Annual Report - Look Ahead

PORTRAIT Annual Report 2007

PAUL & AJADI

TSAHAI & RACHEL

OUR MISSION IS TOENABLE THOSE WITH PARTICULARNEEDS

TO LIVEORDINARY LIVESWITHIN THE

COMMUNITY.

CONTENTS Foreword by Victoria Stark CBE Foreword by Heather Barker Overview of Look Ahead Look Ahead’s services by borough New services New capital developments Healthy living The arts programme Facts and figures Funders and supporters Board of management Financial summary

2 3 4 7 10 12 16 21 27 32 34 35

PORTRAITS Jo Shi Katie Nidrah Richard Ashley Jackie Michael Keith & Deborah Yonathan Barry Paulo Phillip

Registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965. Registration number: 21004R

5 6 8 13 14 18 19 23 24 26 29 30 36

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FOREWORD VICTORIA STARK THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY EXCITING AT LOOK AHEAD. As always, our customer involvement programme has been top of our list of priorities. Its achievements were publicly recognised when we won the Andy Ludlow Homelessness Award 2006. I was particularly proud of the residents who gave the final presentation and whose moving words and professionalism undoubtedly gave us the winning edge.

We were also shortlisted for the Housing Corporation’s Gold Award 2007, in the Empowering Communities category. Although we did not win, I was overwhelmed by the efforts of staff and hostel residents who worked together to showcase our hostel communities to the panel of judges.

Our achievements in these awards have been mirrored by our successes in the area of new business. We have focussed our attention on services for young people and people with learning disabilities as well as floating support services – all areas where we have a great deal of existing knowledge and expertise. Our commitment to excellence and to meeting customer need has been recognised with a number of new contracts, enabling us to increase our workforce and more importantly, to support even greater numbers of vulnerable people.

Our hostels continue to be beacons of excellence as was shown in our Cathy Come Home anniversary open day event. This event demonstrated just how far accommodation and service provision for homeless people has improved and developed in the past 40 years.

Visits by government minister Yvette Cooper, the Audit Commission’s chief inspector of housing, Roy Irwin, and many delegates from home and abroad have also reinforced just how innovative our services are.

The challenge and pleasure derived from working with vulnerable people with vastly differing support needs never ceases to inspire me. Seeing people’s lives transformed as a result of the services Look Ahead provides, motivates everyone at Look Ahead to achieve greater successes in the coming year.

Victoria Stark CBE, Chief Executive

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FOREWORD HEATHER BARKER AS AN ORGANISATION, LOOK AHEAD SEEKS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF

OUR CUSTOMERS AND BELIEVES THAT WHEN IT COMES TO QUALITY, NOTHING LESS THAN THE BEST WILL DO. This can only be achieved through continuous improvement in the services we deliver and by looking at new and innovative ways of working.

The Look Ahead Board is focussed on consolidating and expanding these aims, and as we move into the future, I believe our experience and the organisation’s sound financial base will continue to support this growth.

Look Ahead’s staff are key to meeting our objectives.

Wherever I go, across the organisation, I am always impressed by the extraordinary commitment, care and enthusiasm they show, whatever their role may be. Their dedication has led to a successful and rewarding year for Look Ahead and has helped us to build on the successes of the previous years as well as developing for the future.

Critical to success is also the involvement of our customers in all aspects of our work – from auditing our services to being involved in staff appointments.

We were delighted that this work was rewarded through the Andy Ludlow Award which recognised how Look Ahead enable and empower our customers to be involved on an ‘equal footing’.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board members for their hard work and support throughout the year. Their time, skills and contributions are greatly valued.

Heather Barker, Chairman

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OVERVIEW OF LOOK AHEAD EACH WEEK, LOOK AHEAD SUPPORT NEARLY 3250 PEOPLE ACROSS LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST. PEOPLE, WHO WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT, MIGHT BE LIVING ON THE STREETS, OR STRUGGLING TO COPE WITH DAILY LIFE. 1 Simmone and Kate (staff) with residents Jade and Sarah, from one of our young people’s schemes following giving a presentation to the Bromley Supporting People Forum.

2 Eddie receives floating support services from our Newham Supported Living Service in east London.

By providing them with a place to call home and with tailored support, we enable people to feel secure and to see a future. Often for the first time.

With over 50 separate accommodation-based support, floating and outreach services, we offer support to people around:

We work with people who are amongst society’s most vulnerable, and whose lives can be very chaotic. At Look Ahead, we treat every one of them as an individual. We believe that regardless of their past, everyone has a right to be treated with dignity, to play an active part in their local community and to live an independent life.

• Preventing repeat homelessness through tenancy sustainment • Seeking specialist support for drug and alcohol issues • Mental health needs • Managing money and accessing benefits • Finding meaningful occupation and developing social networks • Accessing education, employment and training and activities in the local community.

We work in partnership with 24 local authorities and primary care trusts to meet the housing and care needs of their local residents. Last year we supported over 5000 people. Amongst them were: Young people, care leavers, teenage parents People with mental health needs People with learning disabilities Homeless families, single homeless people and rough sleepers • Women and children fleeing domestic violence • People with substance misuse issues • People with offending histories.

• • • •

We aim to enable the homeless and socially excluded people we support, to transform their lives in positive ways, and in doing so, empower them to play a valuable part in their local community.

Filthy Rich & Homeless reality TV programme participant, Tom (left), photographed during filming at Aldgate hostel.

