STREET Spring WISE 2018
Client story: Ian “I was in tears because I was so moved at the generosity” The Curious Case of the Evening Shift What does go on at the Wild Goose after dark?
THE SUPPORTER MAGAZINE OF CRISIS CENTRE MINISTRIES
“I went from feeling like not wanting to live, to a sense of peace and love.”
Contents / 1 News in brief / 2 Client story: Ian / 4 The curious case of the evening shift / 6 Client story: Sebastian / 10 Volunteer story: Anna / 12 Cheers, Drive! / 14 Finance & fundraising / 15 Upcoming events
Editorial
About us
We bring another packed edition to you filled with stories from the people that we serve and the people who do the serving.
We are a Christian charity that has been working in Bristol for over 30 years. We’re dedicated to helping the most vulnerable and marginalised in society achieve healthy and independent lives.
The stories of Ian and Sebastian serve as a reminder that even in the depth of the wilderness, God is to be found. We hear from Anna who gives up her time to provide practical support in the Wild Goose drop-in. Manager Jonnie Angel unveils the mystery of why he has been spending so many evenings in the Wild Goose…. We are also featuring an appeal to raise funds for a new van as our current van is spluttering its way to retirement after four years of non-stop use. Read about how invaluable this vehicle is and how you can be part of replacing this essential facility that serves those in need. Matt Parsons Editor
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 Recovery project, 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 across Bristol, hosted the shelter over the 12 week period, with the project providing 12 beds every night of the week.
Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter Bristol’s churches were once again working together with St Mungo’s to open their doors to homeless guests this past winter. As part of the City Office, the Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter project was back for an extended run, following a successful pilot last year.
Over 400 volunteers from across the church community and beyond helped to run the shelter. They provided a welcoming environment, an evening meal, opportunity for a good night’s rest and breakfast in the morning. Shelter guests nominated by the St Mungo’s Outreach Team were supported during their stay to find move-on accommodation. Outcomes of the pilot project in winter 2017 included 9 guests moving on to more permanent accommodation off the streets.
Bristol Homeless Connect
Just before Christmas, a new website called Bristol Homeless Connect was launched. This online access point brings together information about all homeless services in Bristol to help those who are rough sleeping. The website also lists all the organisations that work in this sector for volunteers and interested parties to lend their support.
Coordinated through Crisis Centre Ministries, and supported by the City Office, the churches shelter scheme opened its doors in January for a three month spell. Twelve churches, located
You can find the website at bristolhomelessconnect.com. See if you can spot us! 1
Client story
Ian
I came to Bristol to go to university, did well and graduated. My degree was in English and Drama at the University of the West of England. But in 2008, I suffered from an acute bout of depression, which I’ve experienced both as a child and as an adult. I had a nervous breakdown, and the university was brilliant and pulled out all the stops and really helped me. I eventually graduated in 2011, but I haven’t been well since. 2
“I was in tears because I was so moved at the generosity.” There was more for three days than I had been buying for a week. It made such a difference. I am a vegetarian and a diabetic, and they worked really hard to swap things around to accommodate my dietary needs. I got this massive bag of porridge which was just such a treat. It made a huge difference. Andy and Juliet (foodbank staff) were advising me on my household budget and bills, and sorted me out with another top-up contribution. The little money that I had I was able to spend on fresh produce, knowing that I had food from here. The food that I received from the foodbank has lasted me a whole month.
Last year the government wrote to me to tell me that my disability allowance was changing and that I would be assessed for Personal Independence Payments (PIP). These are not automatic or guaranteed. I was assessed in February 2017 and was denied, so my last payment was in March. When the disability living allowance is stopped and the PIP is not made, it also reduces other benefits like housing and employment support, which meant that suddenly I did not have enough money to live on. Because I didn’t qualify for PIP, my housing benefit was capped, and then my employment and support allowance was capped as well.
I’ve also been fortunate because the tribunal awarded me my appeal for PIP, so that has been back-dated and sorted out and has come through. I have returned all my surplus food to the foodbank because in all good conscience I couldn’t keep it. There are people out there who are in a hole. I want them to have this. I am also volunteering here as well now. Crisis Centre Ministries have been fantastic. I have had so much fun sorting out stuff this morning, knowing what a difference it made to me then.
