Specialist landlord of the year: Winner

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1 Specialist landlord of the year: Winner Riverside ECHG: SPACES What evidence can you provide to show that your organisation is delivering high quality services and meeting the needs of your specific client group? Managed by Riverside ECHG, the Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services (SPACES) is an accommodation placement service for single veterans discharged from the Armed Forces. Since its inception in September 2000, it has helped over 10,300 veterans. In addition to a Housing Worker based at the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester, we operate two specialist supported housing schemes, Mike Jackson House in Aldershot and The Beacon at Catterick Garrison. In the last 12 months, SPACES has: Received referrals from approximately 6% of the total outflow from the Armed Forces; Given support to over 1,100 individuals who were referred to the service; Successfully housed over 75% of clients; Found over 75% of active clients housing within their requested area. SPACES reduces the likelihood of veterans becoming homeless after discharge; targets the most vulnerable service leavers; has a database of all local authorities and accommodation providers. Mike Jackson House and The Beacon offer short-term supported accommodation in self-contained fully-furnished flats. They help veterans: with the transition to civilian life; with skills required for independent living such as budgeting; access services such as War Pensions, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association and Royal British Legion; find a job by providing access to career advisors. Such is the dedication of SPACES staff that Riverside's Ministry of Defence Area Manager, Trevor Morris, recorded a Christmas song to raise awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and raise funds to support service leavers affected by it. Trevor, himself a veteran of over 22 years, wrote the lyrics to Do You Remember and his friend and professional record producer, Ian Sidgwick, wrote the music and produced the single free of charge. Trevor then called in help from the veterans at The Beacon and children from nearby Wavell Junior School Choir, many of whose parents have been deployed to Afghanistan, to join in and give the song real feeling. What is the specific project or achievement which sets your

2 organisation apart from other good performing organisations? Managed by Riverside ECHG and built on land gifted by the Ministry of Defence, The Beacon is a housing and training centre for service leavers at risk of homelessness. Officially opened by Rt Hon William Hague in March 2012, The Beacon provides high quality, supported accommodation using efficient design, to achieve a contemporary, multi-functional building and supportive environment to assist veterans making the transition back to civilian life. Facilities include: a multi-function room PC training suite audio visual room training kitchen training bakery health resource facility training, education & employment centre spacious areas designed for activities and socialising. The Beacon is the result of a successful partnership with multiple agencies from the Ministry of Defence to Richmondshire District Council and North Yorkshire County Council. Funding was secured from a number of partners. The Homes and Communities Agency s National Affordable Housing Programme and Places of Change Programme and a grant from the Royal British Legion contributed towards the capital build cost. Further funding from Army Benevolent Fund, BAE Systems PLC, Church Housing Trust and The Not Forgotten Association was used to furnish the building. Further partners have been involved in providing work and training for the veterans. Groundwork helped to set up the Force 4 Change landscaping enterprise and we have worked with the Clervaux Trust to help establish the Veterans Artisan Bakery. Prior to opening in September 2011, The Beacon had 237 potential clients expressing an interest, proving how much this kind of scheme is needed. Since it opened, residents of The Beacon have taken part in over 100 courses from electrical engineering to food hygiene to solar panel installation. Why is your approach innovative/ unique? The support needs of homeless service leavers are very different to that of the wider homeless population: More likely to sleep rough and for longer periods. Greater reluctance to seek help. Higher mean age than the general homeless population. Majority white males. Higher likelihood of alcoholism.