PHILLIP

JO

Jo was featured in the BBC 3 reality programme, Filthy Rich & Homeless, screened in May 2007.

She receives support at her hostel around her substance misuse issues.

SHI

Shi attends the weekly computer class at her hostel. She also takes a very active role in the cookery class held every Friday.

LOOK AHEAD’S

BY BOROUGH CURRENT LOOKSERVICES AHEAD SERVICES HILLINGDON

HARROW

BRENT

WALTHAM FOREST

Floating support

Floating support Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers

Floating support

Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers

Mental health Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers

WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD Floating support Homeless families

KENSINGTON & CHELSEA

BARKING & DAGENHAM Homeless families Mental health

Floating support

TOWER HAMLETS

EALING

Learning disability

Floating support

Floating support

Mental health

Learning disability

Single homeless

Mental health

Substance misuse Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers

Single homeless

Single homeless Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers Young people

NEWHAM HIV Learning disability

Substance misuse Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers Young people

Young people

Haringey Brent

Ealing

Richmond

King ston

Spelthorne

Bracknell Forest

Hounslow

Elmbridge

BRACKNELL FOREST

HOUNSLOW

Single homeless

Floating support Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers

Young people

SLOUGH Domestic violence Single homeless

ELMBRIDGE Ex-offenders Young people

Camden

Redbridge

Hackney

Wandsworth

Tower Hamlets Newham

Southwark

Windsor & Maidenhead

Sl o ugh

ton Lambeth ng I sl i r e nst mi ea est els W Ch am . & F ul h ns Ke m. & m Ha

Hillingdon

Harrow

Mental health Personality disorder Single homeless Substance misuse Teenage mothers and babies Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers Young people

Havering

Waltham Forest

Enfield Barnet

Single homeless

Barking and Dagenham Thurrock

Greenwich Bexley Lewisham

Merton

Sutton

Croydon

HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM Floating support Mental health Substance misuse Tenancy sustainment for rough sleepers Rough sleepers SUTTON/SURREY

RICHMOND

Domestic violence

Ex-offenders

Young people

Bromley

WESTMINSTER

THURROCK

Domiciliary care service

Floating support

Learning disability

Young people

Mental health Registered care home

BROMLEY

Rough sleepers

Ex-offenders

Single homeless

Teenage mothers and babies Young people

Young people SOUTHWARK Young people

Resource centres and IT facilities at our schemes play a valuable part in assisting residents to apply for jobs, bid for housing and maintain contact with family and friends.

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FLOATING SUPPORT

KATIE

Look Ahead’s floating support services enable people of all ages, with a wide range of needs, to maintain their independence in their own homes. The flexible nature of the support offered means that assistance can be stepped up, or down, according to the individual’s needs. Katie, a 19 year-old from Essex, receives support from our new Thurrock floating support service.

I had a really happy family life until I became a teenager.

Mental health problems run in the family and at 13 I was diagnosed with depression. My mum and I kept falling out and it all came to a head when I was 16 when she threw me out. My nan took me in and I stayed with her while I finished school.

My support worker, Rose, has been brilliant. It’s so nice to know I can ring her and she’ll come round.

She understands my depression and knows what she’s dealing with. With her help, I’ve stopped self-harming.

I used to do that pretty badly and I wasn’t taking my medication properly but I am now.

I did move back home and at first mum and I got on, but then it went back to how it was before, and she threw me out again. I was 18. I couldn’t go back to my nan’s because she wasn’t well. I ended up moving around between friends – but there are only so many friends you can stay with.

I see Rose at least once or twice a week and I speak to her a lot on the phone as well. How often I see her depends on what mood I’m in – whether I’m up or down. She has also helped me sort stuff out like if things go wrong in the flat, or with my benefits.

Eventually I spoke to a woman from Open Door. She took me to the council office and made them find me somewhere. The only place they had was a B&B in Barking. It had a curfew and my room was tiny. It was a shock to the system. I had no money and didn’t know anyone there.

I lived there for a few months, then in a hostel in Grays and then in a shared rented flat. While I was at the B&B, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For five months I went to the mental health recovery unit at Basildon hospital three days a week. Being diagnosed helped explain the troubles I had with my mum, but I overdosed three times that year.

At the unit they taught me useful coping mechanisms.

When I had to stop going, I was really worried about coping on my own but since last November, I’ve received floating support from Look Ahead.

In April 2007, I moved into the flat I’m in now. It’s just a studio flat but it’s really nice, and in the past few months I’ve started talking to my mum again. Now we’re not in each others faces, we don’t argue like we did. Things are better because we know what’s wrong with me. I did miss my mum a lot when I didn’t see her.

Now, life is going really well. I’ve not been in hospital for a year and I’ve been with my partner for nearly a year now.

He lives in London and he’s my rock.

I’m really excited because Rose helped me fill out an application form for college, and yesterday I got offered a place! I’m going to start a one year access course in September, and hopefully I’ll go on to university. I would like to be an English teacher.

I had to drop out of my A-levels because I couldn’t cope, and I worry that I’ll have the same problems at college but now I know I can call Rose, and she’ll help sort me out. If it wasn’t for the support I’ve had, I wouldn’t be doing any of this. I dread to think where I’d be.

Katie now lives independently in a village near Thurrock in the Thames Gateway.

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NEW SERVICES THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN AN EXCITING AND BUSY ONE,

WITH EIGHT BRAND NEW SERVICES LAUNCHED AND OTHERS, SUBSTANTIALLY EXPANDED.

