STREET WISE
September – December 2016
“People Like Me” / The core thinking behind our services. Time to Engage / The impact of our increased client engagement.
THE SUPPORTER MAGAZINE OF CRISIS CENTRE MINISTRIES
“I am very determined to learn from my mistakes. I want to watch my son grow up.”
Contents / 1 News in brief / 2 “People like me” / 4 Changes in the air / 6 Time to Engage / 8 Client volunteer story – Ellis / 10 Volunteer story – Liam / 12 Finance & Fundraising / 14 Can you help with... / 15 Upcoming events
Editorial
About us
There has been lots of strategic thinking here at Crisis Centre Ministries since our corporate fast day at the end of last year. We felt the Lord ask us to re-examine our roots and realign ourselves with the charity’s original vision. On page 2, CEO Jonathan Lee shares our selfexamination and our onward thinking. On page 4 Wild Goose Manager Jonnie Angel’s explains the realignment of the drop-in centre and the article entitled ‘Time to Engage’ highlights the already visible impact that has come about because of these changes.
We are a Christian charity that has been working in Bristol for over 30 years, dedicated to helping the most vulnerable and marginalised in society achieve healthy and independent lives.
We are also delighted to feature stories from two volunteers who are being helped in their recovery journeys by being part of our work.
Cover Photo: Our client volunteer Ellis.
Winter will be with us before we know it, and we are preparing to help the most vulnerable living on the streets during the cold season. Page 14 & 15 details some ways where we need your help and events that you can get involved with. This edition marks the fourth since our newsletter redesign and I would love to hear your thoughts about what you like/don’t like and what you would like to see more of. Please do email me at yan.lau@crisis-centre.org.uk Yan Lau Fundraising & Communications Manager
Our mission is to empower personal change through offering food, shelter, hope and support through our four main projects – the Wild Goose drop-in centre, the Life Skills course, the East Bristol Foodbank and the Spring of Hope women’s night shelter.
Contact Us 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY T. 0117 330 1230 admin@crisis-centre.org.uk www.crisis-centre.org.uk Company No. 2214814 Registered Charity No. 298528
News in brief During her visit, Mrs Campion-Smith met with Val, the manager of Spring of Hope, and had a tour of the living facilities in the shelter. She was particularly interested in the reasons that cause women to find themselves in vulnerable situations and spoke to Kerry, one of our service users, about her experience of homelessness. Jonathan, our Chief Executive Officer, explained some of the challenges facing homeless people in the city, and the work we do with other agencies to try and overcome some of them. Over lunch, Mrs Campion-Smith spoke to some of our volunteers who work at the night shelter to find out what their role involved. She wasn’t surprised to hear that they don’t always get much sleep when on duty! The staff, volunteers and service users were very pleased to meet the Lord Mayor and explain the constantly changing issue of homelessness in Bristol.
The Lord Mayor visits Spring of Hope At the end of April, Spring of Hope was very pleased to welcome the Lord Mayor Clare Campion-Smith for a visit to the shelter.
M&S Spark Something Good A huge thank you to the volunteers from M&S who volunteered in the Spark Something Good project at the Wild Goose in the summer. We were so pleased to be chosen as one of 24 projects across Bristol to take part in this event run by Marks & Spencer. The aim was to get employees from M&S and the local community involved in projects that helped others. The team of fifteen M&S employees helped in the Wild Goose preparing and serving meals, as well as cleaning and washing up. They also built some racking to create better storage space for our upstairs store rooms, and sorted out our donated clothes and toiletries into order! 1
‘Listening comes before acting to stop ourselves from judging.’
“People 2
By Jonathan Lee, CEO
and Spring of Hope women’s night shelter. In the former we have been bedding in our ‘engagement’ activity, which we introduced earlier this year to bring balance to the service. You will read more about the changes in a later article. We are taking time to ask clients “what has happened to you?” and to listen to the answers. Listening comes before acting to stop ourselves from judging. Only then can we support, signpost and journey with someone out of their homelessness.
