Whitechapel Team Starts New Gardening Project

The Whitechapel Centre's learning and enablement team are starting up a new gardening project for those who use our services to become involved in.

We are linking in with Kensington Community Centre which is situated near to The Royal Hospital, to help landscape and build a sustainable garden & allotments for use by The Whitechapel Centre and local residents in the Kensington community .

The only problem is, we don't have all the extra pieces of equipment that come in so useful when gardening.

If you are anything like me you will regularly clean out your shed and find so many items that you dont need or use, that the new gardening team could make great use of!

Examples of the things they could use are:

* Plant pots
* Seed trays
* Garden chairs
* Seed packets
* Bulbs
* Gardening tools
* Compost
* Flask (essential on the colder days!)

This is a fabulous new project that can help both those from The Whitechapel that are taking part, and the local community through improving the landscape, and providing a source of freshly grown food.

If you have anything that you feel could help out the team please let Angela or Ruby, from the learning and enablement team, know by calling our Enablement Centre on  0151 207 7617.

For more information on the services that we provide please go to our website at: http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk.

Whitechapel Team become PRS Champions for Crisis

The Whitechapel Centre's Street Resettlement Team has been chosen by Crisis to be one of their first Private Renting Champions.

This is due to the excellent results that the team have achieved since it first started, their nominated area of expertise for this scheme being Partnership Working.  

The team were picked as they are "Focused on finding solutions to overcome any difficulties, and are keen to share their experiences and best practise. They have had a good level of success on their own private rented sector access scheme".

A Private Renting Champion will be a point of contact for advice and assistance to other schemes, on their nominated area of expertise.



(l-r) Russell, Paul, Mandie, Margi and Gary



Any other agencies or projects will contact our team for advice on partnership building with those in the private rental sector.

The Street Resettlement Scheme, which has now been running successfully for two years, has seen an increase both in those using it, and growth internally due to the huge demand for services.

In their new role they may also be asked to attend conferences/events organised by Crisis to give short presentations. They will also provide contact details for the Crisis website, and respond to other schemes’ enquiries on advice and assistance on their area of expertise.

Team manager Paul said "This down to the dedication and hard work of the team, Mandie, Margi, Carl, Gary and Russell, and all of us here at The Whitechapel are extremely proud of the results that they have achieved".

For more information on the services that are provided by The Whitechapel Centre, in particular by the Team please go to our website at: http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk.

 

A Goodbye Gift From Our Local Branch of Natwest

On Monday 25th March our local branch of the Natwest closed down after many years of serving the community, yet another result of the country's struggling economy.

We were regular users of the branch, and got to know the staff there well over the years, so were very sorry to see them go.

They did however still think of The Whitechapel Centre, even when they were experiencing such a change in their personal circumstances, and gave us a donation of crockery and cutlery for people who use our services.

The donations were snapped up quickly by staff for people that were moving into their new homes, and have nothing to put in them (even a cup to drink out of) and were greatly appreciated.

So a huge thank you goes to Hazel, and the rest of the team from the branch who have served us through the years, and for thinking of how they could help The Whitechapel even as their own jobs were coming to an end.

To find out more about the services that we provide at The Whitechapel Centre, and how you can help, please go to our website at: http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk



Whitechapel Staff Study for Success

In January 2012 nine members of the Whitechapel staff team volunteered to undertake a pilot training program. 

The course of study was the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice which is a professional qualification for people who work in a front line capacity (ie. are already doing the job).

It is a vocational qualification and is comparable in level to an A-level or an NVQ Level 3 and explores all aspects of housing.

They were given day release from work but expected to put in the extra hours themselves in order to complete a wide range of mandatory and optional units.

These varied greatly from ‘Support for Independent Living’ and ‘Homelessness Services and Prevention’ to ‘Equality and Diversity for Housing’. 

All  modules were assessed by an external verifier, and the final qualifiaction was awarded by the Chartered Institute of Housing. 

All of those who started the course not only finished it, but did so with flying colours, each person achieving the Level 3 CIH qualification.

The staff who took part were:

Maureen Doyle, Mike Oak, Paul Black, Andy Glover, Ruby Navarro, Angela McKay, Keith Mullineux, Carol Barton and Delphine Slocombe.

