HEADLINES OF HOPE Reading the news today can so easily be disheartening and overwhelming. We read of homelessness spikes, the ‘bedroom tax’ and the housing crisis, and it’s true to say that the demand for our services is as high as ever.
Yet these newspaper headlines do not tell the whole story. Over the past year, New Hope has been writing alternative headlines: headlines of hope. Discover in this summary how — with your help — we have supported more than 600 people, we’ve provided more than 40,000 meals at our Haven Drop-In service and enabled 65 people to keep their tenancy and thereby truly break the cycle of homelessness. Words and pictures can only convey so much. Therefore, I invite you to come with me on the ‘Walk of Hope’ and see firsthand our services: staff who go the extra mile, volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes and, most importantly, service users gaining new skills, dignity, respect and hope for the future.
THANK YOU Thank you for your support of New Hope. These headlines of hope only exist because of your gifts, your prayers and your hard work. Your kindness and generosity have brought new hope and good news to many. I ask that you would please join me in praying New Hope would continue to prevent homelessness and transform lives in Watford and beyond. Thank you,
Matthew Heasman, CEO TO ARRANGE A ‘WALK OF HOPE’, PLEASE CONTACT JO BLANCHARD BY EMAILING JBLANCHARD@NEWHOPE.ORG.UK OR CALL 01923 210 680. FOR MORE HEADLINES OF HOPE FOLLOW MATTHEW ON TWITTER
OUR SERVICES Our services fall under three categories – accommodation, support and development – and are listed below. Please visit www.newhope.org.uk for more information on each of our services.
ACCOMMODATION
SUPPORT
(six bed move-on accommodation)
(for those facing homelessness locally)
ALPHA COURT
COMMUNITY HOME
(five bed ‘damp’ house) HOSIER HOUSE
(three bed move-on accommodation) MANSE
(four bed move-on accommodation) NEW HOPE HOUSE
(10 bed ‘dry’ hostel)
SANCTUARY CLUSTER FLATS
(11 bed move-on accommodation) SANCTUARY NIGHT SHELTER
(14 bed emergency accommodation) SANCTUARY TRANSITION SERVICE
(six bed crisis accommodation)
24/7 HOMELESSNESS HELPLINE HAVEN SUPPORT CENTRE
(offers food, washing facilities, support and advice) MENTAL HEALTH WORKER
(support is available for all our service users) OUTREACH
(support to those facing/experiencing homelessness and a gateway to other services) TENANCY SUSTAINMENT TEAM
(enables people to keep their tenancies)
DEVELOPMENT HOPEWORKS
(employment-focussed training scheme) COMMUNITY MARKET GARDEN
(opportunities to develop skills and confidence)
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OVERVIEW This year, we have supported more than 600 people and launched two new services, Hosier House and HopeWorks. The number of people who need our services is growing and they continue to face a variety of difficulties, but we are responding to these complex needs and enabling more people to transform their lives. The statistics below show a few examples of how we are responding to the diverse needs of our service users. THE NEED
OUR RESPONSE WE HAVE A DEDICATED MENTAL HEALTH FLOATING SUPPORT WORKER OUR COMMUNITY HOME SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTS PEOPLE OVERCOMING ALCOHOL ADDICTION WE ARE ENGAGING WITH EXOFFENDERS TO ENABLE THEM TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES
WE ARE PROVIDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE WITH A PLACE OF SAFETY AND SUPPORT OUR STAFF ARE TRAINED IN SUPPORTING THOSE WITH SUBSTANCE MISUSE NEEDS
* Due to the nature of the Haven Drop-In and emergency helpline, we do not currently collect data on service users who access these services. Therefore, the data above is taken from 447 of our service users.
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ACCOMMODATION This year, we launched a new move-on accommodation service, Hosier House, which offers three beds for those ready to move into their own accommodation. Our Transition Service, launched in 2012/13, supported 162 people facing homelessness for the first time. Other headlines of hope from across our accommodation services include the following:
HARRY’S STORY I arrived in Watford in February 2014 after months of sofa-surfing and short-term employment contracts. My initial six weeks were spent in the Night Shelter. From there I moved into New Hope House where I have been impressed by the experience of New Hope’s staff and the dedicated members of the team who are committed to supporting people who are homeless. I am currently pursuing opportunities to return to my original career path. Without the support, advice and dedication of the team at New Hope, this may not have been feasible. 4
SUPPORT Our Tenancy Sustainment Team supported nine more people than last year and all 65 service users were helped to keep their tenancies – that’s a success rate of 100%! This year, we also supported more people through the emergency homelessness helpline, which was launched in 2012/13.