1 Residents had a wonderful time at the open day event held at Luton Road in September 2006.

2 Last summer, Olympic medallist Marcus Adam attended a healthy living event in east London, organised for residents from a number of projects in the area.

We opened our first project in Essex, where we have taken over a service for single homeless people including young people at risk. Brooke House is located in Grays, Thurrock, and provides accommodation-based services for 10 people.

A floating support outreach service supports a further 25 people to live independently in the borough.

Support is offered in a flexible way, enabling us to respond quickly to the differing and sometimes complex needs of this vulnerable client group.

In east London our long running Intensive Community Support Service (ICSS), based in Bethnal Green, has been renamed. In December 2006, customers were consulted about the name change and there was an overwhelming response. One name however said, very simply, what the customers want from using the service – independence. The new name, Independent Living Community Support (ILCS) was born and the service was formally relaunched in June 2007.

We have also recently taken over the support service package at Caplin House, in Tower Hamlets. This service, which opened in June 2007, is an eight bed aftercare service for men returning to the borough who have addressed previous drug and/or alcohol

problems and who are now abstinent. Support is offered around relapse prevention, skills development and tenancy sustainment.

In south London, we built and launched a new project at Thicket Road, Bromley. The project, which opened in July 2006, accommodates seven young people aged 16-19, in fully furnished flats. The residents are single homeless people and care leavers who require medium support before they move on to fully independent accommodation.

In Southwark, we launched a pilot project in partnership with Southwark council. Located at our Gateway foyer and launched in October 2006, the service is called the Brief Intervention Project.

It provides specialist support to young people, aged 16-17, who have become estranged from their families and as a result have become homeless.

They move into the foyer for a maximum six week stay. During this time experienced intervention professionals work with the individual and their family, aiming to resolve the problems that have led to their homelessness. Where appropriate, the young person is supported to move back to the family home. Early results are very promising,

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399 NEW SERVICE USERS 8 NEW CONTRACTS AWARDED with 39% being positively reconnected with their family, against a target of 20%.

Our floating support services across west London have also grown considerably.

In the borough of Kensington & Chelsea, we relaunched our floating support scheme working with homeless people from the borough. The service supports 32 people, providing accommodation, support, advice and assistance to help tenants maintain their tenancies.

Our largest new service - the West London Floating Support Service - is a unique partnership between seven London boroughs and is part of the national Supporting People Value Improvement Programme (as is the Thurrock project, described previously).

Jointly funded by the seven boroughs, the service is available across Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hounslow, Hillingdon and Kensington & Chelsea. The service offers 322 hours of support per week to single homeless people with additional support needs.

Most recently, in July 2007, we launched the Hammersmith & Fulham Supported Living Project

(HFSL) . HFSL provides support for up to 45 people aged 18 to 80, who have a learning disability and are in housing need.

We have also expanded our accommodation-based services in west London and the south west.

In west London, we were commissioned by the London Borough of Hillingdon to assist them with a major modernisation programme of their mental health services. Look Ahead now provides accommodation and support to a total of 54 single people, aged 18-65, with mental health needs in four locations in the borough. Floating support is provided for an additional 28 people. Staff work with each resident individually to help them sustain their tenancy, to get involved in the community and to manage their health needs.

And finally, moving further west, Admel House, a detached house and bungalow in Windsor, provides supported accommodation for eight at risk young people.

1 Bevan House residents and staff enjoyed the party held in December 2006 to celebrate the one year anniversary of the scheme opening.

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NEW CAPITAL DEVELOPMENTS IN RECENT YEARS, LOOK AHEAD HAS COMPLETED A NUMBER OF HIGH QUALITY, NEW DEVELOPMENTS. THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A PERIOD OF CONSOLIDATION AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

1 The landmark Flying Angel building will soon be completely redeveloped to create an innovative mixed use scheme.

With a number of projects currently in development and at planning stage, 2008 will certainly be a busy year.

Look Ahead’s first self-contained accommodation was Mary Jones House in Tower Hamlets which 2 Look Ahead’s building and opened in 1982 and comprised 45 flats. The maintenance contractors are expected to work to building will be demolished and rebuilt to provide the highest possible quality purpose-built accommodation for 20 people with standards. learning disabilities.

In Newham another existing scheme, the Flying Angel, will be remodelled to form a new mixed development of approximately 62 units to be split equally between keyworker accommodation and supported housing. We also plan to have artists studios on the ground floor to create a mixed community based on the New York Times Square model.

be reopened as six self-contained flats for vulnerable young people who need support to live independently.

We have virtually refurbished all our shared properties, and 2007/08 will see several more being replaced with self-contained accommodation. In Cudworth Street, Bethnal Green, we are refurbishing 23 units which, once complete, will house people with mental health needs and learning disabilities.

We have several refurbishment projects due for completion in 2007. Mabley Court in Bracknell was a registered care home, but will very shortly

PHILLIP

An image of Whitechapel Market, taken by Aldgate hostel resident Mark Felix.

NIDRAH

Nidrah is currently studying textiles at the Ideas Store. She has also completed our customer training course and takes part in staff recruitment interview panels.

HOSTELS

RICHARD

Homeless people and rough sleepers are often assumed to have drug and alcohol problems, poor educations or difficult family backgrounds. For many however, none of these issues are factors in their homelessness. Richard, an ex-resident of our Aldgate hostel tells his story.

