Annual Review 2011
Our mission Watford New Hope Trust exists to serve homeless and vulnerable people by providing accommodation and opportunities to rebuild damaged lives. We house 50 people every night and help over 600 people every year. Founded upon Christian values, we support people regardless of faith.
Front cover image: ‘What homelessness means to us’ - a list compiled by WNHT service users, displayed at our 21st birthday celebration. Photo courtesy of Blue Orange Images
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Introduction Overview of 2010/11 Our services Outreach Haven Day Centre Mental health Timeline Tenancy Sustainment Team Sanctuary Night Shelter Rob’s story Community Home New Hope House Cluster Flats The Manse & Alpha Court Workshops Christine’s story Market Garden Furniture Scheme Charity Shop Central Support Team Map of services Summary of finances Thank you Our supporters
The contents are colour coded according to our three categories: houses & hostels (orange) support services (light blue) and development services (dark blue).
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Introduction Welcome to this review of Watford New Hope Trust’s 21st birthday year. In the following pages, we describe how we worked to reduce homelessness in Watford in the year ending 31st March 2011. When the Mayor of Watford cut the ribbon to launch WNHT, on 23rd March 1990, he said “It’s a sad reflection on today’s society that there is a need for WNHT, but there is a need”. It is perhaps a much sadder reality that, 21 years on, the need is stronger than ever. The biggest challenge this year has been the battle to meet the increased demand for homelessness services in Watford whilst facing reduced funding. This year, our income fell from the previous year and the government have confirmed plans to wind down its Supporting People fund to a close in 2013 - funding upon which we rely.
Despite the prevailing challenges, the stories of lives rebuilt continue to pour in from around the Trust and the message of hope continues to ring throughout our services. We are continually encouraged by the stories of those who manage to break free from homelessness. Some of those real-life stories are shared in the following pages. In March we celebrated our 21st birthday in a packed St Mary’s church the place where the WNHT vision was born. Symbolically, we felt that it was apt to celebrate this milestone because 21 is the traditional ‘coming of age’ when one receives a key to the family home. Over the years, countless WNHT service users have been given the key to a home – to God be the Glory!
We are indebted to our many friends and supporters who, with us, believe it right to reduce the horrors of homelessOur six houses and hostels have ness. Thank you so much for your operated at capacity throughout the continued prayers and support, without year and the number of people visiting which we simply would not exist. our day centre for food and support increased to an average of 65 people Mike Smith (CEO) per day. We have worked with over 600 individuals this year, helping them & The Revd Mike Jones (Chairman) on their journey away from homelessness.
Overview of 2010/11 This year, WNHT has helped over 600 men (84%) and women (16%) through accommodation, support and development services. Due to the nature of our work, it is extremely difficult to capture the details of everyone that has walked through our doors. However, the charts below show a snapshot of the large amount of information that we have managed to record.
Why?
Eviction from previous residence (25%) Undisclosed (18%) Relationship Breakdown - non-violent (14%) House repossession (10%) Asked to leave by friends or family (9%) Returning to UK from living abroad (8%) Discharged from prison (5%) Other (4%) Domestic violence (3%) Property - unsuitable conditions (3%) Discharged from hospital (1%)
The chart above shows the reasons people have given us for becoming homeless. Please bear in mind that there is rarely one reason why someone has become homeless. For example, job loss may be followed by house reposession, but only the latter has been cited as a reason.
Age
18 - 19 (4%) 20 - 25 (18%) 26 - 34 (25%) 35 - 43 (24%) 44 - 52 (15%) 53 - 59 (11%) 60 - 64 (2%) 65 + (1%)
Only 14% of the people WNHT has helped this year were over the age of 50. This reflects two issues: (1) homelessness is a problem which is increasingly affecting the under 50s and (2) the national average life expectancy for a homeless person is just 42 years old.
