NEWSLETTER Autumn 2014
Staines charity of the year
Journeying towards Hope W
elcome to this special edition of the east to west newsletter, which celebrates our partnership with Sainsbury’s Staines as we’re their charity of the year for 2014-15.
Who are we? Founded in 1996, based in Egham and working across the northern boroughs of Surrey and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead; east to west brings Hope to over 1,200 children, young people and families each year. Continued over...
www.easttowest.org.uk
What do we do? The heart of east to west is Relational Support Work which flows through all our work. We define Relational Support Work as a long term commitment to journey with children, young people and families through the issues that they are addressing for as long as it takes.
What do we mean by Hope? Hope to east to west looks like a young person who self-harms realising their worth and potential. Hope to east to west looks like a homeless young person finding security in a nurturing family. Hope to east to west looks like a mum struggling with parenting finding the confidence to go on. Hope to east to west looks like an unemployed young person accessing work. Essentially east to west is a compassionate outworking of our Christian faith, to those who at this present time need additional support. It’s a long term commitment to journey with children, young people and families towards a brighter future; towards Hope.
Schools Based Relational Support Work & Family Link Work east to west Relational Support Workers are based in 8 secondary schools and work with a further 3 schools across Surrey and Berkshire. Our Family Link Workers are based in 3 first schools in Windsor. In total east to west Impacted the lives of 1,157 students and parent during 2013-14.
The Roles: School Based Relational Support Workers and Family Link Workers are a dynamic partnership with the schools, focusing on student well-being. This highly relational approach to pastoral care, journeying with the students and families for as long as is needed, fosters trust, births confidence and raises resilience. Relational Support Work and Family Link Work provides space to reflect on issues, obstacles and pressures in order to explore a new journey forward.
The Issues (% doesn’t add up to 100% as many young people struggle with a multiplicity of issues):
37%
30%
27%
Relationship/family
Anger Management
Anxiety
18%
17%
7%
14%
Low self-esteem
Bereavement
Self-harm
Other
The Impact 40%
90%
70%
increase in attendance
improvement with relationship at home
Felt “happier,” “self-confident” and more “positive”
The Method
east to west supports young people and parents via 1:1 sessions 50% 3,034 1:1 sessions were delivered
540 Young people/parents
Of which were supported for 12 months
east to west delivers Support Groups for young people who are facing similar issues e.g. self-esteem, anger management. This approach is also offered to parents through parenting courses.
The work of east to west has been vital in transforming the life chances of some of our most vulnerable students. Their flexible approach to providing the bespoke support that some young people need is invaluable. They have made a tremendous difference to the selfesteem and aspirations of young people. In the words of one young lady, ‘I now believe that I can succeed, and I will!’
304 Support Groups/Parent Courses
Nicola Aboud, Headteacher Thomas Knyvett College
First Schools: Clewer Green, Queen Anne’s, Trinity Saint Stephen
617 Students/Parents attended
Secondary Schools: Bishop Wand, Charters, Magna Carta, Matthew Arnold, St Paul’s, Sunbury Manor, Thamesmead, Thomas Knyvett College
Windsor Community Youth Pastor
east to west’s community teams are based in 2 areas, The Borough of Runnymede in Surrey and Windsor in Berkshire. The impact and outcomes for our Runnymede work are recorded through our schools work as the referrals originate from Fulbrook, Magna Carta, Salesians and Jubilee High Schools in Runnymede. The Windsor Community Youth Pastor however, is an exclusively community based work and has intensively supported 27 young people in partnership with Radian Housing.
The Issues (% doesn’t add up to 100% as many young people struggle with a multiplicity of issues)
100%
46%
40%
20%
NEET
Family
Relationships
Low self-esteem
The Impact
The Role: The Windsor Community Youth Pastor draws in partners from the local authority youth services, police and churches to address the issues faced by young people in the Windsor area. Using the Relational Support Work model, east to west journeys with young people who are struggling to find employment due to lack of opportunity, confidence or motivation. The east to west team are humorous, generous, knowledgeable and inspiring...making us feel better about ourselves about trying to get a job interview. Out of the 6-8 years I have been coming to the Manor Youth Club this is the best course I have seen for teenagers. I now feel that I have learnt enough to go onto the internet and start looking for a job. Ben, young person I have not only gained a lot of things from this course, I have also enjoyed coming. I feel like I can achieve whatever I want to achieve if I want it bad enough. I know where I am and what I need to do. Chloe young person
66%
NEET to EET (unemployed to employed) of the young people who we not in employment or education are now in employment or education.
The Method east to west delivers 1:1 session where in this role the difference is that a 1:1 session maybe a whole day working together.
75% 69
1:1 sessions were delivered
17
Young people
of which were supported for 12 months
Inspire (entry into employment) courses address topics such as employability, CV writing, interview
2
Inspire Courses
10
Young people
skills etc. An Inspire courses runs 1 day a week for 8 weeks.
The Issues (% doesn’t add up to 100% as many young people struggle with a multiplicity of issues)
100%
100%
Homeless or at risk of being homeless
Family
50%
40%
12.5%
Low level drug usage
Anger management
Learning difficulties
The Impact
Supported Lodgings east to west deliver Supported Lodgings across the 6 northern boroughs in Surrey and have provided home for a total of 8 young people over the past year and 29 since 2008.
The Role: The role embodies Relational Support Work as it provides an inclusive long term response to the needs of homeless young people through placing them into a stable and secure home environment. Think of it like fostering for 16 – 19 year olds. Having a young person from east to west brings my house to life with Host laughter and banter The apprenticeship is going really well and I’ve decorated my new flat, thank you. I’m really chuffed as I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t taken me in; Young Person so thank you
100%
NEET to EET (unemployed to employed) 100% of the young people who we not in employment or education are now in employment or education
1 young person is going to University this September!