I managed the best I could through April to August. I had appealed the decision about my PIP, so I was always thinking that I would hear about it soon. I had heard about the foodbank from the news and I, Daniel Blake, and my parents donate to their foodbank, so I knew support was there. I just didn’t know how you accessed it. I did an internet search and the East Bristol Foodbank came up. I came along to the St. Mark’s church outlet at the end of September and the guys here were amazing. You hear that they give you three days’ of emergency food, but what is actually distributed to us is so generous. I was in tears because I was so moved at the generosity.
It makes a difference to me to be able to volunteer. I know what a hole people can be in. I’ve seen it. That’s why I wanted to share my story. Well done and thank you everyone. 3
s u o i r u The C e h t f o Case t f i h S g Evenin 4
By day, the Wild Goose drop-in centre is run by a few staff members and a dedicated team of volunteers. Everything is as it seems. But after dark, when the staff are safely tucked up in bed, a twilight team of volunteers take over. One hears stories about the evening shift: peculiar tales of strange goings-on. But what really happens once the sun disappears remains shrouded in mystery. We sent in Jonnie Angel, Wild Goose Manager, to investigate… Obviously some (if not all) of this introduction has been exaggerated for comic effect. Can you tell us what this interview is actually about, DCI Angel?
I had a lot of feedback from volunteers saying how much they’d appreciated me making the time to be there with them, which I found very encouraging. After all, why shouldn’t I do that, when they’ve made the time to volunteer? I was also encouraged by the fact that some volunteers actually wondered why I was there, which shows how confident they are in their team and what they’re doing.
I can! In December, after talking about it with Steve Smith, our Volunteer Manager, I changed my working pattern so that I could spend my evenings in the Wild Goose with the volunteer teams and duty managers.
What did you find most encouraging?
Presumably this wasn’t actually part of an investigation. What motivated you to give up your December evenings?
I was most encouraged by the shared desire to serve that I witnessed among the volunteers. There was no sense that anyone was simply doing it out of duty. Instead, there was a real passion and willingness to serve people in their community, even in what can sometimes be adverse circumstances.
Well, there’s some truth in it being investigative. More than anything, I wanted to get to know the teams. We have regular training meetings with our duty managers, so there’s some contact there – but the only contact we might have with a volunteer is if they come to our initial training evening. My purpose was to be a staff presence, and to explore how we can continue to support the evening teams and build our relationship with them, without undermining the authority that they have on an evening.
Did you make any shocking discoveries? Were there any ‘strange goings-on’? No – I wasn’t surprised by anything. In fact, I was deeply reassured by how well everything and everyone was working. I felt really blessed, and really supported by the volunteers. (The irony being that I was supposed to be supporting them!) Now it’s up to us to work out how we can continue to get to know them and support them, and show them just how much they’re appreciated.
So after a month on the evening shifts, what have you uncovered, so to speak? The fact that it was exhausting! It was a real reminder that our evening volunteers have been working during the day, and it made me incredibly grateful for how they give up their time on top of everything else. 5
Client story
Seba 6
I came from a family with a stepfather who worked in the Bermuda police force and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. His partner got gunned down and died in his arms. He had the financial ability to drink away his worries and problems, which he did. So I grew up with a stepfather who was constantly drunk and in his own world most of the time. I learnt that alcoholism is very indiscriminate. If you allow it, it will destroy you. bodily harm, alcohol and drug induced stupidity. When I first went into prison I was not knowledgeable about housing and the benefits system. So I lost my accommodation and came out to very little. Alcoholics and drug addicts keep company with other alcoholics and other drug addicts. So when I was released with only ÂŁ46, I would stay with my old cronies where there was drug dealing and taking and drinking going on. My terms were only two and a half to three months, but I would yo-yo back and forth because of the places and people I was staying with. You do your sentence and you come out homeless.
I was a fairly heavy drinker by the time I was 16. I was a functioning alcoholic by the age of 21. Drugs came into the equation then. Even though I was a closet alcoholic, my career in hotel catering was going very well. I worked in most of the major hotels in Heathrow. As the years went by, the drug taking and drinking accelerated. In the AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), we say it will only end in three ways – institution, prison or death. For me, it was prison.
astian In 2004, I started eight years of going in and out of prison for all kinds of things, like common assault, resisting arrest, actual
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‘Everyone is in the same boat, going through the same problems as you, but you are not on your own. It encourages you to do the right things.”