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5 White British (81.7%) African (4.1%) Any other white background (3.9%) White & black African (2%) Caribbean (1.6%) White Irish (1.2%)
Ethnicity
Any other Asian background (1.2%) White & black Caribbean (1%) Indian (1%) Undisclosed ethnicity (0.7%) Chinese (0.5%) White & Asian (0.3%) Pakistani (0.3%) Bangladeshi (0.3%) Any other black background (0.2%)
Alcohol Problems
221
Drug Problems
136
Learning Disability Mental Health Problems
62 227
Offender (or at risk or re-offending)
96
Physical Disability
68
Relationship Problems
197
The bar chart above shows the issues from which our service users have suffered in the past year. Please note that some people have more than one of the problems listed. Similarly, many of our service users have none of the problems listed.
Our services WNHT’s 15 services fit into three categories: support services, houses and hostels, and development services. Support Services One factor that sets WNHT apart from other homelessness charities is the comprehensive level of support that we provide for homeless and vulnerable people in Watford. From sleeping rough to living independently, WNHT is able to offer support to homeless and vulnerable people whatever their circumstances may be. Our support services are: Outreach, the Haven Day Centre, a Mental Health Floating Support Worker and a Tenancy Sustainment Team. We also have a Central Support Team which provides administrative and financial support to all of WNHT’s services.
Houses & Hostels WNHT manages 50 beds in six houses and hostels in Watford. In 2010/11 our beds had a 96% occupancy rate (with rooms only being empty during change over periods), meaning that there is, sadly, a very strong demand for our services. Of the people who accessed our houses and hostels in 2010/11, over 70% made positive moves away from homelessness and into more appropriate accommodation.
Development Services To help break the cycle of homelessness, it is rarely enough to provide people with accommodation alone. At WNHT we believe in providing homeless and vulnerable people with development opportunities so that they may learn new skills, exercise their minds and bodies, and are better equipped to find employment. Everyone living in our houses and hostels is expected to participate in at least 15 hours of ‘meaningful occupation’ a week. This may include accessing our three development services: Market Garden, Woodwork and Furniture Scheme and Day Centre Workshops.
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Outreach The Outreach Team is based at our day centre and provides guidance to service users about accommodation issues, medical advice and help understanding benefit entitlement.
This year... 242 people were helped by the Outreach Team. 82% were male. Outreach increased its operating hours to six days a week.
Dave Smale, Day Centre Manager, said: This year, more staff have been trained with outreach skills, which has enabled us to operate six days a week, providing housing information and emergency accommodation for over 200 people. Outreach is about bringing hope to people in difficult situations, helping people make those first steps in getting their lives back together. There have been many difficulties this year, particularly the lack of available beds. Also, it is always tough seeing people pulled back down again because of their addictions.
Haven Day Centre The Haven Day Centre provides a drop-in service to homeless and vulnerable people. Our staff and volunteers offer a listening ear, housing advice, food, clean clothes, washing and laundry facilities.
This year... Over 250 individuals accessed the Day Centre’s services. An average of 65 people used the service each day. Each week, 17 dedicated volunteers helped at the Day Centre.
Dave Smale, Day Centre Manager, said: Over the past year, many service users have entered the Haven Day Centre with no hope. However, lives have been changed as people have regained their self-confidence, or moved through the various WNHT services. One regular Day Centre visitor – a violent drinker, drug-user and drug dealer– came to the point where he knew his life had to change. He went into a rehabilitation centre in another town, and his life has now completely turned around. A long-term drinker and Day Centre user was accepted into the Community
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Home where he was able to slowly stop drinking. The year was not without its challenges. We often have to tell people that there is no room at any of the local night shelters and that they will have to sleep rough for that night. Service users’ lives are often very chaotic and some self-destruct when they do not want to engage with the Trust. We have a truly remarkable team of staff and volunteers who work so well together to support our service users. A special thanks to the volunteers who give up their time to help in the kitchen. If it wasn’t for them, we would not be able to offer the service that we do. The staff never go home bored!
‘It’s a major support system. Don’t think I would be alive without the Day Centre’. Day Centre service user
Mental health WNHT employs a qualified mental health floating support worker, who is able to provide specialist support and links with other health agencies. This year, 37% of our clients had mental health problems.
Laura Tinsley, Mental Health Floating Support Worker, said: It’s been a rewarding year although extremely challenging at times. It has been hard seeing more and more service users battle with suicidal thoughts and struggling to find hope for the future. On a more positive note, we have been able to help service users access appropriate mental health services. We’ve also seen many service users, who were drinking and depressed, find secure accommodation and begin the process of moving forward with their lives.