DAVINA’S STORY I found myself homeless after the breakdown of a relationship. I arrived at The Haven Support Centre cold and hungry. They offered me advice and reassurance. The team was great and put me in touch with the local outreach services and gave me a place to stay for the night. A year or so later and I am living in New Hope House. I am also doing some volunteering which was recommended by those who helped me at The Haven. Looking back, I am 100% happier now than I was when I first sought help from New Hope. 5
DEVELOPMENT
This year, we launched a new development service, HopeWorks, which supports people in returning to work through training and help with the application process. Another headline of hope is the success of our Community Market Garden, which supported 50 more people than in 2012/13. Of these service users, 61% have a mental health need for which the ecotherapy provided by the garden is hugely beneficial.
JOSEPH’S STORY I came to New Hope following a family bereavement and initially stayed in The Sanctuary. When HopeWorks was set up I helped to fit out the shop ready for the opening, and I also helped to refit the Croxley Green shop. I was trained as a PAT tester of electrical items, testing both within the HopeWorks shop and off-site. I have had the opportunity to acquire new skills. My time at New Hope has increased my confidence and I feel a sense of achievement. Having recently been allocated a flat of my own, I have an excellent platform from which to move on, hopefully into paid employment. 6
FINANCES
This year, our services have again expanded to meet the growing need. As a consequence our expenditure has increased but, thanks to the amazing support of our funders and the success of our shops, so has our income. As a result, we have a modest surplus for this financial year. Another headline of hope! However, at the beginning of the financial year due to end in March 2015, we suffered a significant funding cut from one of our main sources of income. Please visit www.newhope.org.uk for details on how you can help. STATUTORY CONTRACT (27%) HOUSING BENEFIT (27%) RETAIL (14%) LOCAL AUTHORITY (8%) INDIVIDUALS (5%) TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS (4%) COMMUNITY GROUPS (4%) OTHER (4%) SCHOOLS (2%) RESIDENT CONTRIBUTIONS (2%) HOPEWORKS (1%) COMPANIES (1%) LEGACIES (1%)
SANCTUARY (31%) NEW HOPE HOUSE (14%) RETAIL (10%) COMMUNITY HOME
(9%)
HAVEN DROP-IN (9%) FUNDRAISING AND PUBLICITY (6%) TENANCY SUSTAINMENT TEAM (6%) HOPEWORKS (4%) COMMUNITY MARKET GARDEN (3%) ALPHA COURT (2%) THE MANSE (2%) OUTREACH (2%) HOSIER HOUSE (1%) GOVERNANCE (0.44%) Please note that the figures above have been approved by the New Hope Board of Trustees. They are taken from our annual audited consolidated charity accounts (which comprise New Hope Retail and New Hope). A full copy of these accounts can be requested from our Head Office, or viewed on the Charity Commission website.
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THANK YOU We simply would not exist without the generosity of our funders and are so grateful to everyone who has supported us financially. A few have given us an exceptional level of support (typically £1,000 or more) and, unless they have asked to remain anonymous, we would like to say a special thank you to the following: FAITH & COMMUNITY GROUPS Bushey Baptist Church Bushey Hall Lodge 2323 Christ Church and St John’s Church Watford Christ Church Chorleywood Church of Our Lady and St Michael Churches Together in Eastcote Club Sandwich Cream Tea Brigade Derby Road Baptist Church Hillside Community Church Kol Chai Hatch End Jewish Community Radlett & Bushey Reform Synagogue St Andrew’s Church Chorleywood St Edmund the King Northwood Hills St George’s Day Charity Club St Helen’s Church Garston St James Road Baptist Church St Luke’s Church Bricket Wood St Luke’s Church Watford St Mary’s Parish Church Watford St Michael and All Angels Amersham Soul Survivor Watford Church Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue Wellspring Church
COMPANIES
Co-operative Community Fund Costco Wholesale UK Ltd Elavon Hilton Worldwide Medvivo Ocado Pret a Manger Tesco The Entertainer Toyshop Waitrose Northwood
CHARITABLE TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS
Albert Hunt Charitable Trust Cadbury Foundation Eastcheap Charitable Trust Help the Homeless J S F Pollitzer Charitable Settlement Kingsbury Charity Lloyds TSB Foundation Maurice and Hilda Laing Charitable Trust Medicash Charitable Trust SLG Charitable Trust Ltd Souter Charitable Trust Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust
SCHOOLS
Aldenham School Cassiobury Infant & Nursery School Eastbury Farm JMI & Nursery School Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Boys Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls Heathfield Girls’ School Holy Trinity C of E Primary School Holy Rood Catholic Primary School Immanuel College Knutsford School Merchant Taylors’ School Northwood College Northwood Preparatory School St Margaret’s Bushey Watford Grammar School for Boys Watford Grammar School for Girls
LOCAL AUTHORITIES Hertfordshire County Council Safer Watford Partnership Three Rivers District Council Watford Borough Council
NEW HOPE (WATFORD NEW HOPE TRUST) IS A REGISTERED CHARITY IN ENGLAND AND WALES (1080784) AND A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE (03969063). REGISTERED OFFICE: CANSDALES, BOURBON COURT, NIGHTINGALES CORNER, LITTLE CHALFONT, BUCKS, HP7 9QS.