In 2012, I suffered from a nervous breakdown. I was actively trying to kill myself in prison with huge doses of medicine. I met two fellow inmates who suggested that I give church a chance. I went with these two lads and started doing an Alpha course in prison. I met Margaret* and Diane* who ran the course, and who had a profound impact on my life. They explained how to ask Jesus into my life. I was in the prison chapel. I fell on my knees, repented, asked God into my life and asked for the Holy Spirit. I went from feeling like not wanting to live, to a sense of peace and love, and a forgiveness of my sins. It’s very hard to describe that feeling of peace and freedom. Before that experience I wouldn’t do anything for anyone unless you were doing something for me. But after that experience they put a lad in with me, and I helped him write letters and read his papers from the court.
The first person I saw in prison was Diane, who told me not to be discouraged. To not be under the illusion that just because I had become a Christian that I would not pay the repercussions. She read me Hebrews 12:5–8, which talks about our Father disciplining us as his children.
I continued going to the Alpha course, and when I left prison Margaret helped me with accommodation. In doing so she helped me break the cycle of going back to my old cronies. I started going to church and Diane became my mentor for two years.
I got a recall to prison last year because I didn’t report back for my probation. And Stuart and Graham (from LIFE recovery) came to visit me, which really helped. When everyone else is getting visits and you are not, it is very soul-crushing.
Unfortunately, around that time I went to visit my family and got in touch with my old associates again. The result of this was another two and half month spell in prison.
I go to LRG twice a week now. Everyone is in the same boat, going through the same problems as you, but you are not on your own. It encourages you to do the right things.
When I came out of prison I went into a dry house in Horfield. I found it tough. When you go dry, all your suppressed emotions come to the surface, and they can come out in a negative way. And you’re with other people going through the same thing, so there were lots of arguments in the house. But this time I knew what worked for me, in terms of keeping on the straight and narrow. I chose Woodlands Church. And I started going to the LIFE recovery group (LRG) and volunteering in the Wild Goose.
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I have a one bedroom flat now. It’s moveon accommodation, so I’ll be there for nine months, and then hopefully on to a council flat. I’m doing a church theology course and an IT course, so that I can start working with computers. And my number one goal for the future is to stay off the booze.
Overall, the change in my life has been amazing. It has strengthened my faith. They are my family who I can share my problems with. I tell them everything. We don’t keep secrets from each other. It’s amazing how just talking to another person helps. It just helps to have those outlets. And they share back with you. It’s nice to have that safe environment. Stuart [the Life Recovery Manager] has helped me lots with things like moving and providing references. He’s been like a big brother to me. He always prays for me and I can tell him the absolute truth. He doesn’t judge me.
If I didn’t have LRG, chances are that I would still be in and out of the prison system. I view it like my little family. *Not their real names
I also went on the LIFE course, which has given me a better understanding of what makes me tick. It has taught me coping strategies. I’ve learnt the difference between responding and simply reacting. We learnt about nutrition and managing your money amongst other things. I’ve learnt to be more sensible. Being around people whose goal is the same is good. I’ve learnt that I can’t buy things to fix myself.
“If I didn’t have LRG, chances are that I would still be in and out of the prison system. I view it like my little family.”
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Volunteer story
I got to know about Crisis Centre Ministries through my church, Wrington Chapel. We support an additional charity each month, and it’s my job to contact the charity that we’ve chosen and send off the donation cheque. One particular month, a neighbour had recommended CCM, so I looked up your website to get the contact details. I found myself really intrigued by the range of support that CCM offers to people who find themselves homeless, hungry and often battling with addiction. It struck a chord, and I wanted to get involved. the tables of dirty cups and plates, which brings me up close to the clients and gives me the opportunity to ask them how they are doing. When I first started, I thought that I wouldn’t know how to engage with people, but it’s nothing like as difficult as I thought it would be. It’s usually easy to tell who feels like chatting and sharing their problems and the conversation then flows naturally.