The first part of this year was awash with newspaper articles, social media campaigns, TV documentaries and direct lobbying of the powers that be about the embarrassingly high numbers of people sleeping rough in cities across the UK. Bristol hit the headlines by having the second highest number of people rough sleeping in the UK (based on the count undertaken in November 2015). Homelessness, as one aspect of a ‘housing crisis’, became a key issue in the Mayoral and local elections. In our communications, we have highlighted the ways in which we are getting strategically engaged in addressing these issues.
Spring of Hope women’s night shelter continues to support street homeless women. At the time of writing we have 11 of the 12 beds occupied every night that we are open; we’ve supported women as they move into longer term accommodation and found weekend shelter in community houses for others.
In parallel, and not just by coincidence, we have been going through a strategic thinking process. We have begun to articulate the essence of what Crisis Centre Ministries is about, and how that shapes our current and future activities. We reminded ourselves of the question posed by a homeless person found sitting in a doorway over 30 years ago, who asked “what does the church do for people like me?” Focusing on that phrase “people like me” we recognise self-judgement as well as judgement on the person offering help and the institution they represent.
Through our participation in the Rough Sleeping Task Group we are engaged in developing a shelter programme hosted by a range of churches across the city. This initiative seeks to utilise empty buildings for short and medium term housing for people to transition from shelters. We are also in dialogue around new build accommodation that can give a route off the streets. Partnership and involvement is at the core of our thinking as we seek to significantly reduce, and perhaps even eliminate, street homelessness in Bristol. As a distinctively Christian charity we seek to be yeast in these partnerships and bring renewed hope to the lost in this city.
Crisis Centre Ministries has always existed for “people like me.” Whatever their situation we have accepted and welcomed them. Our response to those who are street homeless comes mainly through the Wild Goose drop-in
like me” 3
Change is in the
By Jonnie Angel, Wild Goose Drop-In Manager
Since the beginning of May, we have implemented significant changes to the operation of the Wild Goose drop-in centre. These changes have followed on from over six months of reflection and prayer. This period of review has guided us to bring the Wild Goose back into line with the original vision of our founder, Derek Groves. The Wild Goose originated as a coffee shop, where people were invited to receive spiritual support through listening and prayer; as well as practical support over a hot/cold drink and cake. Today, the Wild Goose provides 500 – 600 plates of food a day and is recognised for the amount and quality of food it provides to those in need in Bristol. However, this increase in provision has created a challenge to offering additional support. We had, for a variety of reasons, evolved into a food machine. We were responding to clients’ requests for help with ’give me 5 minutes’, ‘can you come back…’ or ‘are you around next day/week…’. This was not wrong as we were meeting a need, recognised by other services in Bristol, and playing a vital role in ensuring there was no reason for anyone to go hungry. In fact, we have been told by several people that food at the Goose kept them alive through dark times in their life. However, the balance in our ‘calling’ had slipped and the changes have been designed to redress this balance.
Therefore, a restructuring exercise has been taking place since December 2015. This has resulted in changes to opening times, meal serving times and roles within the Wild Goose team. Katy Gough is Deputy Manager for Provision and Esther Lambert is Deputy Manager for Engagement. Katy Gough – ‘God is passionate about providing for and engaging with people. I see this as an exciting new season in the Wild Goose which brings that balance, reflecting the heart of God, and aim in my role ‘in provision’ to create solid foundations which support the engagement activity.’ Esther Lambert – ‘This is a fantastic new season and it is a joy and a privilege to be able to have the time, energy and capacity to get to know the clients, listen to their stories and to provide practical and spiritual support.’ As we move forward in this re-aligned way, our prayer is that we will provide food and additional practical/ spiritual support to the increasing diversity of needs amongst vulnerable and marginalised people. 4
‘“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40. In caring for those in need, the righteous discover that their acts of compassion for the needy are the same as if done for Jesus himself.’ (ESV Study Bible, Crossway) 5
Time to Engage By Esther Lambert, Wild Goose Drop-In Deputy Manager for Engagement
himself and wanted to go home to his mum who lived up North. He came back the next day and we were able to provide him with a hot shower, new clothes, a pair of shoes and a one way coach ticket to go home.”