‘I had no-one else to ask about advice on my mental health and my rights. I wouldn't get the help without the mental health worker, she’s helped with housing and always been there’. Mental Health Support service user
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Timeline WNHT has developed substantially during the past 21 years - from two soup kitchen coaches to 15 services. Below are a few of the key moments. 1990 WNHT is founded by Janet Hosier & Sheila Meaning with help from Tim Robson and others. 1991 WNHT becomes a registered charity. 1992 Mount Zion Chapel bought to become New Hope House. 1993 NHH & charity shop officially open. 1994 Construction begins for a purpose-built Day Centre. 1997 Haven Day Centre opens. Charity Shop upsizes and moves to 67 Queens Road. Community Home opens. 1998 Contact and Assessment Team formed (now TST & Outreach teams). 1999 The Citadel bought as a Night Shelter. Alterations are made to create an all-year round emergency accommodation. 2000 Market Garden and Furniture Recycling schemes start. 2001 WNHT website is launched. 2004 Sanctuary and Cluster Flats open. 2005 Alpha Court opens. 2007 The Manse opens. 2008 Janet Hosier (co-founder) passes away. 2009 Mental health floating support work starts. The Market Garden was involved in an awardwinning garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. 2010 Market Garden and Furniture schemes involved with Chelsea Flower Show. 2011 WNHT celebrates its 21st Birthday, and launches new website.
Tenancy Sustainment The Tenancy Sustainment Team (TST) provides support to former homeless people now living in their own accommodation.
This year...
James Wilson, Manager of the Tenancy Sustainment Team, said:
88 men and women were supported by TST.
It’s been a challenging year with many ups and downs. We saw several long-term homeless people moved into their own accommodation. Although there have been a few stumbles along the way, most of them are settling into a more secure life and a brighter future.
28% had mental health issues. 95% of people supported by TST sustained their tenancies.
We have run several very successful pre-tenancy courses for service users about to move into their own homes. Sessions have included debt and budgeting, cookery, managing
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relationships, looking after your home and yourself, and making the most of your time. Our aim is to help people avoid problems such as debt, rent arrears and evictions. We want to help prevent these crises from occurring in the first place, and not just support those who are already in a crisis situation. A number of service users developed terminal illnesses this year which has raised new challenges in how best to offer support. We worked closely with specialist agencies, such as MacMillan Cancer Support. We have had to make some very tough decisions about what support we can offer our service users. Help had to be withdrawn from some of our more chaotic clients who were not prepared to engage with us and other support agencies. As we move forward, we want to continue helping service users look at the consequences of their actions so that they are able to maintain their tenancies and live more stable lives.
‘It’s more than support, they’re like family’ Tenancy Sustainment Team service user
Sanctuary Night Shelter The Sanctuary Night Shelter provides single people with emergency accommodation, meals and laundry facilities. Staff work with other services to provide a tailored package for each person as well as help towards moving into more stable accommodation.
This year... 136 people stayed in the Night Shelter. 26% of service users had relationship problems. 8% had been discharged from prison.
Bob Milligan, Sanctuary Night Shelter Manager, said: Throughout 2010/11, the Sanctuary Night Shelter has become an increasingly stable and rehabilitative environment. We’ve increased the effectiveness of support offered to residents, and are seeing more and more service users move on positively. We had fewer people come into the Night Shelter who had stayed here before. This suggests that fewer Night Shelter residents remain in, or return to, a state of rooflessness.
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Other highlights included a record low in the number of exclusions and a donation of several thousand carpet tiles from a local company, which enabled the residents to re-carpet most of the Sanctuary. We’ve seen many people come from very chaotic lifestyles, including alcoholism and related anti-social behaviours, mental health problems, and entrenched rough sleeping to a point where they are ready to move into their own accommodation. However it was a challenge to find move-on accommodation for residents with drug and alcohol dependencies. Last winter, we witnessed unusally cold weather conditions. When the temperature dropped below zero degrees we were able to offer extra emergency accommodation by converting out communal areas. We provided an additional six beds each night, thanks to funding from Watford Borough Council, and we are pleased to say that there were no recorded deaths on the streets of Watford during this time.