When I came to chat to Steve, the Volunteer Coordinator, I’d thought I would probably get involved in the kitchen, preparing or serving food. But then I found out that support was needed in CCM’s engagement work, and that appealed to me more. I help clients in different ways. For instance, if people need to contact local services, communication can be a huge barrier if English isn’t their first language. On one occasion a Portuguese lady told me that her medical certificate had expired and that her surgery had contacted her to tell her that she needed to reregister with a GP closer to where she lived. She didn’t know how to go about doing that and, without a current medical certificate, her sickness benefit would cease. This was a real concern, as she was suffering from numerous health issues. So I helped her search for the surgeries near to her and made an appointment at the nearest one. She then knew that all she had to do was turn up for the appointment, and that they’d fill out the paperwork when she got there. On another day I helped her reword her CV, highlighting her strengths and qualities that would be useful in a job application once she was well enough to seek work.
One experience that sticks out in my mind was when I went with Esther to visit a client at his home. She was concerned that he hadn’t shown up at the centre for some time and she knew his health was poor. Esther had been supporting him in the long process of finding accommodation that was more suited to his poor mobility issues. His current place was detrimental to his health. His face lit up when he recognised Esther, with the realisation that he hadn’t been forgotten. He was really happy that we had taken the time to visit him. He’s now coming back in a lot more and engaging with others, clients and volunteers. I get a great sense of purpose from volunteering and I think I get a huge amount more out of it than I put in. It’s always exciting here as no two days are the same. There is such a huge amount of need and it’s a privilege to be a part of meeting that, even in a tiny way. Spending time sorting
Very often my work involves simply being present. In the morning, I go around clearing 10
ANNA It’s also wonderful to be part of the team of volunteers for that day and to hear volunteer and staff stories. It’s wonderful to be a part of this work.
and folding the clothes that are donated is very satisfying and seeking out particular clothes that a client needs is great because you know it will make such a difference to them. As a volunteer it is so easy to do. 11
CHEERS, DRIVE!
During my four years working for Crisis Centre Ministries, I’ve made over 1,000 trips to the cash and carry, and around 600 trips for the foodbank. I haven’t kept count of the supermarket trips, donation pick-ups or house moving. All I know is that I don’t often have a spare minute! Not even at Christmas and New Year, as I lend my services to Caring at Christmas.
By the CCM van
It’s the best job I’ve ever had (though the parking can be a bit of a nightmare). Like many of our long-term volunteers, it’s seen me work well into what would usually be my retirement. But it’s time for a younger set of wheels to take my place. I was already getting on a bit when I took the job, so I’m hoping to be traded in for a younger model!
First thing Monday morning, once I’ve coughed into life, I’m up and off for my usual trip to CostCo. There, I’ll be stuffed full of food that’s coming up to its use-by date. (It would go to waste otherwise!) Once I’m full up, it’s back to the Wild Goose to unload. Then Jean, our wonderful cook, will set to work on whatever I’ve dropped off. Occasionally, I have time for a quick midmorning pit-stop. However, we might still be short on supplies, so if there’s anything we need I trundle over to the supermarket. 9 times out of 10, it’s for milk. We get through gallons of the stuff! I’m told that things are always better with a nice cup of tea – although I personally prefer unleaded. In the latter half of the week, we sometimes get more food than we know what to do with. But rather than letting it go to waste, I’ll drop off what we don’t need at another homeless charity. My afternoons can vary. There are the regular supermarket pick-ups for the foodbank, and then I could be off to schools, churches and businesses to pick up more donations. I also moonlight as a removal man, helping clients move into accommodation. That’s hard work but so worth it as I am helping people at the end of a long journey into a place of their own. I also transport donated furniture to help them get set up. It’s difficult to make a go of it if you’ve been homeless and just moved into an unfurnished place with no money to buy anything and no support.
To all of my regular volunteer drivers: we’ve had some scrapes and near-misses, and several false starts (though my ignition is to blame for that). But day after day, we’ve helped so many people all over Bristol. Thank you. A van couldn’t ask for more. “Cheers, Drive!” is a Bristolian phrase used to thank a bus driver upon alighting from a bus. 12
APPEAL
Please help us raise £25,000 for a replacement van
That’s why we need your help in replacing it. £25,000 would buy an almost-new vehicle that can serve vulnerable and marginalised people in Bristol for years to come.
Our services simply wouldn’t be able to run without our van. But it’s on its last legs, and the repair bills are getting higher and higher.
To donate, just visit crisis-centre.org.uk/ vanappeal. You can also send us a cheque or bank transfer with the reference ‘VAN’.