As I look back over the trials and challenges in my own life, I know how important it is to be known, understood and listened to. My new role enables me to take time to listen and respond to people’s requests for help whether that be providing someone with a listening ear, a sleeping bag, clothes, help with filling in a benefit form or just a chat! Here are a few stories of individuals I have had the privilege of meeting and helping over the last few months.
“An older gentleman had been using our services for a couple of years and he came in one day struggling to walk and very downcast. He was feeling unwell, had no credit on his phone to ring the doctor and he did not know what to do. I explained he could use our phone. He was so overcome that he burst into tears. He thanked us for our kindness. Over the coming months I discovered that he had missed an appointment and as a result his benefits had been stopped. This was causing him a lot of anxiety and stress as he had no money. I was able to support him in making the right phone calls and filling in the right forms so he could get his benefits reinstated. I noticed his demeanour change from despair
“A young man came to the Wild Goose one afternoon and asked to see me. I recognised him but hadn’t seen him for a while. He had lost a lot of weight and had been sleeping on the streets. He said he didn’t know where else to go. I gave him a cup of tea and some food and listened to his story. He was at the end of 6
“I noticed his demeanour change from despair to hope as things started to fall into place for him.” to hope as things started to fall into place for him. He is also smiling and laughing a lot more!”
built, trust begins to form and each individual feels safe enough to ask for help or a listening ear.
Some of our clients have very complex needs and often don’t ask for help. I see my role as being consistent in showing patience, care and understanding for all who walk through our doors. My hope is that as relationships are
I am so thankful that this new role has opened the way for me to connect with our clients in ways that were not possible before; to get to know clients by name and to offer the appropriate support. 7
Ellis Client volunteer story
“It gives me purpose to get up and come here once a week. I enjoy it.� 8
In addition to directly helping clients, we also provide volunteering opportunities to those in recovery as part of the healing process. One such client is Ellis who currently volunteers with us.
I am a qualified chef and I used to work a lot, and I was a single mum with two kids. There was nobody to help me. I started struggling and my life started to fall apart with drink and drugs. When that happened I put my kids into care. They were better off without me. I couldn’t take care of myself let alone them. I gave up my job and became lonely. I got in with the wrong crowd. I was drinking all the time or doing drugs, or both. It helped with the pain and the guilt for what I did.
That led me to access support with DHI (Developing Health & Independence) who encouraged me to volunteer at the Goose. It’s a step into paid work. Being here helps me in my recovery because it gives me a break from looking after my son, but also gives me experience to get a job. I’ve been out of work since 2009. At least when I do go for a job I will have a CV and references. I can say that I have been volunteering. My dream job is to be a chiropodist. I don’t judge the people who use this place. A lot of them are my friends. It’s good for them to see me behind the counter doing good. And it gives them a lot of inspiration as well. Some of them have said to me that I have encouraged them to get help. If I could do it then they could do it too. So that is nice to hear.
Sometimes I would come into the Goose in a state. This was a safe place. It was somewhere to get off the streets, to get food, to get warm, someone to talk to. Coming here meant I would eat, because I didn’t eat otherwise. If it wasn’t for coming to places like this, I wouldn’t have found out that there was help out there. If you speak to the staff, they have a knowledge of what help is available. The majority of the people who come to the Wild Goose are in the same boat. Looking for accommodation to get off the streets. And the staff would help you. I lived and worked on the streets as a prostitute for three years. I chose that life. I chose to drink and do drugs. I look back on it and I am not proud of it, but neither am I ashamed. Because it has made me the person that I am now. I was getting to the point when I couldn’t take it anymore when I met good friends and my partner. I wanted to change so when I became pregnant I got a lot of help to get clean.
