The first place we start is by registering the person with their GP. Those who are marginalised from society often have poor physical and mental health. Many abuse drugs and alcohol. Often getting them to see a GP is the first step.
It is important first step for mental health to see the GP first as they understand the type of mental health services available to those disenfranchised. Mental health services generally only support those who are registered with a GP. So our team will help to register by providing a ‘care of’ address, often that address is the GP surgery itself.
We then work with the individual to identify the key issues. What they need to make clear to the doctor or mental health practitioner so that they fully understand the situation prior to making any decisions on care.
We attempt to ensure that appointments are made when the individual is not intoxicated or medicated to prevent a professional rejecting to diagnose or assist.
We intend to provide care to all those that need our assistance. Across the capital and wider throughout the UK there are those disenfranchised from society that need support to rid themselves of dependency.
We have close working relationships with support services that can help to change people’s outlook. Harmful drinking and drug misuse can cause long-term health and negatively affect an individual’s relationships. We understand that treatment for these can help on the road to recovery.
Our partners provide a range of substance abuse interventions. They specialise in working with the individual to understand the complexity of their dependency. Providing bespoke treatment plans on the way to recovery.
Homelessness is complicated and people become homeless for a range of reasons. One person’s situation could be completely different to another person’s.
Our mission is to ensure that everyone has a roof over their head. However, there is a shortage of affordable housing and funding for housing services has reduced. There is a lack of supported housing and social housing available, often with the latter being too expensive for those hoping to pay with Housing Benefit.
We work with private landlords with large property portfolios. Our work intends to address the barriers that private landlords have with providing tenancies to those on Housing Benefit. We assist those that work with us to get set up with private rentals, with longer lease terms. By encouraging our contacts to provide affordable rents we can work with the individual to ensure that they can access the Housing Benefit that they are entitled too.
While gaining training and work experience we set them up with jobs that they can then move away from claiming benefits and provide better financial long-term security. By removing the barriers and helping to provide a better working relationship with landlords, we believe we can significantly help those most in need.
For many, the lack of education, training and skills has not only hindered opportunities but also provided mental anguish that they are inferior to those with these. We help those disadvantaged to achieve their goals of finding employment. This is done by providing a large variety of skills, education, training and employment opportunities.
While our focus is on giving people the skills and competencies to achieve, we are also looking to build self-worth and confidence. Alongside training they will develop their own views of themselves so they recognise that they are just as important to society as everyone else. We believe everyone has something to give to society and those disenfranchised just need to support achieve.
Through our connections we place people on courses or in work placements that provide skills training specific to the areas that they would like to work in.
There has been a believed increase in domestic violence across the UK. A large proportion of those abused are from BAME backgrounds and face additional barriers to receive support. It is believed that 1.6 million women aged 16 to 74 years old have experienced some sort of domestic abuse according to the ONS in 2019. There is currently a fear among many women of homelessness and no support when escaping domestic abuse.
With many women unable to afford to pay for essentials and even a place to stay, the options seem to be homelessness or remain in their situation. It is believed a large majority stay with their abuser.
We want to help, our charity works with solicitors who specialise in helping beleaguered women to escape abuse. We identify places for women to stay while their abusers are dealt with and support through the transition. Support them to find employment or skills that they need to achieve, with many of those in this situation having English as a second language. We can provide interpreters to assist and communicate.
If you are from a BAME background then you may be nervous about the cultural backlash or the rejection from your community. We can assist you to get the specialist support you need and access to those in your community that can help that do not judge. Our network of professional contacts means we work in many of these community areas so understand the emotional, cultural and social issues surrounding domestic abuse.
Further, many domestic violence victims are migrants, we can help support any immigration application to ensure that they have secure status. If someone has been forced to marry someone we can assist.
In accordance with the new Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and the Homelessness Act 2002, local housing teams have a duty to assist domestic abuse victims. We can assist with these applications. Further if social services are involved then we can work with children’s services to provide the adequate assistance.
Youth are generally considered the future, however those that are disaffected are often forgotten. Marginalised youth have potential to be net contributors to society and the economy if they are provided the tools to do so.
There are a variety of reasons why young people become homeless from domestic violence, family breakdowns to mental health. The first step in solving youth homelessness is by providing safety to the individual. If they have a space that they feel safe in then they can build.
We help place young people in appropriate housing or if under 18 then ensure that they enter the care system.
We believe that the next step is to encourage social inclusion and improve opportunities available. You are much more likely to have no formal qualifications if you are homeless than if you are not. It is evident that in much of today’s employment that some basic computing skills are required. Further youth need literacy and numeracy skills. We assist young people to gain those necessary competencies for the working world.
We work closely with education suppliers to provide young people with the functional skills and qualifications to join the labour market.
Young people often need ongoing support even after leaving our projects and we offer on-going mentoring.
