Our volunteering scheme will provide you with individual support and access to volunteering opportunities both within Solas and other organisations. Volunteering as a real opportunity to improve your skills and confidence and can help open doors to so many other opportunities. If you wish to take part you will benefit from free access to learning, support to gain new skills, paid travelling expenses and, when volunteering for six hours or more, reimbursed lunch expenses. We may also be able to help you pay for childcare.

Assistant Director, Hayley Clark, said “We are thrilled to be able to offer such exciting opportunities to people across South East Wales. We are grateful to the WCVA for their funding”.

Louise West, Volunteer Co-ordinator with Solas said, “Recently volunteers recently took part in our ‘Big Dig’ helping to clear and prepare our allotment for planting. It was hard work but we had a lot of fun and the end result was amazing.”

Anyone not claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance can apply for the Solas Volunteer Project. To find out how you can get involved, please contact Louise West on 01633 664045 or louise.west@solas-cymru.co.uk

This successful service has recently been evaluated independently by Cordis Bright Consulting, the report provides an initial outcome evaluation of Lasting Solutions FIP, including early evidence on the cost effectiveness and cost efficiency of the FIP. The evidence in this evaluation supports the following conclusions:

Conclusion 1 – Outcomes: Lasting Solutions is achieving many positive outcomes for families.

Conclusion 2 – Cost effectiveness: Lasting Solutions offers exceptional value for money, offering a net rate of return on investment of 426%.

Families referred to the project will have reached a ‘critical’ stage in that they may be about to lose their home, or children may be at risk of being taken into care. There may already be a number of services involved with these families and the FIP is not seeking to duplicate services but to link with existing services, partnerships and problem solving groups. Please see the report to read more about the success this service is having across South East Wales.

You can download the FIP Evaluation Report here.

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”.

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.

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.

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.”

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

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.

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

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!