Exciting times at BHT

We have an exciting few months ahead of us with various BHT developments coming to fruition in Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton.

In Hastings, Renaissance House, a new advice and community hub, will open from the beginning of April. It will provide a home for the advice partnership in Hastings and St Leonards, made up of HARC, CA1066, and BHT.
Also located there will be Finding Futures, BHT’s personal development and motivational programme designed for unemployed adults (16+) with multiple barriers to learning and employment and who may, as one of those barriers, be homeless or insecurely housed. Finding Futures also works with students at Key Stage 4 level (14 years plus).

From the beginning of April, the Tenancy Centre, to be based in Eastbourne, takes over the management of BHT’s general needs properties and leased properties in the private rented sector, and responsibility for maintenance for all properties.

Working in the way we do with the private rented sector is designed to increase housing opportunities for our clients. Staff working in PRS Solutions have been working to a target of 222 bedsits and flats in management by 31 March. Not only have they achieved this target, it looks as though they will be 301 properties in management by this date. Many of these bedsits and flats would not have been available to our clients were it not for this initiative.

Staff are currently being recruited and will move into their new office in Susan’s Road, Eastbourne, from the beginning of March.

Based in Brighton, but working also in Hastings and Eastbourne, is the new BHT Intern Programme. Funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and BHT itself, the Intern Programme will boost the chances of those people embarking on a work career after, in many cases, years on the margins of society.

It is our aim that at any one time 40 Interns will be working across the organisation (on six-month placements for a minimum of two days a week) gaining valuable workplace experience and undertaking a tailored training programme.

These are not easy times but it feels good that there are a number of positive developments at BHT.

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Learners who are moving forward in their lives and who motivate me

One of the great delights of my job is meeting the men and women who use our different services, and to hear how they are moving forward in their lives. It is a particular honour to join them when celebrating a success.

Andy Winter, Richard Wilkinson and Rosalyn Demott

This week in Hastings I met Rosalyn Demott and Richard Wilkinson who are part of our Finding Futures. Finding Futures is best known for its work with young people who are not in employment, education or training. When they leave us they are usually in education and training and hopefully will progress further into employment.

But Finding Futures’ work is also focused on work with older men and women, like Rosalyn and Richard. Today I was able to present them with certificates having passed Health and Safety exams.

Rosalyn told me Finding Futures and gaining this latest certificate has given her more confidence. “I can do exams and pass them”, she said. She has passed literacy and numeracy exams and has a First Aid certificate. She said: “I want to do more exams and get more qualifications. I never knew I could do this at 56!”

Richard said it is many years since he has sat an exam. “I’m very please”, he said. “It’s given me more confidence. I’ve an interest in health and safety so I am pleased that I have done this course, passed the exam, and have now got my certificate.”

It is people like Rosalyn and Richard who inspire me and who motivate me in my work. I wish them well as they move forward in their education and training.

The successes of the year past and a major challenge ahead

As we reach the midway point of the year, I have been reflecting on how BHT is doing in what are very testing times. My conclusion is that, overall, BHT is doing well, with excellent services continuing to be provided to clients. We have achieved financial stability, and BHT’s reputation continues to be very positive. There is just one area of serious concern, the future funding of our Legal Services.

A year ago I had ten areas of concern yet, one by one, the challenges facing us have been addressed. The highlights of the year so far include:

our supported housing services, particularly in Brighton and Hove, where the scale of the funding cuts have been limited to just 4.5% over 4 years;

• The women’s counselling service, Threshold, whose future looked bleak until we secured £393,000 from the Big Lottery Fund through its Reaching Communities programme;
• Finding Futures, based in Hastings, has secured £497,000 from the Reaching Communities Programme of the Big Lottery Fund and a new contract with East Sussex County Council;
• First Base Day Centre has undergone a major refurbishment. After twelve months, restoration work to the building, St Stephen’s Hall has been completed and the centre is due to be formally re-opened at an event on Thursday 7 July 2011;
• The Accommodation for Work Project was in the running for the 2011 National Lottery Awards’ “Best Voluntary/Charity Project”. While the project did not make it through to the final round, it was nevertheless well-deserved recognition for this service.