This group is a mix of both managers and support work staff from different areas of the organisation, and full and part time members of staff, so a real mix!



(from L-R) Carol, Mike, Maureen, Andy, Delphine



Mike said: "It was interesting to study the history of British housing  policy and put this in a political, social and economic context. This enabled me to understand how housing-related support developed over time and clarifies the role our organisation has to play in this area.” 

About her new qualification Del said: "I have my certificate framed on my desk, slog isn’t the word I never thought it would end! However after all the hard work I put into my NVQ and CIH qualifiacions it has now put me in the learning mode and I am now enrolled with Harvard which I started last Monday!"

Maureen also said that finding the time was the toughest part : "I really dont know how I found the time I had to work every weekend, but when I acheived my certificate at the end it all felt worth it!”

Ruby was simply thrilled: "I am very proud of my CIH Certificate he he!"



(from L-R) Keith, Ruby, Paul

It was a huge achievement for all of those involved, juggling work and studying for an A level standard qualifaction, all within 12 months!!

All of us here at The Whitechapel Centre are very proud of what they have acheived, but not as proud as they are themselves, WELL DONE TO YOU ALL!!!!!

To find out more about the work that we do at The Whitechapel Centre and therefore how the new qualifications achieved will boost the services that we provide, please go to our website at: http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk.

 

Whitechapel attend The Liverpool Alcohol Conference

On Tuesday 19th March a team from The Whitechapel Centre attended the Liverpool Alcohol Conference at The Lace Centre, the main subject being addressed was reducing the harm caused by alcohol.

There were various guest speakers throughout the day, including Joe Anderson, the Mayor of Liverpool, who gave a very touching speech on his own childhood experiences.

Also Dr Paul Richardson, Consultant Hepatologist from Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital and Dr Steve Hood, Consultant Gastroenterologist from University Hospital Aintree spoke of the detrimental health effects caused as a result of excessive alcohol consumption.

Val Andrews and Karen Thomas from Health Development Consultancy, spoke of their work improving alcohol awareness with Liverpool PCT.

Finally Dr Shamin Rose, Executive Sponsor for alcohol for Liverpool CCG and Labour Councillor Roy Gladden spoke of their work and experiences.

Whitechapel had their own table there to provide others attending with information about the work that we do within the city and the services we provide.

Whitechapel staff Adrienne, Margi, George, Peter and Kevin

Lots of interesting facts and figures were given out on the alcohol services within Liverpool, and all who attended were encouraged to "keep up the good work!".

The staff that attended found the event extremely interesting and informative, and particularly enjoyed the personal experiences that some of the speakers talked of.

For more information on the services that we provide at The Whitechapel Centre please go to our website at: http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk

Whitechapel's Trip to the Black-E

Whitechapel worker Carole is continuing with her group visits to landmark buildings in Liverpool.

Carole took the group to the Black-E (formerly the Blackie) a combined community and contemporary arts centre.

The Black-E



 This exciting building was originally a 19th century Congregational Church once known as Liverpool's third cathedral.



View of the Chinese Archway from the Black-E



Now this great space houses a gallery, theatre and provides a marvellous space for sporting and arts events.

Our group managed to find a snooker table begging for someone to have a go, and everyone there had a turn!



Michael, Will and John being shown round the Black-E

The general consensus was that this is another of Liverpool's great architectural buildings, the group thought the Black-E was truly amazing.

For more information on the services that we provide at The Whitechapel Centre please go to our website at http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk.

Cold Weather Shelter 2013

The Cold Weather Shelter will be open this evening, Wednesday 13th March for just one evening, as after this temperatures are due to rise. 

The shelter is based at St Stephen’s with St Catherine’s Church, Crown St, Liverpool, L8.

 

For more information, including a map of how to get there and to find out who is eligible to attend, please click on the link below:

http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk/cold-weather-provision.html

If you see someone you think is rough sleeping please contact the No2NO reporting line on 0300 123 2041.

This number is to be used only to report a rough sleeper; if you have any other issues please either:

Call us on: 0151 207 7617 or email at: info@whitechapelcentre.co.uk