I was born in 1969. My dad was an RAF pilot. I come from a big family and had an idyllic childhood. I was an academic over-achiever, winning a scholarship to boarding school.

Then at 18, I started having emotional problems. I went to Imperial College to study computer science but dropped out after two terms. My life started going through a cycle where, due to one thing or another happening, I would fall apart, ending up on the streets.

The first time I was in Jersey. I tried to commit suicide and spent three months in a psychiatric unit. I came back to England and got a job, but pretty quickly life felt like an impossible mountain to climb. Rather than speaking to family about it, I went off and ended up sleeping rough.

Eventually I came out of the depression and spent a few years working. I also met a girl and spent three years with her. That was a happy time of my life. We split up when I was 28, it hit me hard and again I ended up sleeping rough.

Two or three years went by, I had a job and I was doing really well. I even got married but my wife left me, leaving me with all of our debts, rent and bills which I couldn’t pay alone. I ended up sleeping rough again, this time in London. I got into trouble and spent time in prison.

At the end of my sentence I was back on the streets again.

That was in February 2006, at which point I moved into Aldgate hostel.

From that moment, I got involved in loads of stuff. I did a self-esteem course, I ran the coffee shop, I got involved with the board advisory panel and the policy review group.

I did a Video Nation diary and other things for the BBC. I got involved in the Andy Ludlow Awards which won £10,000 for Look Ahead - that really made me feel good.

I also did staff recruitment panels. I loved doing them.

It meant I was actually doing something real, that made a difference.

I was fine up until Christmas, but in January 2007 I started a job and I couldn’t cope with the stress. Rather than trying to deal with it, I went off and slept on the Strand for a night or two. Petria, a member of staff, realised I had gone, contacted me and made me come back. I went to the doctors and they gave me antidepressants, which I’d always pooh-poohed before.

I now feel much more balanced and find it much easier to cope with the little things. On May 28th 2007, I moved out of the hostel, into a flat. I’ve bought some bits for it and I’ve joined a library. My friend Jackie, who I met at the hostel, comes over to visit. Work is the next thing I need in my life now; it would give me extra money and a chance to make new friendships.

I’m back in contact with my family; we keep in touch by email. While I was sleeping rough, I was out of contact with them for two to three years at a time. I love my dad dearly but we have very different approaches to life.

Why I slept on the streets was because I couldn’t cope with bills, or any kind of stress. Being on the streets for me wasn’t stressful. I never drank or took drugs. I was basically on the streets because I couldn’t cope with real life.

I’ve been very lucky getting help from Look Ahead and I’ve got a wide group of people to thank - my old keyworker Paul, and Petria in skills development in particular. If I hadn’t had Petria, and didn’t get the medication, I think I would still be sleeping rough.

But lots of people made me feel like I was making a difference. They made me feel like I was a person.

They saw the person in me, not just my problems.

I now feel like I’ve got direction. I definitely see happy times ahead.

Aldgate hostel provides accommodation and support services to 158 single homeless people, including a 14-bed substance misuse unit.

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HEALTHY LIVING GOVERNMENT STATISTICS SHOW THAT HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY ILL THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

1 Healthy eating and the provision of healthy food options is being championed at all of our schemes.

People sleeping rough have a rate of physical health problems that is two or three times greater than in the general population. Also, according to research figures, homeless young men aged 16 to 29 have a death risk 40 times the national average.

It is for this reason that Look Ahead has launched a healthy living campaign, designed to improve the health and wellbeing of all our customers. Staff assist customers to sign up with GPs and to access appropriate health care services. We work closely with partner agencies on the provision of TB screening; to provide needle exchange at our Aldgate and Victoria hostels as well as hepatitis screening and general health advice.

Customers and staff alike are being encouraged to improve their exercise levels and physical activity in keeping with the government and NHS recommendations for healthy living. Promoting awareness of local sports facilities and classes, and encouraging participation has been one of our main focuses. However, incorporating exercise and healthy living practices into the day-to-day activities of our customers, is the key to long term health benefits.

Our small sports grants help to fund many such activities. Applications have this year enabled an individual to participate in a weightlifting competition and another to complete a swimming teaching certificate. It has also enabled groups of residents to go fishing, cycling, play tennis, attend self-defence and badminton classes. Equipment that can be used long term – such as exercise mats, fitness DVDs and an exercise bike – have also been paid for.

The small sports grant is funded through the sponsorship of staff and residents taking part in organised sports activities. On 1st July 2007, a team of 12 members of staff ran the British 10k London Run raising money for the small sports grants. The run was followed by a healthy living lunch for both runners and supporters at our Kean Street project in Covent Garden.

Kean Street, a registered care home for 31 people with severe and enduring mental health needs, has been one of the pioneers of our healthy living campaign. Back in April 2005, staff introduced a programme they called ‘food for mood.’ Their nutritionally balanced menus saw dramatic benefits to behaviour, mood, activity levels and weight loss.

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“I have been very impressed with the enthusiasm and interest in healthy eating that your service users have shown over the past year or so. I feel it has made a very positive contribution to their wellbeing and health in general. There have been some remarkable examples of appropriate weight loss and a general re-awakening in the approach to eating sensibly and healthily.”

Dr ROM Naidoo, GP, Westminster

1st July 2007 was also a significant date in our healthy living diary as it saw the introduction of the government’s new no smoking legislation. This has been widely promoted throughout Look Ahead.