Boredom is key to relapse and going back into addiction. You spend all your time getting money to feed the drink and drugs. When you get clean you need something to do to fill that gap. It gives me purpose to get up and come here once a week. I enjoy it. I live with my partner now and my son. It’s coming up to three years me being clean. One of my goals is to be reunited with my older children. I haven’t seen them in five years. If I can stay clean, then when my son and daughter come looking for me, I’ll be able face them. Make amends for my past. That’s what I don’t want to happen with the son that I have now. I am very determined to learn from my mistakes. I want to watch my son grow up. 9
Volunteer story
“I’m not fully there yet, but God has given me a new life. He has given me a calling and I am at the start of something exciting.�
Liam
My memories from childhood are arguments, stress and verbal abuse. My dad worked all the time and my mum suffered from serious depression. I was simply neglected, not because my parents were bad people, but because they had their own difficulties.
crack and cocaine. At one point I moved to Japan to pursue a life of drink, drugs and surfing. I also got married to a drinker and became addicted to medicine drugs. By the time my wife got pregnant and miscarried, I was taking high quantities of Valium, sleeping pills, dihydrocodeine washed down with a litre of vodka. I was an absolute mess. We had a quickie divorce and I returned to England.
By the time I was 9 or 10, I hated my dad, despised my mum, and I was utterly confused by God. I discovered beer when I was 13 and me and my mates would get drunk. By the time I was 16, sex also became a major part of my life. I scraped through my GCSEs, A levels and university degree. At university I indulged in surfing, sex and drinking. By the final year I was also taking weed, speed and ecstasy.
I moved back in with my parents which was a nightmare, and I got straight back into drink and drugs to cope. The turning point came when I smacked my dad in the eye, and I had to spend a night in prison and I was embarrassed that the incident appeared in the local paper. I prayed that night alone in my room and I said sorry to God and told Him I was going to follow Him with all my
After university I blagged my way into jobs, was still getting drunk a lot and started using 10
heart. I didn’t know or feel it then, but from that point everything changed.
gave me confidence and motivation to stick with it. I also volunteered on the LITE course as it was known then. LITE and LRG were an important part of my recovery as they gave me a community. I have a special place in my heart for this place.
I started going to church and I realised that God helps you to become the person you should be. He doesn’t order you to change and leave you to it. I started talking to my parents again and I knew I had to forgive them. I heard about the Crisis Centre at church and decided to volunteer in the kitchen. This was really important to me because I knew God wanted me to serve others. I met Stu (the LIFE course manager) and he told me about the Life Recovery Group (LRG) so I started going to that too.
I met Emma* at LRG and we got married last year. I’ve been clean for three years now. I’m on a journey to become the person God wants me to be. I’m not fully there yet, but God has given me a new life. He has given me a calling and I am at the start of something exciting. I feel called to a recovery group pastoral role and to look after the broken-hearted. I feel very blessed and lucky.
Everyone in the group was different and they were all in various stages of recovery. I could sense God there. After I detoxed, Stuart asked me to be on the leadership team and that
*Names have been changed
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Finance & fundraising
Great Weston Ride
Gift Aid & Donors’ Tax Status
In July, seven staff and supporters took part in the Great Weston Ride to raise money for CCM. The challenge event had a minimum distance of 56 miles increasing to a maximum of 74 miles (optional detours) from Bristol to Weston Super Mare. Our brave team got up in the early hours of 17th July to cycle to Weston. Thankfully it was a dry and sunny day and the team had fun and made it to the finishing line in good time. Between them they have raised ÂŁ2150 (plus gift aid)!! Thank you for such a great effort!
If you are a taxpayer, we can claim 25% of gift aid on top of your current, past and future donations. Therefore if you have not already done so, please fill out a gift aid form from our website or give us a call and we can email or post one to you. However, if your tax status changes it is your responsibility to let us know of this change.
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DRAFT Summary of Financial Activities for the Year ended 31 March 2016 Total incoming resources £513,911 Total resources expended £515,405 Net surplus/deficit (£1,494)
Income sources Individuals £242K (47%) Trusts & Foundations £123.5k (24%) Other £46.5K (9%) Churches £50.5k (10%) Businesses & Organisations £51.5k (10%) Note: figures are rounded to the nearest £500
Our Current Year to Date Financial Status
Expenditure breakdown Core operational cost £258K (50%) Wild Goose Drop-in £103.5K (20%) Life Recovery £53.5K (10%) Spring of Hope £77k (15%) East Bristol Foodbank £23.5K (5%)
2016/7 First Quarter (Apr to Jun): Actual Income £107,868 Actual Expenditure £120,369
Actual YTD income is above budget, and expenditure is below budget. The operating deficit at £12.5k is 40% of that expected. The seasonal nature of our funding is up and down and therefore regular in-come/giving is the most helpful.