‘I had nowhere else to go and would have ended up trying to live on the streets - I would not have survived and would have ended up on drink or drugs or worse’ Sanctuary Night Shelter service user
Rob’s story ‘I started drinking and smoking cannabis for acceptance’ I was raised locally, and from the age of 13 was bullied. So, at 15 I started drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis for acceptance. Everything revolved around drink. I spent time in work and at college in Bushey and Watford, and lived with my partner for 14 years, still drinking heavily. I eventually lost my job as I was turning up to work drunk. Eventually, I became homeless. I moved in with my parents for about a year and managed to hold down a job from which I saved £3,000. After going to see a psychiatrist, I ended up very depressed, and went home, got drunk and self-harmed in front my parents. They called the police and I got kicked out. I then went to Amsterdam for a bit, and returned to Watford and stayed in the White House Hotel. The plan was to stay there until I ran out of money, and then end it all, but I didn’t have the bottle. So I ended up on the streets and met ‘Scottish John’ who introduced me to the Day Centre.
The Day Centre was the best thing that ever happened to me. It was from there that I got into the Night Shelter, but was in and out of there and New Hope House because of my misuse of alcohol and cannabis. So I moved into private-rented accommodation. It was worse than a squat and I was unhappy there. I had conversations with different WNHT staff and eventually got into the Community Home. I’ve lived in the Community Home for 10 months now, and love it. I’m so thankful. I’m now clean from drink and drugs and would love to pursue some sort of training in counselling or mentoring.
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Community Home The Community Home provides housing with a 24 hour support service. Each resident is assigned to a keyworker and together they devise a support plan to reduce dependency upon alcohol and prepare for independent living.
This year... 15 men stayed in the Community Home. 93% suffered from alcohol addiction. Residents were treated to a holiday in Cornwall.
The Community Home is a unique service in Watford. It is a ‘damp’ hostel, meaning alcohol is permitted in a controlled enviroment with the aim of conquering addiction. Rob Edmonds, Hostels Manager, said: It was a good year with many highlights. Several improvements were made to the house, including new carpets, a shower and wooden flooring in the dining room. It was brilliant to see residents leading the way in making these changes, and using their existing skills to help.
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Fifteen residents lived in the Community Home in 2010/11. Some came for just a few days; others stayed for much longer. One of the Community Home traditions is a week’s holiday in May. To get out of the hustle and bustle of Watford does the residents the world of good, and can often be a pivotal moment in their recovery from their addictions. In November, we held our annual Thanksgiving meal, when we set a new record of 23 people in the dining room for roast turkey with all the trimmings (including a secret ingredient of lime jelly!). It’s a real privilege to work here – getting to know the residents, encouraging them as they battle against their addictions to alcohol and drugs, and seeing them find freedom.
‘It’s a safe enviroment where you are supported; it gives you breathing space to re-evaluate your lifestyle’. Community Home service user
New Hope House New Hope House (NHH) provides temporary accommodation for 10 people in individual rooms every night of the year. Residents can stay for up to 12 months.
This year... 22% of residents had been in prison. 34% had drug problems. 32 people stayed at NHH.
Rob Edmonds, Hostels Manager, said: It was a tough but good year. I’m really proud of the way our staff have worked together. In partnership with the Salvation Army Housing Association (who own the building), we have helped to make New Hope House more efficient and effective. Thirty men and two women lived in the hostel during the year. Many attended college, took part in back-to-work courses, did voluntary work or moved into more independent accommodation.
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Highlights include the sea fishing trip in May where plenty of fish were caught – along with sunburn! In November we held a Thanksgiving meal when 27 people sat down in the living room for an amazing turkey dinner (cooked by one of the residents). The reason we choose to celebrate Thanksgiving with our service users is because Christmas is often a particularly difficult time of the year for them and Thanksgiving offers a great alternative. The best thing has been witnessing residents grabbing a second chance at life, and seeing those who have been selfmotivated to change. New Hope House has grown in maturity and depth this year. The compassion, commitment and professionalism of the team continue to inspire me as we strive to improve the service we offer.
