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A new flagship service providing attractive, modern, supported accommodation for 29 individuals and families who at risk of becoming homeless, has been opened in Clifton Place, Newport. The Grade II listed Victorian building, occupies a prime location near St Woolos Cathedral.
A partnership between Newport City Council, the Seren Group and the Welsh Government completely transformed the former Council led homeless scheme. With the help of Capital Grant funding from the Welsh Government, the building was transformed within a 14 month period as part of a £1.7 million refurbishment.
Director, Darrell Bolton said, “Everyone involved in delivering the vision for Clifton Place can take great pride in what has been achieved. It has been a long journey but yet again, the strength of the Group’s partnership with the City Council and the Welsh Government has delivered high quality accommodation for people who really need it”.
The design process for George Street, Solas’s new exciting scheme for vulnerable young people, is now underway! The accommodation, due to open in May 2012, will provide people supported by Solas with an opportunity to showcase their creative talents.
We have set up a ‘Design Panel’, made up of the people we support, Solas staff and an interior designer. The Panel will decide how colour schemes for the interior decor, discuss ideas for the communal areas and look at potential designs for kitchens and bathrooms. The Panel want to steer clear of stereotypical neutral colours and make George Street as bright and vibrant as possible, to inspire people and give it a more ‘homely’ feel. With this in mind, the design team are now considering a palette of neon greens, bright citrus, brushed aluminium and tomato red to give the place a ‘Big Brother House’ contemporary feel. We will keep you posted of our progress.
On 9 December, Solas Volunteers spent a productive morning helping the residents of Tredegar Court Sheltered Housing to put up their Christmas Decorations.
Seven people supported by Solas from Albert Street, Newport and our Young People’s schemes in Monmouthshire gave up their time to ensure the residents of Tredegar Court have a very merry Christmas. Trimmings were hung from ceilings throughout the accommodation and everyone was rewarded with a large tub of Quality Street.
Solas Volunteer Co-ordinator, Louise West, worked with Melin Homes to organise the festive deck out. Louise said, “All the volunteers really enjoyed themselves and the older people commented on what a good job they had done and how lovely the building looked”.
Solas Volunteer Project is currently funded by the Engagement Gateway EU fund through WCVA and is actively seeking volunteers who are economically inactive. Please contact Louise West on 01633 664045 or louise.west@solas-cymru.co.uk for more information on how you can get involved.
The Family Intervention Project, jointly run by Solas and Charter Housing has been granted £6,000 by NatWest’s Community Force Grant Scheme, following a public vote, to tackle anti-social behavior in the community.
Called “Lasting Solutions” the scheme, set up by the Family Intervention project, is dedicated to tackling anti-social behavior by providing innovative workshops for children aged 8-12 within schools. Lasting Solutions will deliver workshops to children to help them understand how anti-social behavior can have a damaging effect on the lives of individuals, families and the wider community in which they live. In the longer term, the scheme is designed to deter youngsters from becoming involved with anti-social behaviour.
The Community Force Scheme managed by NatWest supports hundreds of local charities and projects throughout England and Wales and winners are decided by public vote.
Rhian Stone, Corporate Director at Solas said, “We are absolutely delighted that Lasting Solutions was one of three projects based in South East Wales which had the most votes for the NatWest Community Force Grant Scheme. The £6,000 fund will enable us to provide workshops to children in schools to raise awareness of anti-social behavior and its harmful consequences. Thank you to everyone who voted for us.”
The 1st November saw residents and staff from across Solas come together in Newport to participate as volunteers in ‘THE BIG DIG’. Louise West, Volunteer Co-ordinator, arranged a one day activity at our Solas allotment in Duffryn where everyone literally ‘mucked’ in and helped clear the area ready for the winter months.
With spades, forks and rakes at hand, the whole area was cultivated and stripped back by the Solas team who worked together brilliantly. The sheer hard work put in by all was fantastic and the results were amazing.
We will now have to ensure that the allotment is given the regular attention it requires so that it flourishes during the forthcoming seasons.