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Finance & fundraising 2017/18
TARGET
£600,000
Income sources Businesses & Organisations 8% Churches 11%
YET TO RAISE
Individuals 38%
£182,530
Trusts & Foundations 40% Other 3%
RAISED SO FAR
£417,470
Our Current Financial Status 2017/8 Third quarter year to date (Apr–Dec 2017): Funds Raised: £417,470 Target: £600,000 Our funds raised to date are above target at the time of going to print, with our expenditure being below budget.
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Upcoming events Vision for the Vulnerable Do you work or volunteer with vulnerable people in Bristol? We’d love to see you at Vision for the Vulnerable. It’s a chance for those who work with vulnerable people to share their stories, encourage one another and come together in prayer.
Date: Tue 20th March Time: 7:30pm–09:00pm Venue: St Agnes Church, Thomas St, Bristol, BS2 9LL
Addiction & Recovery Training: Mutual Aid & 12 Step Groups This training series, now in its third year, equips churches and pastoral care workers to have a better understanding of and support people struggling with addiction. This session looks at the role that mutual aid and 12-step programmes can play in recovery. To find out more about this training series or to register for this session please go to www.liferecoverygroup.org/cms/index.php/training
LIFE RECOVERY GROUP | SUPPORTING RECOVERY – GROWING FAITH | 2017–18
Date: Sat 12th May Time: 9:30am–12:30pm Venue: Woodlands Church, Woodland Rd, Bristol BS8 2AA
UNDERSTANDING
ADDICTION & SUPPORTING RECOVERY IN THE CHURCH Saturday Morning Training Seminars
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23.09.17 18.11.17 13.01.18 10.03.18 12.05.18 08.07.18
Addiction & the Brain Relapse & Recovery Trauma & Attachment Mental Health The 12 Step Programme & Mutual Aid Groups From Homelessness to Independent Living
Dr. Fergus Law, Consultant Psychiatrist Ant Newman, Recovery Navigator Fr. Giles Lascelle, Trauma Specialist P-J Charters, BABCP Therapist Lydia Davenport, Drugs & Alcohol Counsellor Richard Sayer, Salvation Army Hostel Manager
Become a regular supporter Homelessness, addiction, and mental health problems all mean that the lives of the people that we help can be highly chaotic. In the face of this chaos, one of the greatest things you can offer them is stability. Your regular donations could mean that, while everything around them is uncertain, there’s always somewhere people can rely on for support and love.
We fully appreciate that it’s not something everyone will be able to commit to. But as one of our regular heroes you would help hundreds of lives today and into the future. You can set up a regular donation on our website or by using the form on the back of this magazine Thank you.
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Five
reasons why you should donate today 1 2 3 4 5
The number of people rough sleeping in England has risen for the sixth consecutive year, to an estimated 4,134.1 One in every 170 Bristol residents is homeless.2 Recent changes in welfare have led to people being evicted due to the inability to access benefits.3
The growing housing crisis is also fuelling homelessness. For example, rental prices in London have increased 24% since 2010 whilst average wages only 3%.4 A homeless rough sleeper is 35 times more likely to attempt suicide than someone who has never faced homelessness.5 1. Department for Communities and Local Government, 2016: Rough sleeping in England: autumn 2016 2. Shelter, 2017: Far from alone: Homelessness in Britain in 2017 3. Housing Justice, 2017: Homelessness Overview 2017 4. Ibid 5. Ibid
As homelessness increases, your help becomes even more important.
ÂŁ8 ÂŁ17 ÂŁ30 could help provide a homeless person with a hot meal, emergency supplies and support work.
could help provide a vulnerable woman with a clean, warm bed in a safe environment. 17 16
could help support someone towards employment and independent living.
Sign me up! Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Other Full Name: Address: Postcode: Phone: Email: D.O.B: 4 print publications a year in the post (3 Streetwise magazines & 1 impact report) Your fortnightly email bulletin Your monthly prayer 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.
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 gift of: £8
£17
£30
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 (Title) Address Postcode Tel/Mobile
Signature
Date
Please return this form to: FREEPOST RSTX-XTYH-CJCA, Crisis Centre Ministries, 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY
Thank you for your support 17
Spring 2018
Get involved
Pray
Donate
Volunteer
Fundraise
Pray for current developments, for our service users, staff and trustees. Join our expanding team of prayer supporters tackling homelessness in Bristol by emailing prayer@crisiscentre.org.uk
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