Both residents and staff have been encouraged to view it as an opportunity to cut down, or better still, give up smoking all together.

Our annual football tournament was relaunched in August 2007. Organised this year in partnership with Aquaterra Leisure, we have been working to set in place stakeholder sponsorship and matchfunding from the Football Association. This will ensure that the tournament can be guaranteed for the next three years. If the match-funding grant from the FA is secured, we will also be able to employ a part-time sports and healthy living worker later in the year. It will be their job to promote sports activities and help clients across the organisation to access coaching and sports facilities.

On a more local level, the Westminster Foundation has provided five years funding for the creation of a new part-time post, specifically to promote health in the borough of Westminster. Our new healthy

living coordinator commenced in March 2007, and works across a number of Look Ahead services including two hostels and four projects for people with mental health needs.

With the involvement of residents, chefs and facilities managers, the first big task of our healthy living coordinator was to review and develop our catering services provided in the borough. The use of more organic and fresh local produce is now being championed. We are also developing new seasonal menus that meet both residents’ cultural and nutritional needs. These will ultimately be collated into a healthy recipe book to be made available to all of our customers. Nutritional information about each dish will be given, enabling our customers to cook healthier meals themselves, increasing their independence and awareness and knowledge of nutrition.

Look Ahead’s new intranet, launched in June 2007, is already proving an invaluable tool for sharing the information and benefits of our healthy living campaign across the organisation.

1 Twelve staff ran the British 10k London Run in June, generously raising funds for our small sports grant.

2 Gateway foyer beat off strong competition from 13 other teams from across the organisation to win this year’s football tournament.

YOUNG PEOPLE

ASHLEY

Ashley is 20 years old. He has lived at Rainforest Walk, Bracknell, a supported housing project for 20 vulnerable young people, for a year.

When Ashley moved in his behaviour was destructive and aggressive and his eviction at one stage seemed inevitable. But, with the support of his girlfriend and project staff, he has transformed himself into a relaxed young man, destined for a happier future.

My parents divorced soon after I was born, but I had a happy childhood, living with my dad and one of my sisters in Bracknell. As a teenager, I decided to move to my mum’s to try to rebuild bridges with her. Things didn’t work out though and at 16, she kicked me out.

I went back to my dad’s, but when he remarried, I moved out and with nowhere else to go, ended up sofa surfing for a few months at friends’ houses. I tried to patch things up with my mum and dad but when I was 19, I was kicked out again and ended up sleeping rough for about a week in Basingstoke.

My aunt came to my rescue. She took me back to her’s but because she had no spare rooms, I had to live in a tent in her back garden. It was then that I was put in touch with REAP – the Reading Emergency Accommodation Project.

Within a few weeks I had been referred to Rainforest Walk and was given a one-bed flat.

The staff here also helped me. They believed in me and gave me a second chance. They got me to go to Cascade where I dealt with my drinking and anger problems. I only have appointments with them once every two weeks now and I never drink to excess any more. Staff have also helped me to look for a job. I used to work at a sports centre and I’d like to become a personal trainer, but for now I’m working about four days a week for my uncle’s removals company.

I’m back speaking to my dad now. We get on much better with me living away. He pops to mine for a coffee and a chat and I speak really regularly to my aunt; it’s great because she only lives two minutes away from here.

Our flats are nice, they’re very spacious, but I hope to move out of here pretty soon, if I keep doing what I’m doing now. Lucy’s moving out to a new flat soon. I want to move close to her because she’s good for me.

When I was offered the flat, I jumped at it and was on my best behaviour, but very soon I was getting in trouble with the police. I used to drink a lot and I’d get drunk and end up being arrested. I got done for criminal damage – taking my frustration out on windows and letting off fire extinguishers and stuff. For six months, on and off, I would try to get back on track, but then something would happen that would send me off the rails again.

I was on the verge of being evicted but at Christmas time, Lucy moved in to Rainforest Walk and everything changed. She’s my girlfriend now and she got me to calm down. I still have my moments but I think before I act now, and life finally makes sense.

Rainforest Walk provides accommodation in self-contained studio flats to 20 young people who require support to live independently.

Jackie will soon be moving into independent accommodation and would like to train to be a nurse.

JACKIE

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THE ARTS PROGRAMME THE LOOK AHEAD ARTS PROGRAMME HAS HAD A VERY BUSY YEAR.

FOUR PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS AND SIX YOUTH ARTS PROJECTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. At a time when young people in general are receiving adverse media attention, it is particularly refreshing to highlight the really positive and unique activities that have been achieved in our three year long youth arts programme. During the past year, we have worked with East London Dance, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, South Hill Park, Tate Modern and the Whitechapel Gallery. The three year programme celebrated its conclusion with a celebration at the Coliseum, which showcased the work of the artists and participants and saw the launch of a new publication, documenting the entire three year programme.

Future projects for young people will incorporate the new nationwide youth arts accreditation scheme, The Arts Award. Similar in style and aims to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, it provides an opportunity for participants to gain a recognised accreditation which can lead to an NVQ. Three Look Ahead staff have so far trained successfully to become Arts Award advisors, and we are putting funding in place to enable a new accredited youth arts programme to start in autumn 2007.

Look Ahead has an increasing reputation for its diverse and high quality programme of public art.

Each of the four commissions completed this year had steering groups made up of Look Ahead customers and staff, local authority arts officers and arts professionals who ensured that every aspect of each commission was considered.

