What's New? << previous pageBy Steve Hoey |
|
||
| We are experiencing some changes on the Housing Support Team this summer… We have been called the “Floating Support” Team over recent years, but we have decided that the name does not mean much, and that we would prefer to be called the “Housing Support Team” instead! That name better describes the Resettlement work that our support workers do, and the befriending work that our volunteers do with people whom we have re-housed in the past. Chris Wilson is leaving our team to join the Agriculture Team as Project Leader. He has been a fun and energetic team member for the last two years and we will really miss him. Thankfully we will still see him at the farm a lot, and the people that he has got to know through working with us will still be able to see him or speak to him sometimes. John Lintern will be joining us to take Chris’s place very soon. John has worked as a Community Psychiatric Nurse and in a Mental Health Hospital, so we are looking forward to his adding this expertise to the team. We have taken on a lot of new referrals this quarter. Our waiting list peaked at 60 people in early July, so we have been working hard to meet over 20 new people who are homeless and desperately in need of our help. I met a young man this morning, 16 years old and living in emergency accommodation because his violent father threw him out of home. He is so vulnerable, but grateful for our support. We will help him to settle into his own home and then continue to care for him. In order to make this possible, many people who are settled in their homes will now get support from our volunteer befrienders. We have three volunteers now, David who comes on a Monday, and Anne and Maria who come on Thursdays. They do a great work giving invaluable friendship and support to lonely and vulnerable people. One such person is John, a 76-year-old man who is becoming more and more frail. He is having falls more often and having to be admitted to hospital. Last week he fell in town, mysteriously lost £200 cash (we suspect that he was robbed) and ended up in hospital. He discharged himself after 24 hours, going home with a needle still in his arm! He is very independent and stubborn! We are the only support that he has in the community. Please pray for us and support us in any way that you can. We are hoping to expand the team in the future, and are currently actively looking for more volunteers to help us with befriending and practical tasks. Steve |
George & David
Sophie - Administrator for the team
Becky & Debs
Marie & Anne with one of the ladies they support