The Method A young person is placed into a family or individual’s (host’s) home for up to two years. This gift of hospitality provides the security, stability and confidence needed to make the move towards independence and a brighter future. The supported lodgings team meet with the young people through 1:1 sessions to address the issues that caused them to become homeless and to access external support services, benefits and eventually prepare them for independent living once they move out.
100% 1,456
1:1 sessions were delivered
8
Young people
of whom were housed for 12 months
Their Stories Identities have been changed to preserve confidentiality
At Easter I joined a group called Boost. I was told that I should attend by my head of year who said that it would be good for me. Over the 7 weeks we talked about our image and reputation, relationships, bullying and anger. I don’t always agree with my teachers but I think that attending Boost was a good idea as it has made my confidence go up. At the end they awarded me with certificate to say that I had come and completed Boost, I couldn’t stop smiling. My parents are really proud of me which is also great. I first met the east to west worker in reception at school; mainly because he was trying to encourage me to come in. It hadn’t been a great weekend, I’d been told by my dad that he was leaving and I guess I blamed my mum for that. So when she walked me to school I just wanted to embarrass her by kicking off because I was angry. After a while I calmed down and started talking to the worker that’s when all the anger and hurt came out, I don’t normally cry but I did then. We chatted for most of the morning and in the afternoon I went back into class. I now see them every week and we talk about how life is at home for both me and my mum. Life is settling down now at home and I’m able to cope better.
I was a 17 years old mum with a little baby and nowhere to stay. east to west were great, they knew of a couple who had a spare room and who didn’t mind being woken up during the night when my little one woke up. They’d been parents and knew what to do. They helped me as this was my first time and I became more and more confident that I could be a good mum. I now don’t live with them, we have our own place and life is certainly better than what it could have been.
I was unemployed and had just been kicked out by my parents, so I guess you could say life wasn’t all that great. My case worker introduced me to the Inspire course and off the back of that, after a few attempts, I landed a job and I’m still there. The housing issue has got sorted because I have a job. I still hang out with some of the east to west team, they keep me focused and out of trouble.
New Team, New Growth, New Opportunities Schools We’re excited to announce that in 2014-15 we’ll be expanding into 3 more schools. Homer First School in Windsor and St Michael’s Primary School in Ashford are the latest schools to join us in developing collaborative responses to the needs of the families attached to their school. We’ve also really pleased to announce that we’re expanding our Relational Support Work into Esher High School. As our work in schools has grown rapidly, Dan Beedell who is the current Thomas Knyvett College Worker is now stepping up to become the School’s Lead, taking on the responsibility of all our schools based workers.
Supported Lodgings We’ve been invited to set up Supported Lodgings in The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and we’ve already received referrals to house 5 young people in early 2015. If you live in and around Ascot, Maidenhead, Windsor, Slough and would like to explore becoming a host then please contact SL@easttowest.org.uk
Staines charity of the year
Thank you to everyone who nominated east to west to Sainsbury’s Staines; without your votes we wouldn’t have come to the attention of the store’s fundraising team. Being charity of the year will increase our profile in the community, raise funding and amplify the needs of young people and families. Andy Burns, CEO commented; “This is a wonderful endorsement of the work that the team has done. To have a partner of Sainsbury’s stature with us can only be good news for local young people. We are very grateful to the store for their support.” Over the year with Sainsbury’s, there will be events that you can attend and fundraising activities that you can support. So please LIKE us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter as that’ll be where we post all the current news.
Volunteering Over the past year we’ve seen growth in the number of people wanting to volunteer their time to bringing Hope to young lives. To meet this growth and to ensure that we can support our volunteers to the levels they deserve, Nicki Sudworth has been appointed as Volunteers Lead. volunteering@easttowest.org.uk
Team It’s great to welcome Chris Toms our new worker in The Magna Carta School, Cara Mackley our new worker in Thomas Knyvett College, Nick Taylor our new worker in Esher High School, Corrine Leatherbarrow and Margaret Morbin our new Family Link Work team in Windsor.
We decided to choose east to west to be our charity of the year as we were impressed by the passion and commitment to the work. Many of the team members on the selection panel knew about east to west as they had worked in their schools over the years and had family members, friends or neighbours who had been supported by the charity. east to west is a local charity that Sainsbury’s can relate to as many of the staff know people who are affected by the issues that east to west address. The opportunity to raise funds for east to west provides us with the opportunity to engage wide cross section of colleagues. Martin Rose, Store Manager
Finances
We are extremely grateful for every donation, gift and grant that we receive. The images below have been created to help you see how your money brings Hope and where our funding comes from.
Supported lodgings £65,686 • 18%
Central administration £43,207 • 12% Office facilities £17,325 • 5% Training & professional costs £10,745 • 3%
Community work £44,661 • 12%
Fundraising/Marketing £10,611 • 3%
Schools work £176,042 • 48%
Infographic 1: Reflects how the money you donate impacts the whole organisation. (This excludes any donations or grants that are given as restricted funding for a specific project)
Grants £53,807 • 14%
Local authorities £54,413 • 15%
Churches £45,592 • 12%
Donations and fundraising £97,432 • 26%
Schools £122,960 • 33%
Infographic 2: Shows the full breakdown of the sources of our funding.
If you would like to financially support the work of east to west then please go to www.easttowest.org.uk/support east to west trust, Unit 3, 80 High Street, Egham, TW20 9HE Tel 01784 438007 www.easttowest.org.uk A company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 6972769 Registered Charity No. 1131229
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