‘NHH helped me budget, put a roof over my head, helped me build confidence and build life skills’. New Hope House service user
Cluster Flats The Cluster Flats are four self-contained flats with a total of 13 bedrooms. They provide space for residents to have independence, whilst offering support when it’s needed.
This year... 28 people stayed in the Cluster Flats. 32% had mental health problems. 28% were ex-offenders.
Annette Davis, Assessment and Support Supervisor at the Sanctuary, said: Over the past year, we made some changes in staffing which meant that we were able to offer a more effective support system to service users. More and more residents have moved on successfully to their own accommodation. We also saw a steady increase in the number of service users involved in meaningful occupation and the scope of activities they were involved in - we ask our service users to do at least 15 hours per week.
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The Manse & Alpha Court The Manse and Alpha Court, located next door to each other, are our two independant move-on services. This is the last stage of residential support before clients move on to independent living.
This year... 21 men and women stayed here. Nine residents moved on into their own accommodation. Alpha Court had a 100% positive move-on rate.
Charlie Udom, manager of the Manse and Alpha Court, said: It has been encouraging this year to see so many service users move on positively to their own accommodation, including one man who had come to us with very low self-esteem. Over time, he developed into a confident and active member of our community and is now settled in his own home and is supported by TST. Some service users are reluctant to move on which can be a challenge. All in all it was an encouraging, progressive and wonderful year.
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Workshops WNHT offers a variety of workshops covering a range of subjects. They are held at the Haven Day Centre every afternoon, six days a week.
This year... 185 people attended workshops. We ran 29 different types of workshops. On average 10 different workshops were run each week.
Sarah Hamlin, Workshop Supervisor, said: This year, workshops included cookery courses, creative writing, percussion and art as well as a weekly ‘Look Ahead’ session. This was re-scheduled to take place during Day Centre drop-in hours, and resulted in an increase in service users making positive steps into training or employment. Twenty-one individuals took part in a photography competition during July and August. These images were judged by the Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill, and displayed at the Space2 gallery on Queens Road. The winning photo (see following page) by Anthony Stillwell will be
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displayed at Watford Town Hall. Our new feedback forms have shown that workshops have a positive effect on service users’ self-esteem, confidence in small groups, motivation and learning skills. We’re continuing to work with service users to develop the workshop programme and the types of activities we offer.
A poem by a service-user Late at Night on a bench in Watford It’s decision time for the night ahead. Do I try to sleep, or do I get up and roam? Do I look for food or scour the streets for money? What do I fear most until the light of morning? The cold? The rain? Night people? Late at night when the brain never sleeps. Written by “Steve the ancient” © during a Storytelling workshop.
‘I like going to the workshops in the afternoon because they give me something to do’. Workshops service user
Christine’s story ‘I’ve been given a fresh start’ I was brought up by my controlling I came back to Watford and stayed Dad as Mum left when I was 14. I on my daughter’s sofa which worked then left home at 17 full of anger. for a while, but was then asked to leave by my daughter’s boyfriend. I From then, I’ve always ended up in was homeless. controlling relationships, and When out for a walk I arrived at brought up my three children alone for 16 years. When they left South Oxhey’s Citizens Advice home, I went on holiday to Turkey Bureau where I broke down and and met my third husband. We asked for help. I was directed to stayed in Turkey, which was the Haven Day Centre, and then difficult as we had no money, so we referred to the Sanctuary Night came back to the UK to save for an Shelter, where I got a bed that night. appartment. My profession was in But, I was terrified as I didn’t know what a night shelter was and shook Property Law, which I did freelance and had one good year from head to foot on arrival. of work, and then no work due to However, life totally changed for me the property market crash. My husband had work, but could only when I walked through the door. I earn the minimum wage. Again, life felt overwhelmed by the amount of became hard so we returned to help I was given and realised that there’s help there if you want it. Turkey. As time went on, the marriage became tougher and my husband told me he no longer loved me and that he wanted to send me back to the UK. I felt suicidal. Things got worse, and I eventually had to flee to the UK.
Since breaking down, I’ve been given a fresh start. When I felt like I was at the end, I was picked up. Life has turned around for me and I feel like a totally different person.
