St Paul's Hostel For The Homeless NatwestCommunityForce Project

16 September 2011

St Paul's Hostel For The Homeless NatwestCommunityForce Project: "Talking Heads: Unique And Diverse Journeys Into Homelessness And Beyond."

Do you ever think you could be Homeless? Make you think? Why, this could be me! I've just lost my job.....My partner's just left me.......My Mum has just died........I'm an addict......I have a mental health problem and it's getting worse........I CAN'T COPE! ...... I'm only one step away from being homeless MYSELF!
Situations happen quickly and just when you are at your most vulnerable, you can reach rock bottom. St Paul's hostel offers a safe refuge and a supportive and caring environment for those turned away from other organisations unable to accept those clients with alcohol and drug dependencies.

Talking about your own circumstances can be a very therapeutic and reflective tool for those found in times of crisis and clients would like to use video equipment to interview each other. The Project is Talking Heads will not only enable clients to interview each other but will be able to discover their own Roots into and out of Homelessness in group sessions. Clients also hope to make Bloggs if they are involved in activities while staying at the hostel. How great would it be to make a video blog to show what is grown at the allotment over the next year. Two videos shot on a small camera have been included which was a weekly blog taken about someone who stayed in the night shelter and ended up playing as goalie in the Homeless World Cup in Paris this year.

Clients will be able to tell you their feelings about where they are now, what support they are receiving from their key workers and also volunteers at the hostel. They will also talk about ideas for future plans. Some of the clients will be rough sleepers and some will be residents at the hostel. Others are residents in a house share which is owned by the hostel, and part of the Resettlement programme. Yet others will be living independently, having been helped by the hostel to secure their own place but still being able to access help when necessary. Not all can handle the move towards living independently, especially the chaotic homeless and those who miss the camaraderie and shared experiences.

A hoped for outcome of the project is to show how the community benefits from the hostel providing care and support for clients, and keeping them away from the dangers of life on the streets. The hostel runs life skills programmes, helping to equip clients for independent living, and there are opportunities to work in the kitchen and have training from the Chef. Clients can also take part in the Good Soil Project, based at Top Barn farm, and have opportunities to work with animals and work on the land, according to the seasons. Some clients help with the hostel's furniture store- unwanted furniture and electrical goods are always badly needed by the hostel to help make resettled clients more comfortable in their new homes. Basic literacy and numeracy skills are also provided by a volunteer who is a qualified, retired teacher who also co-ordinates the creative arts workshop- the group which has provided the impetus behind this project. Other skills such as First aid, survival courses, rock climbing, Art classes and joint ventures with the YMCA are also on offer and delivered by staff and volunteers. An important role in helping clients resettle has been the development of the Befriendship scheme, delivered by volunteers who meet up with the client once a week to provide a friendly face and link with the community and with the hostel. This can be a life saver as many clients suffer extreme loneliness when they first move on and before they find their feet.

One of the aims of the project is that we would like to let you know more about us and see if you would like to become involved, perhaps in volunteering. BUT! We haven't got the equipment! We need a video camera, video editing software, a camera, lighting equipment, a CD player, a new computer and resources and equipment to make a magazine. The production of a magazine is a secondary part of the project. The magazine will profile each client taking part, and also showcase their creative work and interests.

We would like as many people as possible to be part of the project and the magazine, so that we can share and reach out and increase an understanding into the many complex issues surrounding homelessness.

Please register your interest in our project and VOTE for us so that we can engage fully and gain equipment which will be a valuable resource for future use. The hostel does NOT have any of this equipment and it will create new skills and interests. Volunteers who are willing to offer help in the use of the video and photography equipment and in publishing the magazine will be very welcome!

Thank you for voting for us!
Voting takes place from September 26th-October 23rd and the awards are allocated according to the number of votes received.

Please register your votes on the NatwestCommunityForce website and write any comments which may be useful for the development of the project on our Facebook site. If you are an organisation, especially in the local area who would like to have a DVD and magazine and also interested in having a question and answer session with some clients, please register your interest on our Facebook site. Thank you!

Help us by sharing this post

St Paul's Hostel

St Paul's Hostel For The Homeless NatwestCommunityForce Project

Help us by sharing this post

Contact Us

Downloads