At the beginning of April, BHT left the Affinity Sutton Group The move, which was supported by Affinity Sutton, is designed to allow BHT to thrive as an independent organisation by being ‘fleet of foot’ in responding to new opportunities presenting themselves to us.

One of the most exciting plans we have is to take client involvement to a new level, building on the co-design and co-production of services to spread co-delivery across the organisation. This will include the BHT Intern Programme which is attracting much interest and media coverage.

The main challenge facing BHT is the future of our Legal Services. The Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke MP, recently published the Sentencing and Legal Aid Bill that contains proposals to reduce the legal aid budget by £350 million. Much of the work that our three advice centres undertake (in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings) will no longer attract legal aid funding. In Brighton alone, we are currently funded to take on around 1,400 housing cases. This is expected to drop by more than 500 cases each year. There will no longer be legal aid funding for any welfare benefits work and face to face debt advice will by telephone only, and as with housing, only be available for those at imminent risk of losing their home.

The impact on these cuts will see an increase in homelessness, family breakdown, and general hardship. With the loss of around £0.5 million funding, our advice services will see considerable contraction and, nationwide, there will be a de-skilling of the sector as advisers, with many years experience, will move elsewhere.

BHT has been campaigning hard to oppose the cuts to legal aid and will continue to do so. I would encourage you to write to the five Members of Parliament in the areas where we have advice centres urging them to support funding for independent advice services. The MPs are Simon Kirby (Brighton Kemp Town), Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion), Mike Weatherley (Hove), Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne) and Amber Rudd (Hastings and Rye).

If you would like to support the campaign to save Legal Aid, please view the short film on the Justice For All website and sign the online petition. The government has listened on a number of issues; there is no reason why they should not listen on this occasion and reverse these measures which will lead to an increase in homelessness along the coastal south east.

Theresa continues to inspire with courage and determination

Back in August I wrote about an inspiring woman called Theresa who showed what can be achieved through courage and determination.  Last week I had a special treat when visiting our office in Hastings.  Theresa was there, still showing a real hunger for learning, with the same determination and courage. 

It was good to see her, although I was disturbing a lesson (I hope I have been forgiven).  And it was a real honour for me to present her with a certificate for passing yet another course.  Well done, Theresa, and thank you for inspiring us all.

We mustn’t remove the ladder for the young unemployed

News that 1.4 million adults have never had a job is shocking.  Some 600,000 16 to 24 year olds (that’s 1 in 12) have never worked despite not being in education or training.

The Chancellor, George Osborne, has told MPs that the existing system of benefits was “wasting the live of millions of people”.  The benefits system may well be keeping some people in welfare dependency, but I think the problem is more complex, and the solution equally so.

Welfare benefits are almost certainly going to be cut following the Comprehensive Spending Review.  Any cuts must ensure that the most vulnerable are not left destitute, and David Cameron has given a assurance that they will be protected.

I hope that the Chancellor will invest in job training, work experience and jobs otherwise those figures of 1.4 million will certainly increase, and those young people who yet to be employed may never be. 

If he, or any of his Ministers or Members of Parlament, would like to see a scheme for young people that prepares young people for employment and work, they should visit BHT’s Finding Futures project in Hastings. Often those joining the project are not yet on the ladder for personal development and enhancemnt; many don’t even know that the ladder exists.

Young people need hope that there hopes and drerams are achievable.  I hope that George Osborne will remember this.

Theresa is an inspiration and shows what can be achieved through courage and determination

Today, as the country reflects on the amazing achievements of A Level students, I met another truly inspirational learner who has achieved her own A* result.