Our public art commissions have seen impressive levels of participation from our customers. They have been involved in selecting the artists; visiting artists’ studios and inspirational buildings; and viewing other public art commissions with the artists, to help them learn more about the process of commissioning art works.

Lothar Goetz’s colourful new work Zig Zag, sited in the communal area of Coventry Road, a project for people with mental health needs, and Seamus Staunton’s sculpture, the Earls Court Loop, at Princess Beatrice House, a hostel for homeless people, have been completed to great acclaim.

Whilst at Campbell Road, a project for young people with high support needs, the residents were involved in a series of successful workshops

Richard Woods’ spectacular art commission Floral Repeat No 19 2007, covers the full height of the side wall of Mabley Court in Bracknell.

1 Artist Deborah Jaffé ran a series of workshops exploring a variety of art mediums with residents from schemes in Bracknell.

2 Zig Zag by artist Lothar Goetz was much admired at its first public viewing in April 2007.

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1 Whitechapel Gallery and Look Ahead commissioned artist Gino Saccone to undertake a six month residency at Bayswater hostel. It proved to be a fascinating social and artistic exchange between residents and artist.

2 The Earls Court Loop sculpture formed a central part of the refurbishment and improvement of the reception area at Princess Beatrice House.

with artist Ella Gibbs, concentrating on improving the space and environment in which they live. Finally, the installation of Richard Woods’ new work in Bracknell is exciting real interest within the borough, and beyond.

Look Ahead's own small arts grant has been regularly used to fund small local projects and activities, including arts workshops and ‘go and see’ days out to galleries.

It has also supported a group of residents with learning disabilities involvement in the New London Orchestra's project, Newham Welcomes the World, which they performed at the ExCel Centre in July.

These activities illustrate the key aims of the arts programme: to improve the local environment; to encourage participation including community integration; and to provide real opportunities for skills development and learning. It is also important to recognise and value the essential role Look Ahead staff play in involving our customers, and in encouraging our residents to use the arts organisations we work with as a local resource.

form with our arts partners. These relationships are an essential ingredient to each project’s success.

Look Ahead has for many years been an organisation that recognises the value of a well designed environment and the benefit of customers engaging with artists. As Katrina Duncan, external evaluator for the youth arts programme says in her 2005-06 report: “What is noteworthy is that Look Ahead policy recognises the arts as a vital component in a holistic approach to the development of all its customers.”

For more information about our arts programme, please contact the arts programme manager on 0207 368 4663.

All of our arts projects rely on substantial charitable funding and the strong working relationships we

A detail of the Earls Court Loop sculpture by artist Seamus Staunton.

MICHAEL

Michael has turned his life around since coming to Aldgate Hostel. He has completed a range of training courses, has undertaken a work placement and created a Video Nation video diary for a BBC feature on homelessness. He has re-established links with his children and has recently gained full-time employment as a support worker.

LEARNING DISABILITY

KEITH & DEBORAH

Look Ahead provide a wide range of services for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs. Our services enable people to make choices in their daily lives and to become an active part of their local communities, as well as offering a real chance to be independent. Luton Road in Newham is one of our five schemes which provide high quality accommodation and support to people with learning disabilities.

KEITH

DEBORAH

I am 63. I went blind in 1974 and I moved to Luton Road in September 1999.

My name is Deborah. I am 49 years old. I have two brothers and a sister, called Rosie. I’ve lived at Luton Road for two years; I moved in when my mum died.

Where I was previously, I couldn’t do much but here I’m supported to do things for myself. I feel more independent and it’s much better. I feel very happy living here.

When I need new clothes, my keyworker takes me to the shops and helps me to choose. They also help me cook and clean and do my ironing, but I dress myself, do all my own washing and I put it in the drier.

I hadn’t seen my sister for 44 years but a member of staff wrote a letter to the Salvation Army for me, and they managed to trace her. Last year, in July, my sister came to see me and cooked me dinner. I was so happy to see her again. Now she phones me every Sunday and I’m going to stay with her when it’s my niece’s birthday. It will be the fifth time I’ve been to stay with her.

In August, I’m going on holiday to Cornwall with another resident from here. We’re going for a week. We’ve recently being doing music workshops here with the New London Orchestra. I’ve really liked them. In July we sang at the ExCel Centre with 300 school children and other people from Newham. It was so exciting.

I’ve got my own flat. I like to cook using the microwave oven. Staff help me with my shopping, they take me in a cab to Morrisons and back.

I go to a day centre on Mondays and Tuesdays to see my friends. On Wednesdays I go to college. I learn writing and computers there. On Fridays I do my washing. Staff help me to hang it on the line, but I do my own ironing.

Saturday is my cleaning day, I like to do my own cleaning and I make my bed every day. On Sundays, my sister brings me a roast dinner over.

Once a week we do the gardening here, looking after the plants and watering it all. We also have parties and music when it’s someone’s birthday. The day before my birthday in July, we went to see Rod Stewart in concert.

He was fantastic. When I’m 50, I want to have a big limo for ten of my friends, all girls. We’re all going to drive around. It’ll be fun!

Luton Road is located in Plaistow, east London. It is a supported living project for 11 adults with learning difficulties, who have a variety of support needs including communication difficulties and personal care.

Although Yonathan has only recently moved into the hostel, he has already established himself by working as a volunteer.