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Market Garden Set in an acre of land, the Market Garden offers a therapeutic enviroment for service users to learn about horticulture, enviromental awareness and healthy living.
This year... 24 people used this service. 100% of service users had alcohol or drug issues. This year’s total potato harvest weighed 86.5kg!
Carly Billingham, supervisor of the Market Garden, said: We had a bumper harvest of produce last year, which we were able to sell at our annual open day, at the WNHT charity shop and CafÊ Cha Cha Cha in Cassiobury Park. We also made and sold holly wreaths at Christmas time. All of this brought in valuable funds for the Trust. It’s been great to see service users taking on responsibilities such as caring for the plants and selling the produce. This has helped them to grow in confidence and assertiveness.
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Many of our service users have mental health issues, and being at the Market Garden helps lift their mood. The garden is such a safe and supportive environment where service users can meet new people and enjoy working as part of a team. In May, we were involved in the Chelsea Flower Show for the second year running, and won a Silver Medal. Again, this event has been such a confidence booster for our service users. We’re very grateful to a team from Deutsche Bank who built compost heaps and garden furniture as part of a team-building day. We’re hoping more companies will want to get involved in this way in the future.
‘I like gardening, it keeps me off the drink. I’ve got friends here’ Market Garden service user
Furniture Scheme The Furniture Scheme offers service users the opportunity to learn carpentry, carving, upholstery and furniture restoration skills.
This year... 27 people used this service. 14% were ex-offenders or at risk of re-offending. 26% suffered from mental health issues.
Isdore Tapfuma, supervisor at the Furniture Scheme, said: The year started off very busy in the furniture workshop with our service user placements almost full. Peter Leaver joined the team as Assistant Supervisor. Together we took on the challenge of renovating the shop to increase the display area in the front and moved the workshop to the rear. With the help of the service users, we are almost nearing completion of this task. All in all it’s been a very good year and we are looking forward to increasing our client numbers again and assisting as many as possible.
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Charity Shop Our Queens Road charity shop continues to be run entirely by volunteers and, this year, shop sales produced an incredible ÂŁ192k!
This year... Volunteers contributed an average of 320 hours per week. The shop sales were ÂŁ192,521. Over 20,000 customers were served.
Shop manager, Polly Odbert, said of the year: This is more than a charity shop; it is a place where people can come and find someone to talk to, listen, love and care for them. Although we are in a deep recession, God has been faithful in filling the tills, thus helping us to help people from the streets to the road to recovery. People have been so generous in giving us donations of books, bric-a-brac, clothes, furniture and so much more. To our many customers we thank you for your support. To all our volunteers, thank you for your dedication and commitment throughout the year.
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Central Support Team The Central Support Team is responsible for administration, all communications, facilities maintenance, finance (including the collection of housing benefits), fundraising, HR, IT and retail.
This year... WNHT employed 62 members of staff. Over 100 people volunteered for WNHT. Over ÂŁ6,000 was raised at our annual winter sleepout.
Pip Leese, Human Resources & Administration Director, said: It has been a year of change with a new Administrator, a new Maintenance Supervisor and the consolidation of the Fundraising and Communication Team, bringing the total number in the central office to nine full-time and three part-time staff. We have also been fortunate to have had the help of five volunteers and have provided a placement for a business NVQ student. We have also started an IT upgrade to enable us to better support staff and volunteers across the Trust.
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WNHT’s 15 services can be found in the locations shown on the map below. All of WNHT’s services are in Watford. Bushey Hall Golf Club
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Summary of finances In the financial year ending 31st March 2011, WNHT’s income and expenditure both decreased by 2% in comparison with the previous year. However, despite the prevailing economic downturn, we were able to generate a surplus of £39,113. The following charts show where our income has come from and how it has been spent during the year.
