Briefing Paper for Derry City and Strabane District Council: Depaul Foyle Haven Day Centre application for funding 28th April 17 Depaul was established in 2002 in Ireland and 2005 in Northern Ireland and we are now a leading cross-border organisation. Our focus is upon those suffering homelessness and marginalisation, those who need vital support and the opportunity to realise their true potential. We offer support and guidance to break the cycle of homelessness, and assist our service users in making positive choices for their future. The Foyle Haven Centre evolved from a recognition that the number of street drinkers, increased drastically in the late 1990’s. In the year 2000, Paul Sheehy, a local community police sergeant and Sister Catherine Boyle who worked at the Derry Volunteer Bureau at the time, devoted themselves to the idea of setting up a drop in centre for street drinkers. On 10th December 2001, Foyle Haven, in John Street opened its doors to street drinkers. In 2011 in which Depaul took over full responsibility and management for the service. The amalgamation with Depaul has brought rigour and commitment to good practice in financial management, volunteer retention and recruitment and professional standards and this continues through the delivery of services to date. Foyle Haven is a professionally run day service which acts not only as a Haven for people avoiding street drinking but provides a suite of services aimed at preventing homelessness, reducing harm and promoting well-being. It is open 365 days a year from 9am-10pm Monday to Friday and 11am- 4pm at the weekends. It acts primarily as a Drop in service, but also offers a range of additional support to its service users. Foyle Haven operates a ‘damp’ policy, where people are welcome to use their services under the influence of alcohol, but cannot consume alcohol on the premises. People are accepted where they are at when they come to the service. Foyle Haven seeks to make a positive difference in street drinkers’ lives by providing a holistic service to users, whose needs are often complex and overlapping. There is an overarching focus on the wellbeing of service users. The centre allows them to meet their basic needs, for example with showers, shaves, laundry, friendship and meals but also applies professional practices in terms of needs identification and support planning. Foyle Haven also works in partnership with other agencies that help with access to housing, benefits, healthcare, family services, alcohol and drug treatment if it is wanted. Day Centres Purpose: To provide a safe space where street drinkers can improve their quality of life by meeting their basic social care needs and finding the support that they need to reduce the harm caused by their dependence on alcohol which includes preventing homelessness and promoting wellbeing. To provide a safe, friendly and welcoming environment for all service users and potential services users To provide access to practical assistance and other support services. To provide a component in the case management of individuals receiving a Housing First service. Page 1 of 4 To offer a gateway to floating support service focused on harm reduction which supports people experiencing difficulties with tenancy sustainment. To encourage all service users to participate in activities and in the planning of the service. To support users and their families to maintain a viable and comfortable home life. To represent the interests of street drinkers and empower them to access basic rights and public services. To bridge the gap between street drinkers and existing alcohol and health care services. To contribute to a safe, clean, friendly city by reducing the negative effects of on-street drinking within the city centre. Derry City and Strabane District Council Strategic Fit The Civic Alcohol Forum is a group of statutory, community and business organisations that seek to mobilise the community by working together to tackle the culture of alcohol related harm in the Derry City Council area. The Forum has delivered a number of key action orientated initiatives that have resulted in a safer area and has also engaged all the key local stakeholders to work together in order to achieve cultural change around alcohol. Depaul attend the forum and play a constructive role in achieving the aims and objectives of the council’s strategic goals through the work of the Forum. Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs) These are statutory bodies established under the Justice Act Northern Ireland 2011. They replaced Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) and District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) on 1 April 2012. Both the DPP and CSP functions and responsibilities are now delivered under the new PCSPs. The policing plan has a number of overarching aims, sub-divided into 3 areas, the first is: Reduced level of crime and antisocial behaviour, increased crime outcomes, less road trauma and fewer victims. The impact of the extended evening and weekend service has made significant impacts on the level of crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly in the Foyle Road and John Street areas of the city centre. The potential of the drop in centre at Foyle Haven to continue to make a positive contribution to local policing and community safety objectives is profound. Community Planning Whilst A Transitional Community Planning Partnership has been formed to oversee the development and implementation of the Community Planning Process Depaul consider that the work of the Centre crosses many of the community planning themes. Health and wellbeing one of the major areas of work that is assisted by the interventions that re offered by the centre to reduce the harm being caused by chronic alcohol misuse. Key Impacts 200 people utilised the centre last year with 100 regular users. 30-35 people use the centre each day. Improving health and wellbeing of the service users in the areas of reducing alcohol related harm Contributing to the policing and community safety aspects of the John Street and city centre area and environs Page 2 of 4 Current Financial Situation Since taking over the service, Depaul have out considerable energy into attempting to provide a longer sustainable solution to the funding of the day service. This has included the commissioning of interim and final evaluations of the service and associated campaigns, consistent canvassing to statutory services and politicians. This has included a visit to the centre by the Late Martin Mc Guinness, Deputy First Minister in October 16, representations to Michele O’Neill whilst she was Minister for Health, visits to the centre by the leader of the SDLP Colum Eastwood MLA. Representations have also been made to a variety of government departments and statutory agencies and their Chief Executives. The setting up of the Mayor led group by Elisha Mc Callion MLA and currently chaired by Alderman Hilary McClintock, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, on the Foyle Haven has been instrumental on maintaining the momentum to secure long term funding. Depaul have invested circa £185,000 of its own funds into the sustainability of the project since taking over in 2011. Up to January of 2016 a cocktail of funding was provided by a variety of sources to provide a 7 day service as described above. This includes PHA (previously WDACT) Big Lottery and NIHE. Since the ending of the Big Lottery grant our statutory partners including the Derry City and Strabane District Council, PHA, NIHE, PSNI, Western Health and Social Services Trust have contributed to a crisis funding intervention to keep the service open at current levels. THE NIHE, PHA and PSNI have ensured that the service will remain open at current levels until 30th June 2017. The PHA, NIHE and PSNI are the source of committed funding after that date. Depaul have also been able to make another £20,000 of cost efficiencies This leaves a shortfall of £84,875 in relation to the full running of the service at current levels. Our preference would be to maintain the service at current levels. Depaul will be making a decision about the future of the service in May based on the funding committed to date. We will endeavour to attract as much funding before in the next number of weeks in order to run the service at optimum levels. Therefore we are seeking a contribution to the operation of the service By Derry City and Strabane City Council. A contribution of £25,000 would ensure that the service can open at least for the following times Monday to Friday 12- 7.30 and Saturday 12 to 4 with full closure on Sundays. Any additional funding will extend these hours. In conclusion Depaul Foyle haven day centre plays a critical part in the life of the city in the manner as described earlier. If we manage to obtain the optimum level of funding for this year we will endeavour to work with the council to utilise the current community planning processes as a vehicle where a longer term sustainable plan can be achieved for the day centre. Page 3 of 4 Page 4 of 4.