B&Q Scotswood

We support homeless males to get their lives back on track by providing safe and secure accommodation. We do this by supporting the individual to register with a doctor dentist ensuring better health and wellbeing. We have 29 places over three buildings and help all ages our referrals come from all surrounding North East HMP Prisons, Probation services and Regional borough council homeless departments. A lot of our clients have very low incomes so rely on foodbanks and donations to get them through the week or month as Universal credit claims are paid monthly this can be a very long time to money manage. Who are we? We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) working in and around the Stockton-on-Tees area supporting males with a varying range of complex needs, including but not limited to: Mental Health Needs, Autism/Asperges, Learning Difficulties, Drug and Alcohol Substance Misuse Difficulties as well as being or at risk of being homeless. We currently have 3 sites: Portrack Lane Project, Westbourne Street Project, and Yarm Road Project. Our vision is simple; “Providing Opportunities, Hope and Fresh Starts to those in need” we work with males that are homeless or at risk of homelessness providing housing related support and social inclusion related support. We aim to provide our care and support in a person-centered holistic approach. We understand and are disheartened by the stigma associated with Mental Health and substance misuse difficulties. We try and raise awareness for our colleagues in partnering agencies with the view of reducing the stigma associated with such needs. Should your organization like some awareness regarding Mental Health and Substance misuse difficulties, please feel free to contact us on the details provided at the end of this newsletter. We offer support both in the projects and on an “outreach” basis working with males struggling with substance misuse difficulties and complex needs including mental health needs.

We are a large community centre in the heart of Winlaton. Run by the community for the community. The centre is run by volunteers. We provide emergency food and access to Free food at 2 markets each week. Our charity collect surplus food from local supermarkets (Marks & Spencer, The Co-op and Tesco) which may be past its best before date and which would usually end up as waste, we sort and offer it to our local community. The produce is also used to make healthy and nutritious meals for our lunch clubs and to give out to local people in need. WE also offer a variety of classes and clubs, sport and fitness, parent and toddler groups, lunch clubs for older people and access to professional services. Registered charity 1160323

Simonside House operates from 54-58 Simonside Terrace which is based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Simonside House provides accommodation across 13 bedrooms and 5 dispersed properties in the area of Heaton, delivering supported accommodation for 16- to 24-year-olds who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or have complex needs. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with staff permanently on site. Our support services consist of the following: • Provides short term supported accommodation to young people (aged 16 – 24) with complex needs. • Provides personal centred high quality support to 18 customers – 13 of which are in the main building at Simonside House, 5 in community based dispersed properties. • Comprises of 13 rooms (fully furnished Inc a small fridge freezer with 3 shared bathrooms, 3 communal kitchens which are shared between 13 customers. 5 fully furnished self-contained flats in the community. • Provide accommodation & supported housing to those in need who meet the criteria, while working alongside partner agencies to reduce the cycle of homelessness and improve customers mental health and emotional resilience. On average the customers can stay at Simonside House for up to 2 years, during this time they will work closely with a link worker to gain the skills they need to live independently. Customers will be supported to apply for local authority accommodation to ensure a positive and smooth transition into their own accommodation. To achieve this we use a recovery focussed approach to help our customer and work in co-production to create a personal support plan, tailored to meet individual needs to develop independence. Support plans are reviewed every three months (or sooner at a customer’s request or if significant changes occur) to highlight areas where additional input may be required, and to measure progress made. We use a number of tools to measure change from induction stage to move on, with our aim being to develop individual’s self-esteem, confidence and independent living skills so that they can move into independence in the wider community. Partnership working is vital in our approach and we recognise we are only one part of someone’s recovery journey so we work closely with other agencies who may already be working with an individual to ensure a smooth transition into and out of our services. In other words, Simonside House provide • Help to look at what your support needs might be and who can help. • Help with budgeting and debt advice. • Help with benefits and welfare rights, including form filling. • Help to develop independent living skills, such as how to manage your money and cook on a budget. • Help to access training, education and employment. • Help with future housing options. At Simonside House, for the services provided customers are required to pay a personal service charge.