
• Supported a client with JSA suspension, liaising with the landlady to enable tenancy to continue during resulting suspension of housing benefit.
• Supported client with Disability Wessex to ESA tribunal, which was adjourned for further mental health evidence to be gathered.
• Participated in Annual Government Street Count in Poole.
• Meeting with South West Regional Manager for Homeless Link (membership body for organisations and individuals working with homeless people around England).
• Meeting with Teen Challenge, which helps people trapped by addiction and other life controlling problems such as drugs and alcohol, with a view to their participating at Afternoon Drop-Ins.
October 2013
• Supported client in interview with Disability Wessex who are now helping him with his appeal for Employment Support Allowance to be continued.
• Supported two new client volunteers to join Project Flourish at Holton Lee.
• Arranged a second allotment plot at Holton Lee, adjoining our existing plot, in which our three allotment client volunteers intend to plant fruit bushes and flowers.
• Held a team meeting at St Pauls with Care First counsellors following a client’s recent death and supported his family members.
• Successfully moved a male client into accommodation with low support.
• Added a number of new clients to our books and completed 4 client support plans.
• Made 6 visits to the Council regarding housing advice.
• We were needed to identify the body of a homeless person, well known to us, who sadly had passed away
• Attended Halifax Poole Family Fun Day (dressed as a pirate to support their theme) to raise awareness and money for Routes to Roots. • Attended Bournemouth Marathon to collect clothes (for our clients and resale) left by the runners at the start pens.
September 2013
• Registered and supported female client to GP evening appointment
• Housed client using a grant from Borough of Poole Discretionary Fund
• Delighted to say that client has found employment and placed a holding deposit on a room
• Assessed three new clients
• Sadly learned that a street homeless client has passed away and we are now liaising with family over the funeral
• Signed up a new client volunteer for Project Flourish at Holton Lee
• Liaised with HMP Hewell for homeless lady whose partner is charged and detained there
• Helped to clear the flat of another recently deceased client with his resettlement officer
Our grateful thanks to
* All Saints Branksome: £2088.21 – raised through their Lent project
* Broadstone Methodists: £75
* Buckland Road Baptist: £90 – raised through charity church lunch
* Canford Magna PCC: £145 – regular gift
* Rotary Club of Poole Bay: £150 – towards our outdoor programme for the guys at Holton Lee
* St Lukes Church: £187 – raised from a craft evening
* Upton Methodist Church: £426.32
* Winterborne Zelston PCC: £70.20