Need

This kind of service is badly needed in Gateshead. A 2005 Centrepoint research document into youth homelessness in Gateshead highlighted the need to ' increase access to basic services that provide shelter and opportunities for young people during the day', no services have been established since that time and the need is still present.

Solution

We will provide essential basic services including shower, laundry facilities and support, advice and guidance to secure accommodation.

Aims

Access to food, hot drinks, clean clothes and shower facilities

Activities

» Refurbish a kitchen to provide hot food and drinks, raise donations for shower and laundry facilities which can be used on the premises

Success will be... Providing over 500 people access to our basic services in the first 12 months

Provide advice, guidance and referral on homelessness, benefits and debt

Activities

» Recruit staff with experience and knowledge of the social housing sector who can effectively refer and signpost clients

Success will be... Delivering housing advice and successfully running the Crisis funded access to private rented sector scheme

Develop partnerships with specialist agencies who can deliver weekly drop-ins

Activities

» The Project Team Leader will establish working relationships with local service providers

Success will be... At least three local service providers delivering drop in at Basis@336 on a weekly schedule

Work with Service Users to put together a programme of activities which provide meaningful activity

Activities

» Implement a service user engagement strategy to develop activities including IT skills

Success will be... Delivering activities to help service users develop their skills

Offer a wider range of volunteering opportunities and train volunteers

Activities

» Work with the Aquila Way Volunteers Project to recruit and train volunteers for the Basis@336 project.

Success will be... Increasing the number of volunteers helping on a weekly rota at Basis@336

Impact

Long term we are expecting to house individuals and couples who were previously homeless helping them to access accommodation in the public and private sector

Risk

The project will be working with an at risk group of individuals, the Project Team have taken advice from a project working with a similar client group and have developed health and safety procedures. Security equipment will also be in place including CCTV and alarms.

Reporting

We will report to donors on a quarterly basis using statistics gathered weekly.

Budget - Project Cost: £76,311

Current Funding / Pledges

Source	Amount
Northern Rock Foundation	£52,000	Guaranteed
Housing Services	£4,244	Guaranteed

Location

Central Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

Beneficiaries

Local Community, those at risk of homelessness

Why Us?

Over 25 years experience housing homeless men and women in Gateshead.

Read more about the Charity running this project.

People

Phil Conn

Phil is the Project Team Leader at Basis@336