Theresa has been part of our Finding Futures Project in Hastings where, just three weeks ago, she started on her NCFE Level 1 course in Numeracy.  When she arrived, she was, understandably, extremely nervous.  Today I met a woman brimming with confidence – she had just achieved 84% in the first exam she has done at this level.

She and her tutor, Richard, and all the staff at Finding Futures shared her joy at this achievement.  I was honoured to meet her.  Richard tells me that, not only did she work hard when at Finding Futures, she took homework away and has been doing tons of private study at home.  She is an inspiration and shows what can be achieved if you have courage and determination.

Great news as the numbers claiming benefits in Hastings drops

It is excellent news that the number of people claiming benefits in Hastings has dropped. I am aware of the excellent work undertaken in the town by a whole range of organisations who support unemployed people, including NEETS (Not in Employment, Education or Training), to get back to work.

I have been particularly impressed by the BEST Partnership, brought together and funded by Hastings Borough Council and involving organisations as diverse as Albion in the Community, The Bridge, Fellowship of St Nicholas, Sussex Coast College Hastings, and BHT’s own Finding Futures Project.

It is our experience at Finding Futures that, while some people need help to climb the ladder through education and training and into employment, there are a number who don’t even know that a ladder exists.

Since Finding Futures was launched almost two years ago, we have seen some amazing results with our learners going on to achieve some amazing things.  At Finding Futures we know that our learners have ambitions and we are there to help them achieve their aspirations.

The drop in the numbers claiming benefits is great, but there is much more to do. We should never be complacent.

Reflecting on successes and the need to keep moving forward

Last night was the regular meeting of the BHT Board of Management.  A regular item that I report on is developments.  Last night it was particularly easy to report given that in the three months since I last reported, various initiatives that my colleagues and I have been working on for up to three years have come to fruition. We have:

• developed new services, for example, in the private rented sector, in work and learning, and in profitable social enterprise, thereby attracting income from new sources;
• secured new contracts and expanded our service base;
• strengthened user involvement at all levels of the organisation;
• established a strong base in Hastings having set up a training project, Finding Futures, delivered housing advice outreach, and acquired Hastings Community Housing Association; and
• established BHT Enterprises Ltd., and acquired PR company Blue Rocket and its sister company Green Rocket.

Very often we can’t see the wood for the trees because we are so involved in the day to day management of the organisation.  We may put out a press release or post something on our website, but before you know it, we have moved on to the next thing.

But having to report on a quarterly basis to the Board allows us to take stock of what has been achieved knowing that every service development will help us to tackle homelessness, create opportunities and promote change.

But we are not complacent.  We need to look, as always, at what is next.  What next for the organisation, for projects, for service users? Any achievement is a milestone, not a destination.

Brandon is an inspiring example for others, and for the BEST project in Hastings

I spent the better part of last Friday at the launch of a new training scheme in Hastings, BEST at Finding Futures.  Finding Futures is a BHT project that is aimed at helping those not engaged in education, employment or training.  BHT’s manager at Finding Futures, Philippa White, describes very clearly who this service is aimed at.  “We work with people who lack the confidence to engage in education and training.  We work with people who have ‘fallen off the ladder’, with those who don’t have the confidence to climb on the ladder, and with those who don’t even know a ladder exists”.

I heard the amazing account of a young man who had not been in formal education for three years since he was 14.  He had suffered bullying in his primary school.

Despite being very able, Brandon had not got any GCSEs and desparately wanted some so he could go to college, “like everyone else”.

Since becoming part of Finding Futures, has improved his self confidence as well as his maths.  He completed his CV and got used to being in a small ‘classroom’ enviroment.

A mark of his achievements came on the day when, having been shown how to prove Pythagoras’ Theorem, he stood at the white board and, with maturity, confidence and humour, demonstrated to a member of Finding Future’s training staff how the theory worked!

He started his GCSE Maths before Christmas and in January began GCSE courses in English and Science.

He has made himself, his mother and the staff at Finding Futures very proud.  He is an inspiring example for others, and for the BEST project in Hastings.