Expenditure £1,813,703
Income £1,852,816
Sanctuary Night Shelter & Cluster Flats (31%) New Hope House (15%) Community Home (11%) Day Centre (10%) Tenancy Sustainment (8%) Central Support Team (6%) Charity Shop (3%) Furniture (3%) Outreach (3%) Alpha Court (3%) Workshops (2%) Market Garden (2%) The Manse (2%) Mental Health (1%)
Supporting People (37%) Housing Benefit (26%) Charity Shop (10%) Ineligible Charges (6%) Individuals (5%) Local Authority (5%) Charitable Trusts (4%) Community Groups (3%) Miscellaneous (2%) Schools (1%) Furniture & Garden Sales (0.5%) Companies (0.5%)
Please note, the information above is a summary of our financial information, as approved by the WNHT trustees. A full and audited statement of our financial activies in the year ending 31st March 2011 can be requested from the WNHT’s Central Support Team.
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Thank you The number of people that have supported WNHT in the past year is vast. All who have supported us have played a part in bringing hope to people in desperate need and both we and our service users are so grateful. Some of the people, groups, and ways in which we have been supported are listed below. We are particularly grateful to the 11 trustees that served us throughout the year. These men and women have volunteered their time to us to provide guidance in every aspect of WNHT’s work. In March 2011 we were very sad to lose our dear friend Ron Bruce, a man who was dedicated to the work of WNHT. Ron served us as a trustee and as a faithful prayer supporter. We are indebted to him and his family. Throughout the year, over 100 volunteers supported WNHT. The generosity of these people, through their gift of time, is such an inspiration. Volunteer support is worth tens of thousands of pounds to WNHT each year. This year, volunteer roles have included Harvest sorters, collection and delivery drivers, charity shop workers, day centre helpers and a database engineer. We are so grateful to everyone who
has donated to and bought items from our Queens Road charity shop and furniture recycling scheme. The majority of the gifts we received from individuals were one-off donations and these have accounted for around £55k of our income this year. We are extremely thankful for this support. However, a particular ‘thank you’ must be given to the 130 people who have supported us via standing order. This form of giving demonstrates commitment to our work and it enables us to plan with a greater degree of certainty – something which is particularly important for us during the prevailing economic downturn. Thank you to the many local churches, community groups, companies, schools and synagogues that have helped us in many ways throughout the year. During Harvest 2010, we received a record-breaking £44,000 worth of food, stamps and toiletries, meaning that our day centre food bill was just £5k for the entire year. Throughout the year, over 200 people committed their time to us each month by praying for our work. This support is hugely valued by us. Above is just some of the support that we have received, but without which we simply would not exist. Thank you.
Our supporters Hundreds of groups, individuals and organisations have supported WNHT this year. The following have given gifts of c.£1,000 or more: Hertfordshire County Council Watford Borough Council 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust Albert Hunt Charitable Trust Caravan (National Grocers’ Benevolent Fund) Dorema Charitable Trust Dowager Countess Elanor Peel Trust Garfield Weston Foundation Henry Smith Charity J. Paul Getty Trust J & S Ford Charitable Trust The Laing Family Trusts Robert Clutterbuck Charitable Trust The Scotshill Trust Sigma Charitable Trust Stanley Foundation Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust Christ Church, Chorleywood Christ Church, Radlett Derby Road Baptist Church Soul Survivor Watford St Albans Abbey (Mission Allocation) St Andrew’s Church, Chorleywood St James Road Baptist Church St Luke’s Church, Bricket Wood St Luke’s Church, Watford St Mary’s Church, Watford St Paul’s Church, Chipperfield Watford Community Church
Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue Radlett & Bushey Reform Synagogue Stanmore & Canons Park Synagogue Cadburys Deutsche Bank GE Capital MEPC Ocado Eastbury Farm JMI and Nursery School Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls Merchant Taylors’ School Northwood College St Margaret’s School for Girls Watford Grammar School for Boys
Four individuals have given given financial support totalling £1,000 or more during the year. We do not wish to single them out, but just to say thank you so much - you know who you are! Thank you to Cllr Alan Burtenshaw who chose WNHT as his Watford Borough Council Chairman’s Charity of the Year. This honour generated over £1,000.
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saha Salvation Army Housing Association
Address
67 Queens Road Watford Herts WD17 2QN
Phone
01923 210 680
info@wnht.org
Web
www.wnht.org
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Registered Charity No. 1080784 Company Limited by guarantee No. 03969063