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Can you help with…? Christmas Shoebox Presents
Harvest Appeal
Every year homeless people are sleeping in the cold and watching everyone pass by with presents for their friends and families. We’d like your help to bless these people and make Christmas 2016 a bit better for the most vulnerable in Bristol.
Our top 10 most essential items are: Instant Coffee
Sugar
Rice Tinned Tomatoes Jam Peanut Butter
Lentils Porridge Oats Tomato Sauce
What to include in your shoebox:
Brown Sauce
■■ A new and windproof hat, gloves and scarf; warm socks; new underwear; sweets; a card or message.
For the full list please go to our website www.crisis-centre.org.uk/2016harvestappeal. All donations are gratefully received at our main office (address on the inside cover).
■■ NO perishables, tins, sharp items, items containing alcohol or money. ■■ Please mark whether the gift is for a man or woman and small, medium or large.
Volunteering Needs “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!” but also a time to contemplate new horizons. Maybe volunteering with CCM could be one of them. We have an increasing diversity of opportunities across the projects. If you would be interested in a taster session working in any of our projects or just want to find out more, please call Steve on 0117 405 7112 or email steve.smith@crisis-centre.org.uk.
All donations will be gratefully received at our main office (address on the inside cover) between Mon 5th and Fri 16th December.
Winter Clothing & Items
…and we are looking for volunteers for the client Christmas party which is being held on Thurs 15th December at Elim church. If you are able to volunteer any time between 9am–3pm please get in touch with Steve via the above email address.
Items
Details
Sleeping bags
Lightweight, portable and winter grade
Hats, gloves, scarves, socks, thermal vests, t-shirts, thermal leggings, fleece jumpers, tracksuit bottoms, coats, shoes
New or in very good condition winter grade items are the most useful. Sadly knitted items are not preferred as they let the wind through. Outer clothing and shoes to be sturdy and waterproof if possible. Male & female of all sizes appreciated.
Underwear
New, for male & female, winter grade, all sizes.
Toiletries
Deodorant, body spray, foot spray, hairbrushes, combs, shampoo, conditioner.
Winter Appeal Winter is one of our busiest times of the year as our clients need shelter and provisions to ward off the cold. Below is a variety of ways to help during the cold season:
Christmas Events If your church or company will be hosting events to celebrate this time of year, do consider making us your chosen charity to fundraise for. 14
Cut out and keep!
Upcoming events Ceilidh Date: Sat 12th November Time: 7:00–10:30pm Venue: Woodlands Church, Woodland Rd, Bristol BS8 2AA
Come along to our fundraising ceilidh for fabulous dancing and great food and drink. Tickets can be purchased at www.crisis-centre.org.uk/2016ceilidh
Annual General Meeting & Celebration Date: Mon 3rd October Time: 6:15pm for 6:30pm start –9pm
A great event for you our supporter to come and hear the vision and future plans of the organisation as well as lifechanging client stories. If you are a CCM member, you will be able to vote on the appointment of board members. To become a member please email admin@crisis-centre.org.uk. Light refreshments included. Please RSVP at www.crisis-centre.org.uk/2016celebrationrsvp or call 0117 330 1230. 14 15
What our service users say about us: “There was a stage when there were some things I couldn’t do. But I can now because I learnt from here. This place has done a lot for me. I just feel so happy.”
“You stopped us from being hungry, and we now have accommodation. You do not realise the impact you have while serving food.” “I am very grateful to the Crisis Centre.”
“I had no friends or family for support. I heard about the Foodbank through the Job Centre. I was nervous the first time I attended but my nerves were relaxed instantly by the friendliness of the staff. The staff were so understanding, I wasn’t judged, they made me feel like I wasn’t alone, that I was welcome. It was like being with family.”