If you or anyone you are supporting within Seren are interested in volunteering to help out at our allotment then please contact Louise louise.west@solas-cymru.co.uk
While on holiday at Centre Parcs, Longleat, Rob Cole, Project Worker at Hales House, asked Centre Parcs’ staff members what happened to the bikes once they had finished with them. They replied “We are always looking for charities to donate the bikes to.”
Two months later, Rob and Nikki Lewis, Project Worker, took a delivery of 35 bikes and spare frames and parts, donated by Centre Parcs, to Hales House. Due to the size of the donation, the schemes at Albert St, Clifton Place and MYPS also benefitted. Staff and clients have been busy ensuring the bikes are roadworthy.
Rob also had a similar conversation with sailing instructor, Matt Philpott, at LLandegfedd Reservoir, when he took clients on a bike ride. On that occasion Rob secured a small sailing boat for Hales House. Staff and clients are working on the sailing boat to ensure it is lake worthy by the Spring, this will also benefit Solas‘ other Schemes.
Did you know that the Solas Dragons Football Team are top of the Street Football Wales League for 2011? Well we are! Thanks to the expert coaching skills of our very own Paul Scarfi we beat off the competition to win the cup.
Paul is now managing the Welsh Street football team, and has recently attended the Homeless World Cup in Paris where he met some of the players who were ex-clients of Solas!
Paul is hoping to take a team to the next world cup in Mexico in 2012 with hopefully more Dragons players.
If you would like to join the Solas Dragons team or are interested in helping Paul set up a women’s team contact him via paul.scarfi@solas-cymru.co.uk
Clare Hackwood and the Support Services team made an appeal in September for a school uniform, as a family in one of our properties needed one for their child’s first day of school. The response was overwhelming and Solas would like to say a big thank you to all those who helped!
The response was greater than they ever expected, as not only did Solas receive the school uniform, but they also received other items of clothing and toys – all was greatly appreciated by the family.
We would also like to say a special thank you to Sue Suter, Team Manager in reach who donated £50 to the family, enabling them to buy recommended items from the school shop!
Solas’ Family Intervention Project have been approved for the NatWest CommunityForce Grant Scheme which supports all kinds of local projects and charities throughout England and Wales. The Family Intervention Project offers a whole family approach giving intensive support to families at risk of losing their home due to anti-social behaviour. We work with individuals in the home and school setting and have reduced anti-social behaviour which has impacted positively on the whole community.
By being on the CommunityForce Scheme hundreds of local charities and projects stand to win an award of £6,000 each, with the winners decided by public vote! So WE NEED YOUR VOTE as we would like to use the £6,000 to combat anti-social behaviour in the community by providing innovative workshops for children aged 8 – 12 within schools. These workshops will give children an understanding of what anti-social behaviour is and how it affects individuals, families and the wider community.
The next stage of the process starts on Monday 26th September where members of the public need to vote for their favourite project in order to win the £6000 grant. So please help us win this money by voting for this brilliant project and help make a difference to the communities we live and work in.
To vote for Solas please visit the CommunityForce Scheme website and follow the instructions: communityforce.natwest.com/project/4083
Voting closes on Sunday 23rd October 2011. Please contact Heather Reed, Business Development Support Worker if you have any problems voting.
On August the 17th Solas were kindly invited by the Newport Gwent Dragons to participate in one of their regular pre-match fundraising opportunities that they offer to organisations similar to ours. Albert Street residents and staff teamed up together to arrange and facilitate the collection and raised a brilliant £206 for their scheme, all thanks to the generosity of the brilliant Dragons fans.
The Dragons played Russia in a friendly match and secured their first win of the pre-season with a comfortable lead over Kingsley Jones’ Russian national team and went on to win 40-12 amid some impressive performances from exciting new signings.
Mike Sage, Community Manager for The Dragons also arranged complimentary match tickets for all those who took part in the collection so that residents and staff had the opportunity watch the victory.
Solas would like to sincerely thank Mike Sage, The Newport Gwent Dragons and their fantastic fans for their support and kind donations. We would also like to wish the team the very best of luck for the forthcoming season.
The money raised will be used to arrange meaningful activities for residents to engage in at the scheme.