3 Lower likelihood of drug abuse. Greater need for dual diagnoses care. Higher likelihood of anger management issues. Small percentage suffer Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). High proportion of homeless stay in the area surrounding the military base at which they served. As a result of these needs, service leavers need specialised care. SPACES is the only project of its kind, managed by a social housing provider, working alongside the Ministry of Defence. As Riverside ECHG has its own specialist supported housing team dedicated to the provision of housing and support to ex-armed Forces Personnel, it is able to adapt and modify already successful support plans to aid this unique client group, for example including anger management training as a part of each tenant s licence agreement. The staff who work within this specialist branch are particularly well placed to display empathy and understanding for client needs as these services have been developed and driven by staff who, in a number of cases have themselves served in the Armed Forces, allowing them an insight into the specific issues and experiences. Around 75% of staff at The Beacon have connections to the military. What evidence can you provide to demonstrate the positive impact of your initiative for your specific client group? These case studies are clear illustrations of what clients can achieve when given the right support and accommodation. The confidence and life skills the individuals learn are valuable assets, essential when making the steps from social exclusion back into society. The names of the clients have been changed to protect their identity. Nigel s story Nigel served six years in the Army as a Guardsman. He was discharged after receiving injuries that brought an end to his career. He found himself homeless and his injuries meant that he found it difficult to find employment. Nigel contacted Riverside ECHG through their telephone advice line and got a place in one of their housing and training facilities. He received one-to-one support from specialist staff and, when he was ready, Riverside ECHG s training and employment partnership helped him find a job. Nigel now has fulltime work, a flat of his own and has made the successful transition back to civilian life. He said: Having been unemployed for almost five years after I was disabled out of the Army, I now have a job and it s made the world of difference to me and my plans for the future. I m also looking forward to getting additional qualifications for Driving Diggers and Forklift licence. I like the outdoors so this job will be perfect for me! John s story John was in the Air Force for 16 years and was discharged 15 years ago. Since then he found himself homeless and had also developed a drinking problem. He attended the Open Day for Mike Jackson House where he met

4 an old Wing Commander who encouraged him to apply for a place at the scheme. Since moving into Mike Jackson House, John has made great progress towards recovery and his support plan has enabled him to tackle his issues. John has currently given up alcohol for 100 days and is feeling much better for it, both psychologically and physically. John admits he was drinking to forget but has now come to terms with his past and is no longer allowing himself to become depressed. He believes that support workers changing his licence agreement to stipulate that he couldn t drink whilst resident at Mike Jackson House was instrumental in developing and maintaining his commitment to stop drinking, staff also gave him lifts to his peer support group to support and sustain his long-term abstinence. John has started a fishing club and was able to access funds to buy three sets of fishing tackle and licences. He has also built a greenhouse and a large raised vegetable bed. He said: I m on the Residents Committees and feel more positive now because I m helping make some decisions. Along with some of the other guys I ve set up a fishing club and vegetable garden. The support they ve given me here has made all the difference. It has given me back the self-confidence I lost when I was homeless. Why should your organisation win this award? A large number of service leavers are single 33.3% of Riverside ECHG service leaver clients are divorced or separated. This may be because they are unable to cope with the transition to civilian life which may lead to unemployment and become a contributory factor in relationship breakdowns. Historically, single homeless were not classed as in priority need for housing by many councils but following the success of The Beacon, local councils are looking to replicate the commitment we have made to supporting veterans, with organisations from other parts of the country looking to build a similar scheme to The Beacon. A reluctance to seek help is common amongst ex-service homeless, which may be due to the masculine stereotype of the military; they may feel that asking for help or admitting to having a problem displays weakness and may increase feelings of failure. This makes it a very challenging demographic to gain access to in order to provide them with appropriate support and advice. These issues highlight the importance of supported accommodation projects to enable rough sleepers to have access to shelter should they need it, particularly in the towns and cities situated close to Armed Forces bases. Riverside ECHG s schemes at the Catterick and Aldershot bases are an excellent example of how essential they are to ensure the continued wellbeing of personnel leaving the Armed Forces. Riverside ECHG plays an essential role in supporting vulnerable and troubled individuals as they leave the Armed Forces. The organisation s experience of operating dual diagnosis schemes and its staff s knowledge of supporting ex- Armed Forces Personnel is an exceptional combination, which very few other providers can offer.

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