Giving thanks for:
Praying for:
■■ Our Duty Managers and those who coordinate volunteer teams.
■■ More regular daytime volunteers. ■■ New volunteers to join Esther as she builds her team to engage with the clients.
■■ The new structure in the Wild Goose that enables us to dedicate more time and energy listening to and practically helping our clients.
■■ New initiatives that are in the planning stages to support clients in more ways. ■■ More regular funding to support the work of our organisation into the future.
■■ The successful opening of the new Food bank outlet in Fishponds. ■■ An increase in funding to finance the charity. ■■ Effective working relationships with other charities & agencies in the homeless sector. 16
Five
reasons why you should donate today 1 2 3 4 5
The average age of death for a homeless man is 47, the average age of death for a homeless woman is 43 (a).
Up to 70% of homeless people have mental health issues (b).
The pressures of the economic downturn, lack of affordable housing and housing benefit cuts mean more people are facing homelessness. 37% of homeless people have no qualifications whatsoever. The experience of homelessness itself deskills and isolates (c). Each homeless person carries an annual cost to the state of £26,000, which includes the cost of benefits, hostel accommodation and care of children (d). a. Crisis (2012) Homelessness Kills b. St. Mungo’s (2009) Down and Out c. Crisis (2013) Homelessness Briefing d. New Economics Foundation research (2008)
Make a monthly gift and provide the following every month:
£10 £30 £40 could provide eight hot meals for a homeless person.
could provide for one family’s emergency food for three days. 17
could provide for a bed, shelter and a hot meal for a vulnerable woman.
Sign me up! Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Other Full Name: Address: Postcode: Phone: Email: D.O.B: Please send me Streetwise 3 times a year in the post Please send me your fortnightly email bulletin Please complete and return this form to: FREEPOST RSTX-XTYH-CJCA, Crisis Centre Ministries, 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY Data protection: Crisis Centre Ministries will not share your information with any third party except the HM Revenue & Customs. Crisis Centre Ministries would like to regularly update you on our work, news and activities.
I would like to give a gift! (You can also donate online via www.crisis-centre.org.uk)
Single Donation I would like to make a single donation of
£10
£20
£50
other £
I enclose my cheque/postal order payable to Crisis Centre Limited.
Regular Donation
I/We would like to make a monthly/quarterly* gift of: £10
£20
£50
starting from
other £ (dd/mm/yy) until further notice.
Name(s) of Account Holder(s)
Bank/Building Society Name
Bank/Building Society Full Address
Postcode Sort Code.
Account No.
Instructions to your Bank/Building Society: Please pay this sum to Crisis Centre Limited, a/c number 01408518 sort code 40-14-13 HSBC, 62 George White Street, Cabot Circus, Bristol, BS1 3BA.
And your gift will mean 25% more! For every £1 you donate, Gift Aid allows us to claim 25p from HM Revenue & Customs – increasing the value of your gift at no cost to you. Gift Aid Declaration: Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts made: in the past 4 years/today/in the future* I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code. Full Name (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms*) Address Postcode Tel/Mobile
Signature
Date
*delete as appropriate Please return this form to: FREEPOST RSTX-XTYH-CJCA, Crisis Centre Ministries, 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY
Thank you for your support
Get involved
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Pray for the developments in our work, for the clients, volunteers, trustees and staff of the Crisis Centre.
Your contributions help us to provide free hot meals, practical & emotional support and a safe, nurturing environment for homeless and vulnerable people. You can set up a donation online via our website or fill out and return the attached giving form.
Come and be a part of our life-impacting work. We are a small charity and there is always more that can be done. We need volunteers across the whole organisation from back office admin to front line support of clients. Call Steve Smith, our volunteer coordinator on 0117 405 7112 and we will find a role for your skills.
Host an event, take part in a challenge event or nominate us as your preferred charity at your work, church or community group.
Follow us facebook.com/crisiscentreministries @crisiscentre Subscribe to our fortnightly e-bulletin at www.crisis-centre.org.uk