News

Saturday Stop By

3rd February 2012

Saturday Stop By is a new drop in service for homeless people in Leicester. A joint venture between the Islamic Society of Britain’s Leicester Eat ’n’ Meet project and St James the Greater Parish Church, this new project is supported by Action Homeless and funded by the Near Neighbours Fund.

Saturday Stop By provides shelter from the cold for a few hours at the weekend for homeless people in Leicester, at a time when other services are not running.

Anyone who comes along to Saturday Stop By will be welcomed by hot food, company and indoor games. The service is run by volunteers from across the local community who want to make a positive difference to the lives of people who are homeless in Leicester. As well as providing a service to the homeless community, Saturday Stop By will bring together volunteers from different faith and cultural groups in the city, working together to meet an unmet need.

Stephen Tunstall from the Church Urban Fund said 'Your project particularly stands out as a brilliant example of what Near Neighbours is all about.'

Saturday Stop By is held every Saturday from 11am – 2pm in the Undercroft of St James the Greater which can be accessed from St James Terrace. The project will run from January – June 2012.

Saturday Stop By was recently featured on ITV Central News – watch the programme here.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Salma Ravat on 07989 698483 or email salma.ravat@gmail.com

Down Not Out is officially launched

31st January 2012

Today saw the official launch of the Down Not Out community media agency funded by the Big Lottery and run by people with experience of homelessness.

A partnership between Action Homeless and Citizens Eye, the new project now has an editorial team in place who along with Project Coordinator, Monica Hingorani, will shape and develop the media agency.

The launch was well attended, with local people and organisations turning out to hear more about the project and meet the four newly appointed sub-editors. Brian Bishop, Down Not Out Sub-Editor said ‘Having been homeless myself, three years ago, I grabbed this opportunity because finally it offers homeless people a voice.’ Down Not Out will offer training to Community Reporters and allow people with experience of homelessness the opportunity to be heard within the local community.

Down Not Out will bring vital volunteering, training and work opportunities to develop skills for independent living and break the cycle of repeat homelessness. Monica Hingorani, Down Not Out Project Coordinator, said ‘It’s fantastic to see so much support for the project. Our committed team will now move on with creating a range of exciting media projects and involving a wide range of volunteer Community Reporters in the work.’

If you are interested in getting involved as a Community Reporter with Down Not Out please contact Monica Hingorani on 01162211884 or email monicahingorani@actionhomeless.org.uk

Action Trust’s first recruit secures on-going employment

10th January 2012 

Joe Cassie, a young ex-offender, has successfully gained on-going employment at a Leicester based engineering company with the support of Action Trust. The aim of Action Trust is to give ex-offenders, those affected by homelessness and armed forces veterans training and employment opportunities through the Action Trust social enterprises. The objective is to give recruits the confidence and skills to move into more permanent employment in their chosen field. Joe’s move to on-going employment is a great success, and proves that the Action business model works.

Action Trust is an innovative collaboration between Action Homeless Leicester, HMYOI Glen Parva, The TREES Group and Apex Works; delivering a range of services to customers throughout Leicestershire. The Action social enterprises currently include – Action Clean, Action Garden, Action Paint and Action Fix and build upon the skills and training offered to people in prison. To date, Action Trust has provided work experience to 13 people and provided employment for eight people from both the ex-offending and homeless backgrounds.    

Joe Cassie spent two months volunteering with Action Trust where he demonstrated his commitment to the organisation. Joe was then employed by Action Trust for six months and has worked across the Action businesses. Joe said “As soon as I entered Glen Parva I knew I didn’t want to go back there when I was released, I really wanted to turn my life around. Action Trust has given me a real opportunity to gain employability skills, a reason to get-up in the morning and a chance to earn some money. Action Trust gave me the confidence and discipline to work; I am thrilled that I have now secured on-going employment with a local engineering company”.

Latest figures show that it costs an average of £45,000 per year to keep someone in prison and up to £31,000 per year to keep someone in a homeless shelter. Action Trust actually gives disadvantaged people skills for life to help break the cycles of homelessness and offending which in turn helps to make real savings to the public purse.

Positive procurement changes lives, by making a decision to buy quality and competitively priced services from Action Trust you can support us in transforming the lives of ex-offenders, homeless people and armed forces veterans. For more information please visit the Action Trust website at www.actiontrust.co.uk