March 2013
TRANSFORMING LIVES TOGETHER. Transform Lives; Cultivate Talent; Release Potential Transforming lives by supporting individuals to recognise and cultivate their talents and abilities; releasing them to achieve their full potential, gain employment and ultimately sustain independent living. Here at Friends First (FF) we have been working hard throughout the winter to provide additional care to vulnerable and homeless people in Brighton & Hove and the surrounding areas. We are very grateful to all of our supporters who have contacted us since the first edition of our Newsletter in December to find out more about our work, and support us in so many ways. We hope you enjoy reading about FF’s recent developments in this quarterly edition of our Newsletter.
Incredible donation FF would like to sincerely thank the anonymous donor who generously gave £10,000 this month to FF!! This is an extraordinary gift and will make such an immense difference to the people we support.
Local MP visits FF & endorsement from B&H City Council FF works with a wide-range of stakeholders. Recently, a local MP’s visit provided FF with the opportunity to share our vision for the future, with an emphasis on tackling unemployment through social enterprise ventures. FF has received funding from B&H Council through their ‘Supporting People’ grant for the Supported House in Hove since 2002, and has recently received funding towards the Farmhouse in West Sussex. At a recent meeting, B&H Council representatives endorsed FF as one of the most successful service providers for homeless people in the city.
We love positive press: FF featured in West Sussex Gazette! FF has received another encouraging write-up by Carola Godman Irvine in the West Sussex Gazette. Carola is also a trustee for our largest grant supporter The Henry Smith Charity. If you would like a copy of the article, please email Serena.
Student RAG event "Take Me Out" 9th April, 7.30pm at Mandela Hall, Sussex University FF’s fantastic fundraising champions, Alex Pole and James Wood, university students and members of student association Enactus, are organising their very own version of “Take Me Out” to raise funds for Friends First. All students are warmly welcome to come along and show their support for FF. For more details and to buy tickets visit http://www.sussexstudent.com/rag
Brighton Marathon 14th April 2013 - Boys versus Girls Come and cheer on our amazing Friends First runners. The girls: Sussex University students with a sporting chance: Sarah McCarthy, Flora Wilkie and Abigail Lyons. The boys: Brighton marathon running veterans: Jamie Argent and Steve Horne and “Team Waller” Annie and Nigel Waller. We also have some fabulous ‘mini-milers’: Jasmine JerrimCrisp, Jack Sandeman, Anna Sandeman, Abigail Evans, Owen Pannett, Hudson Virgo, Talitha Virgo, Emily Flanagan, Bethany Horne, Tilly Horne and Megan Horne. Show your support by sponsoring them via uk.virginmoneygiving.com/add runner’s name.
Football Fundraiser for FF - 24th April 2013 kick-off 6:30pm at Southwick F.C. Southwick Recreation Ground, off Croft Avenue, Southwick, BN42 4AB Annual football tournament organised by Jamie Argent & Mike Melville-Reed. Fundraising activities include the auction of a signed B&H Albion shirt and a signed QPR football. Albion in the Community have been asked to join in the fun too. It promises to be a fantastic evening so don’t miss out!
Brain-teasing and fund-raising: Pub Quiz, 2nd May, 8pm Kemp Town pub ‘The Barley Mow’ (92 St George's Rd, Brighton, BN2 1EE) will be hosting a quarterly charity pub quiz to raise funds for FF’s on-going work. Quiz teams taking part in the pub’s Christmas Quiz raised a fabulous £125 for FF. Come along and join us; the more the merrier.
Contacting us: For more information on Friends First or anything featured in this Newsletter, please contact Serena Crisp (Communications and Marketing) on Serena.Crisp@friendsfirst.org.uk or 01273 221140.
TRANSFORMED LIVES. Helen - A fully fledged British Citizen
A huge thank you to our volunteers and mentors
Helen has been a resident at our supported house for over a year. She arrived at Friends First as a refugee with indefinite leave to remain. Helen enjoys working with children and is working towards her NVQ level 2 in childcare. Friends First staff have supported Helen throughout this time enabling her to complete her training. Helen also applied for naturalisation with help from FF staff and support from the Brighton Voices in Exile organisation. Helen was granted naturalisation and is now formally a British citizen. She is ecstatic about this news and has been waving her union jack flag in celebration!
We'd like to thank all our volunteers and mentors who contribute their time, energy and skills to support vulnerable and homeless people. Your input is having a hugely valuable impact and we are seeing lives transformed through your commitment and diligence.
Darren’s story: From desperation to aspiration Following his parents’ divorce, Darren found himself homeless, an angry young man, uncertain of the future, sofa surfing in Brighton. During the winter months he was accepted into the Brighton & Hove Churches Night Shelter. Against all the odds Darren found temporary work through a job agency. The Night Shelter team were impressed by his resilience and determination and suggested he attend Friends First's Growing Together project. Within a few weeks, Darren was offered a place at the Farmhouse and at the same time an opportunity to take a full-time job in Worthing opened up. He began working and moved into his new home on the same day!
We would like to take this opportunity to commend Paul Draper who excelled in managing the Drop-in. He is stepping down from his role to dedicate quality time to family life; his commitment has been outstanding and he will be sorely missed. We wish him and his family every success in the future. We’d also like to express our gratitude to Night Shelter Co-ordinator Jonno Melia and his exceptional team for their amazing efforts this winter; making the Night Shelter a place of community and warmth.
Mentors insight by Colin Bonner It has been my privilege to meet with Michael, to support and encourage him on his journey. Michael is a great cook and a former butcher. It is great to see opportunities for his skills to re-emerge at the house and at a nearby Pig Farm (Scott Free Range Pigs). It has been a real joy getting to know him and to be there to offer support, accompanying all that Friends First provides.
Chicken project takes off at the Farmhouse The chicken enterprise has grown successfully over the last 3 months. We now have 26 hybrid hens (bred to lay eggs) producing eggs for a growing group of regular customers. Our hens are working hard and have so far laid a total of 1,043 eggs! Farmhouse resident, Kevin, who has worked with Serena to raise the funds required to establish the chicken enterprise and who oversees its implementation, is thrilled to see the project taking off. The Farmhouse residents are enjoying caring for the chickens and developing their entrepreneurial skills. Serena regularly buys her eggs from the Farmhouse. She comments, “The eggs are especially delicious poached!” All profits made from the sale of eggs are ploughed back into the social enterprise.
Get involved in helping to transform peoples’ lives: Share your skills through mentoring Friends First is passionate about supporting people to reach their full potential. If you have skills to share or time available to mentor please telephone the FF office or email Project Director Rob Liddiard rob.liddiard@friendsfirst.org.uk
Make a donation Any donation, however large or small, is really appreciated. It's great to know we've got such wonderful individuals behind us supporting FF to transform many more lives. Please visit www.friendsfirst.org.uk and select ’DONATE’. Alternatively you can contact Serena Crisp on 01273 221140.
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