YONATHAN

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FACTS AND FIGURES NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING OUR GENDER OF CUSTOMERS BREAKDOWN SERVICES AT ANY ONE TIME

1371 938 440 450 49 3248 TOTAL

SUPPORTED HOUSING TENANCY SUSTAINMENT TEAMS HOSTELS OUTREACH FLOATING SUPPORT

MF

65 % 35 %

ETHNICITY OF CUSTOMERS 3% 5%

28%

REGISTERED CARE HOMES

56%

56% 28% 5% 5% 3% 3%

White British and Irish Black or black British Mixed Asian or Asian British Chinese or other ethnic group Question refused

The libraries in our central London hostels provide a fantastic on-site resource where residents can borrow books, CDs and DVDs as well as learning new skills by spending time doing voluntary work in the library.

1 We were very proud when our customer involvement programme won the prestigious Andy Ludlow Homelessness Award in November 2006.

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DEPARTURES

FUNDING SOURCES

1 Housing Corporation chair Peter Dixon, with Look Ahead’s chief executive Victoria Stark and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Andrews OBE, at the launch of the Housing Corporation’s Vulnerable People Strategy in August 2008. The event was held at our hostel in Earl’s Court, Princess Beatrice House.

46 % 32% 14% 7% 1%

LOCAL AUTHORITY SUPPORTING PEOPLE CONTRACT INCOME RENTS & SERVICE CHARGES LOCAL AUTHORITY SOCIAL SERVICES FUNDING COMMUNITIES & LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING OTHER INCOME

PLANNED DEPARTURES

79%

50%

MOVING TO INDEPENDENT ACCOMMODATION

AGE RANGES OF CUSTOMERS 1% 5% 8% 12% 24% 23% 27%

8% 12% 24% 27% 23% 5% 1%

UNDER 18 18 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40-54 55 - 64 OVER 65

The 15 ‘cluster flats’ adjacent to our Victoria hostel provide semi-independent accommodation to 75 residents, preparing them for move-on into independent accommodation in the community.

BARRY

Barry recently completed the Ready for Work course, run in partnership with Business in the Community. Following just one day’s work experience, he was taken on by the Royal Mail as a full-time postman.

Paulo has completed our two day customer training course which aims to improve communication, listening and teamwork skills. He is currently looking for work in the catering field.

PAULO

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NEEDS OF CUSTOMERS PRIMARY NEEDS 36% 29% 15% 10% 5% 3% 1% 1% 1% 1%

Rough sleepers Single homeless with support Young people at risk, leaving care, teenage parents Mental health problems Homeless families with support Learning disabilities Offenders or at risk of offending Women at risk of domestic violence Drug problems People with HIV/AIDS

SECONDARY SUPPORT NEEDS* 33% 19% 18% 15% 8% 5% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1%

Alcohol and drug problems Mental health problems Rough sleepers Single homeless with support Physical or sensory disability Young people at risk Offenders or at risk of offending Refugees Complex needs Older people with support needs Homeless families with support Older people mental health Learning disabilities Mentally disordered offenders Young people leaving care Frail elderly People with HIV/AIDS Teenage parents Women at risk of domestic violence

RENT/ HOUSING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION £ 34 - £ 74* HOSTELS SUPPORTED £ 54- £ 108* SUPPORTED HOUSING

HOUSING AVERAGE INCREASE IN 3.2 % WEEKLY GROSS RENT 94 % GROSS OCCUPANCY RENT COLLECTED THE YEAR 97% THROUGHOUT * Rents (excluding service charges)

REPAIRS PERFORMANCE 100% EMERGENCY REPAIRS 95% URGENT REPAIRS 98% ROUTINE REPAIRS Emergency repairs (24 hours) completed within target Urgent repairs (7 days) completed within target Routine repairs (28 days) completed within target

* Up to three support needs can be selected per individual.

Assisting residents to access suitable employment and training opportunities is a vital part of the support we offer, and helps them move towards a more independent future.

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OUR FUNDERS STATUTORY FUNDERS 1 Yvette Cooper MP, Minister for Housing, visited our Victoria hostel in November 2006. She met staff and residents prior to going to an international homelessness summit hosted by the government.

2 CRASH director Tom Biddlecombe hands Heather Barker, Look Ahead’s chairman, a generous cheque which helped fund the refurbishment of the reception area at Princess Beatrice House.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council Department of Communities and Local Government East London and City Mental Health Trust Hammersmith Primary Care Trust Housing Corporation Kensington & Chelsea Primary Care Trust London Borough of Barking & Dagenham London Borough of Bromley London Borough of Ealing London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough of Hillingdon

London Borough of Newham London Borough of Richmond upon Thames London Borough of Southwark London Borough of Sutton London Borough of Tower Hamlets Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Slough Borough Council Surrey County Council Thurrock Council Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust Westminster City Council

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CHARITABLE SUPPORTERS Abbey National Charitable Trust Appleyard and Trew Aquaterra Leisure Arts Council England Bankers Benevolent Fund BBC Bradford & Bingley Housing Finance British American Tobacco Plc Business in the Community Central Care Coutts Charitable Trust Chubb CRASH Crisis – Changing Lives Awards Edward Harvist Trust Egham United Charity Esmée Fairbairn Foundation FairShare Glasspool Charity Trust Homeless Link Hyde Park Place Estate Interform Jones Lang LaSalle

