Tag Archives: Routes to Roots (Poole) CIO

Holton Lee – Ongoing and Flourishing in 2013

 
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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.

HLAllotment2013planted
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.”

HLallotmentedging
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.

Snippets from R2R Team Diary

 
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Team diary book

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

Donations – Summer 2013

 
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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

Homeless and Newly Housed Volunteer at Holton Lee

 
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In June 2013, The Rotary Club of Poole Bay donated £150 towards Routes to Roots’ outdoor programme for the homeless and newly housed at Holton Lee.

Rotary donation to R2RDon Nutt (far right), Rotary Club of Poole Bay, presents a cheque and looks through photographs of the work being done at Holton Lee.

As a result of R2R’s initial work with Holton Lee in 2012, 6-8 of Routes to Roots’s clients have been included in Project Flourish, established in January 2013 by Holton Lee to engage with disadvantaged people. The guys start the day with a talk on wellbeing and discussion on what they will do during the day, which may include ground clearance, creating raised beds, craft woodworking, outdoor furniture building, designs and layouts for garden features. Each day ends with a feedback session where the participants discuss how they are getting on and how they feel about the work.

The actual work undertaken by R2R clients benefits other users of Holton Lee and is also a lasting testament to the effort they have put in.

“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”, says Gabi Sanger-Stevens, Management Services for Routes to Roots. “Joining with other disadvantaged people in undertaking these activities has helped 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. Our Outreach and Support Coordinator has received training for the supervision of AQAs (accredited training modules) for clients and we are working to include AQAs as part of this activity to add to the guys’ paid employment prospects.”

Recognising that more activities which promote a positive use of time are extremely beneficial, particularly for those completing the Flourish project, Holton Lee has agreed to grant Routes to Roots a piece of land for its own use. Clients on the Routes to Roots plot will be able to create, plant, grow and harvest, with horticultural assistance from the Holton Lee staff as well as R2R volunteers. This will be a long-term project, which will provide opportunities for engagement for many years to come.

Don Nutt, Rotary Club of Poole Bay, comments: “I first came across Routes to Roots when facilitating the Poole Town Faith Trail with Churches Together, Dorset in 2011. Then earlier this year we got a call from another Rotarian to say there was a sore need for trousers and shoes for men and we provided some to the Salvation Army. In 2012 we did our own review of what we saw as the particular needs of people here in Poole in light of the difficult financial times and decided to provide more support locally than for some years to help evident needs. Routes to Roots is one charity project clearly helping people in practical ways and we particularly liked the fact that they are introducing people to work experiences through Holton Lee and felt we wanted to support that.”

Dining With The Bishop

 
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Bishop Rr Rev Moses Deng Bol of Wau Diocese
Bishop Rt Rev Moses Deng Bol of Wau diocese of the Episcopal Church of The Sudan joined us at a Friday evening Drop-In in June. Bishop Moses paid tribute to the volunteers preparing the food and also singled out those of our clients who have gone on to become volunteers themselves with R2R. One, George, is a regular helper at the Drop-Ins and was there on the night. He hoped many others will follow in their footsteps.

There is a strong deanery-to-diocese link between Wau and Poole, which began with a link between Poole Hospital and Wau Hospital. The Poole Africa link, supported by the Diocese of Salisbury, aims to set up basic teaching and training programmes for nurses, midwives and doctors at the hospital in Wau.

Wau Diocese covers two out of the 10 states of South Sudan. Bishop Moses was consecrated in 2009 and enthroned in 2010. He first visited Poole in 2010 and joined our Drop-In in 2011.

Barclays Doubles Quiz Night Donation

 
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Barclays1-2013
Well over 120 participants in a Quiz Night at Lytchett  Matravers Village Hall in May raised £1,025 for Routes to Roots. The quiz was organised by Kate Coombs, a worshipper at Canford Heath Baptist Church, who regularly runs charity quizzes in the village. Following match funding from Barclays, we received a magnificent donation of £2,050. Kate (centre) presented the cheque in June.

Minister Meets Our Guys at the Drop-In

 
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Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, met R2R volunteers and the guys at the Skinner Street Drop-In on 18 October 2012 during a visit to Poole to see projects, which have been supported by the Community First funding for which he is responsible. Dorset Community First Foundation has funded our Holton Lee outdoor activity project. The visit was filmed by BBC South and shown on the local news that evening.

During his visit the Minister launched Corporate Community Giving – a new kite-marked scheme designed to help companies strengthen their Corporate Social Responsibility interests within a Venture Philanthropy Investment model. Pioneered by Dorset Community Foundation, the scheme aims to connect Dorset companies to the causes that matter to them.

Dorset Community Foundation is a leading provider of donor advisory and grant making services for companies, private individuals, charitable trusts and statutory bodies. The main focus of the Foundation’s work is to provide independent expert advice that enables local companies to achieve their charitable aims.