Building Chances
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Building chances Annual Review 2014 Annual Review 2014 Building chances Welcome to the Transform Housing & Support Transform Housing & Support gives homeless and Annual Review 2014. vulnerable people a second chance in life. Over the past year Transform has given 1,117 homeless and vulnerable Our mission is to provide housing and support for homeless, vulnerable and excluded people a second chance in life. For each person we help, this means people, empowering them to reach their goals and live independent and fulfilling lives. the chance to make a fresh start and to rebuild their lives. We provide specialist housing and support for around 750 people at any one During the year we launched new projects to give people the chance to time. We help people with a range of support needs including: I get their lives back on track, including an emergency winter shelter and Homeless people I Marginalised young people new supported housing for people with drug or alcohol dependency. I We have built new flats at Woodham Lane and Belmont House, giving People with mental health issues I People with learning disabilities more people the chance to have a place to call home. I People in recovery from drug or alcohol dependency I People with a history of offending We give people the chance to reach their goals and fulfil their potential. I People with physical or sensory disabilities This Annual Review features the stories of just some of those we have I Vulnerable older people helped, as well as statistics about the outcomes we achieve. We hope this gives you an insight into how we are ‘building chances’ for We work across Surrey, the London Borough of Sutton and Wokingham in Berkshire. We homeless and vulnerable people. operate 100 specialist supported housing projects, ranging from one-bedroom flats to shared houses and hostels. We also run floating support services, to prevent homelessness and support vulnerable adults to remain in their own homes. Each person receives one-to-one support from our staff to gain life skills, improve their health and wellbeing, and build up their confidence. We assist clients to access training, education, voluntary work and employment. When people are ready, we support them to move on and live independently. Every year we help more than 1,000 people to transform their lives. David Turner Paul Mitchell Chairman Chief Executive Building partnerships Building opportunities We work in close partnership with our clients, the local Jasmine ran away from home at age 17 and ended up community, and a range of statutory and voluntary homeless. Transform gave Jasmine a safe place to live organisations. and supported her to get her life back on track. We encourage our clients to become involved and have their say about how our services I ran away from home when I was 17 and lived with a friend in a tent in a park. At first are run, both locally and at an organisational level. For example, we ask our clients to vote it felt like an adventure but it quickly became exhausting. The tent leaked and I was ill on their five priorities for client involvement, which are published in a ‘Promises’ document. all the time. We washed in the shopping centre and cooked over an open fire. I lost my job In exit questionnaires completed during the year, 100% of clients were satisfied with the in the end because I was too tired to keep up with work. We lived in the park for four months. opportunities offered for them to get involved. When I turned 18 I got a space at a hostel. I arrived with everything I had – two sets of We work in collaboration with local authorities to ensure the needs of vulnerable people clothes, a carrier bag of stuff and my ukulele. I was the only female in a large group of are met. During the year we successfully completed a tendering process for our services homeless men. It was good to have a bed but I knew I could not stay there long. The hostel for young people in Surrey and renegotiated contracts for our other supported housing staff referred me to Transform and I moved in shortly after. I was so relieved as I really services in the county. This has given us increased stability and resulted in us taking on thought I was going to end up on the streets again. an additional service for three young people. I was smoking a lot of cannabis and drinking too much, I was anxious all the time and I We have good working relationships with a wide variety of statutory and voluntary kept it to myself which made it worse. I needed someone to talk to and get my worries out. agencies, including the probation service, mental health teams, drug and alcohol services Luckily my keyworker was brilliant. She helped me to cut down on my drug use and deal and other local charities. Our staff liaise closely with partner agencies to ensure the needs with my anxiety. I got to know other people living with Transform and we all became really of individual clients are met. good mates; it felt just like a family. My life has changed so much since receiving support from Transform. I am working as an In Wokingham, Transform hosted the apprentice Teaching Assistant, which I really enjoy. I am writing and recording music again Live Well Spend Less community event, and hope to sing at a few gigs in the next few months. I also performed at Transform’s working with a wide range of other local carol service in 2013, which was a great experience. organisations. More than 70 people attended, with 100% of attendees rating Transform has helped me in so many ways: I have a job with a prospective qualification; the event as ‘good’ and 91% saying they I have quit drugs and rarely drink; and my anxiety has improved. Everything is going well and I am very happy. I have come so far now and don’t ever want to go back. I am now living had learned something from the day. more independently and am looking forward to all the new challenges that life will bring! Building growth Building independence We have an on-going development programme to create Richard lives with Transform at Camperdown House new homes to support homeless and vulnerable people. in Sutton and is looking forward to moving to his own flat in our new building at Camperdown. Our Building Chances programme will create up to 80 new homes across Surrey and I like living at Camperdown. I have good friends here and enjoy spending time with Sutton by 2016. During the year we have: them. I do my volunteering job twice a week and I go cycling and bowling once a week. I enjoy going into town to go to the café or to get my hair cut. Transform staff help I Built eight new flats at Woodham Lane in Runnymede, for single vulnerable people me with my rent and explain any changes to me. I can get really worried about paperwork I Acquired and renovated two new shared houses for people in treatment for drug and this stops me from worrying too much. I trust Transform and if I have a problem I know or alcohol issues staff will help me. I am happy here. Richard I Extended our property at Belmont House in Farnham, building three new low-support flats I Started work on seven new flats at Blays Lane in Runnymede for homeless people We have always been happy with Richard living at Camperdown. He has a life in Wallington and has always felt at home here. Over the years Richard has become Transform is a key partner in an Empty Homes project, working with five local authorities. more independent and he really surprises us sometimes – the fact that he uses public The initiative will bring empty properties back into use and create homes for around 30 transport on his own now is amazing. people. As part of this project, Transform is acquiring and renovating two vacant properties for people in housing need. Richard needs routine and living at Camperdown gives him this. He gets the company and variety that he needs and as much independence as he can cope with. The help The Building Chances programme will see and support that Transform offers really puts our mind at rest. We know that staff are the redevelopment of our Camperdown site in available for Richard if he needs anything. Sutton, which provides supported housing for people with learning disabilities. The existing Richard will certainly benefit from the move from shared accommodation to his own flat. Camperdown House property provides He will have his own space while knowing his friends at Camperdown are still nearby. shared housing, which is old fashioned and Richard has always enjoyed watching the world go by from his bedroom window – he no longer fit for purpose. This will be replaced was really excited when he found out he will be able to do this from the balcony of his new home! When he moves, Richard will be able to continue with all the things he by a development of self-contained flats, enjoys doing, in a place where he feels independent, settled and safe. providing modern new ‘homes for life’ for May and Roger, Richard’s parents people with learning disabilities. Building innovation Building communities We are always looking for new and innovative ways to Alex, Ian, James and Paul live in one of Transform’s new support vulnerable people to improve their lives.