Kind & Company (Builders) Ltd Kings Fund Land Aid Charitable Trust LBI Charity Gallery Lehman Brothers Local Network Fund for Children and Young People, Berkshire London Housing Foundation M2 Digital Limited Morgan Hunt Niall McLaughlin Architects New Windsor Parish Church Personnel and Care Bank Petch and Fermaud PFI (Holdings) Ltd Pret a Manger Quality and Quantity Ltd Royal Scottish Corporation Sarastro Restaurant Stephen Barry Charitable Trust St Clement Danes Parochial Charities St George Dragon Trust

St Mary le Strand Charity St Martin in the Fields The Campden Charities The City Bridge Trust The Mayor’s Benevolent Fund, Windsor & Maidenhead The Paul Hamlyn Foundation The Westminster Foundation Tiffinbites Tower Hill Trust Tuke Manton Architects Union Jack Sports Ltd United Westminster Almhouses Waitrose – St Katharine’s Dock Wakefield Trust Westend Property Maintenance Westminster Amalgamated Charity Youth Opportunity Fund, Bracknell Forest Borough Council

If you are interested in finding out more about the ways you can support us, please contact the fundraising team on 0207 368 4647 or email fundraisingteam@lookahead.org.uk

1 Joe Linton, Abbey branch manager, presents a certificate to Princess Beatrice House residents recording a donation from the Abbey National Charitable Trust to the hostel.

2 Residents and staff from Holly House in Bracknell have raised money for self-defence classes, gym memberships, horse riding lessons and a computer trainer and software.

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SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM Victoria Stark CBE Chief executive

Kathleen Boyle Director of new business

Liz Curran Finance, IT and property services director

Chris Hampson Director of strategy and operations

Valerie Raven-Hill Human resources director

LOOK AHEAD BOARD OF MANAGEMENT Heather Barker Chairman Consultant Humanica Limited Trustee Samaritans Central London Sarah Brown OBE Vice chairman Non executive director – Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office Member Competition Commission and Bar Standards Board, Audit Committee member – Parkinson’s Disease Society Trevor West Chairman of performance review committee Head of service improvement Anchor Trust Christopher Borkowski Company director St James’s Investments Ltd

Raj Boyjoonauth Deputy director (NHS) Central & Northwest London Mental Health (NHS) Trust, Substance Misuse Service Member Ethnic Alcohol Counselling For Hounslow; Management Community Member of ANSA

Mihiri Jayaweera Managing director investments Lehman Brothers Governor Hargrave Park Primary School Elizabeth Ladimeji Head of partnerships National Council for Voluntary Organisations

Theo Fariduddin Inclusion and reintegration officer London Borough of Camden Director Kobi Nazrul Centre, Baishakhi Mela Trust Ltd

Stephen McKeever Chartered surveyor Close Investments Limited Director Various real estate development companies

Peter Flamank Chartered accountant Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Treasurer All Saints Church, Langton Green

Bob Ward Company director RJW Consultancy Ltd Former director of social services and housing

Neil Goodwin Publishing consultant ALR (Advance) Logistical Racking UK Ltd (part-time)

Roger Lomax Member of performance review committee Chartered accountant Former finance manager at BAT plc and director of BAT International plc, Tobacco Insurance Co Ltd

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

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SUMMARY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2007 Income Net rents and service charges Revenue grants Supporting People contract income Care contract fees Commercial property income Interest earned and other income Expenditure Operating costs Interest payable

Surplus for the year Transfers to designated reserves Retained revenue surplus for the year

2007 £’000

2006 £’000

9,285 2,066 13,445 4,210 146 427

8,255 2,054 12,222 3,942 142 427

29,579

27,042

27,317 404

25,553 381

27,721

25,934

1,858

1,108

(609) 1,249

(348) 760

SUMMARY BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2007 2007 £’000 Fixed assets Housing properties Less Social Housing and other grants

2006 £’000

111,977 (92,160)

111,330 (91,983)

19,817 1,232

19,347 1,153

21,049

20,500

Current assets Less current liabilities

4,376 (5,137)

2,404 (4,860)

Total assets less current liabilities

20,288

18,044

Creditors Amounts falling due after more than one year

8,314

7,928

Capital and reserves Called up share capital Designated reserves Revenue reserve

6,107 5,867

5,498 4,618

11,974

10,116

20,288

18,044

Other fixed assets

The financial statements have received an unqualified audit report from Look Ahead's auditors, PKF (UK) LLP.

Look Ahead’s financial statements which include the Board of Management’s report are available from the Secretary on request and can be downloaded from the Look Ahead website: www.lookahead.org.uk

PHILLIP

Phillip has been very involved since moving into one of our hostels. He has completed our customer training course and Business in the Community’s Ready for Work course. He also sits on staff recruitment panels and even finds time to work as a volunteer at CRISIS.

DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION: Sugarfree Design Ltd. www.sugarfreedesign.co.uk Portraits and photography: Richard Lewisohn Additional imagery by: Olivia Antolik, Andrew Brackenbury, Ronen Cooke, Mark Felix, Michael Franke, Peter Marshall ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION: This brochure is printed on paper containing 50% post-consumer waste and from well-managed forests and other sustainable sources under the Forest Stewardship Council. All print uses environmentally friendly bio-ink.

Our Cathy Come Home 40th anniversary event in November 2006 provided an opportunity to show guests just how far hostel services have moved on since the drama was first aired.

Look Ahead Housing and Care 1 Derry Street London W8 5HY T 020 7937 1166 F 020 7937 8040 E info@lookahead.org.uk W www.lookahead.org.uk