020 Shekinah news - Shekinah Mission

Issue 020 - December 2015
shekinah news
“Hi, my name is Rosie and I
am 4 years old. My mum is
helping me write this note. You’ll need lots of stuff
because you live out in the
road and I hope you find a
place soon. I feel sad that
you’re out in the wet cold and
I hope a builder can come
and build a house for you.” Rosie x
Contents
Page 2
Charities Join Forces
Page 3
Well done Connie
Page 4
Employability
Page 5
Places of change /
Woman’s Space
Page 6
An update from
Torbay
Page 7 - 8From Homelessness
to the House of
Commons
Page 9
Plymouth Clarion
Male Voice Choir
Page 10 Charity shop update
Page 11 Plymouth University/
Peninsula School of
Medicine & Dentistry
Page 12 Gifting to a charity
Page 13 Another successful
helping hands day /
Big Swim
Page 14 Menu for change
Editor - Helen Pearce
Photos - Tom Coghill
Photographic Editor - Holly Martin
A message from
Chief Executive
Shekinah
John Hamblin
I guess like many readers I have fond childhood
memories of Christmas. The excitement of writing
my Christmas list, putting up the decorations, school
holidays and then Christmas day itself. They were
good times for me and my family and I now look
back realising how fortunate we were. Even in my
childhood my parents who were both members of
a local Church enjoyed bringing strangers home for
lunch and Christmas time was no different. We used
to live not far away from an alcohol treatment
centre that my Dad was involved in when he
worked for the Probation Service. Christmas time
was always a time that he would invite back a
number of the residents to our home for lunch. I
guess even then I realised that for many of the
"strangers" sitting opposite me, Christmas time was a
particularly difficult time for them. Whilst my brother,
sister and I would be playing with our presents or
just being a nuisance, the visitors would be looking
and longing to be with their own children.
Fast forward many years and I now find myself
doing what my parents did albeit, sadly on a larger
scale. Shekinah will be very busy this Christmas with
a range of events for the many people who will
come to us. This year we are hosting our first ‘12
days of Christmas’ campaign, where we will be
offering a number of different events, meals and
activities, many of which will be delivered by
volunteers. This campaign has been made possible
by the ongoing support we have received from
many people reading this, and I would really like to
thank you for your ongoing support.
Whilst we know that for some people homelessness
is 365 days a year and not just at Christmas, it is a
time of year that we all enjoy at Shekinah.
Watching people have fun and seeing the smiles
on people’s faces when they open the gifts that
have been donated, still brings a lump to my
throat. So I guess when I look back at my childhood
and think about the best present my parents gave
me, it was never what was under the tree, it was
the strangers that they brought into our home.
1
Charities join forces to get Devon
homeless people back into work
“Devon-based charity Shekinah is to work together with national homelessness charity
Crisis to help more homeless people back into work in Plymouth and Torbay, it was
announced today.”
Shekinah has 10 years’ experience helping
homeless people back into employment in
the South West, while Crisis works across
the UK in eight different regions and is keen
to work in partnership where its support
and expertise can help homeless people
rebuild their lives.
Crisis Chief Executive Jon Sparkes said:
“Shekinah has a very impressive track
record of getting homeless people back
into work, financial independence and out
of homelessness for good. I’m excited
about us working together to bolster those
achievements, learn from each other and
help more homeless people in Devon turn
their lives around.”
Shekinah CEO John Hamblin said: “Over
the years Shekinah has always placed
huge value in its partnership work. With
Shekinah and Crisis working together to
deliver employment services in Plymouth, it
can only benefit other services, local
communities and most importantly the
people we continue to support.”
Crisis will provide a new Work and Learning
Coach to work at Shekinah. The post will
help Shekinah continue its work building
relationships with local employers, while
giving homeless people the skills and
confidence to return to work. Crisis
Changing Lives grants will also be made
available to provide money for homeless
people to set up their own business, or
purchase the tools to become selfemployed.
Due to funding cuts the employment
services offered by Shekinah were under
threat. The partnership with Crisis will allow
their work to get homeless people back
into jobs to continue.
Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. Our purpose is to end homelessness.
Homelessness is devastating, leaving people vulnerable and isolated. We believe everyone
deserves a place to call home and the chance to live a fulfilled and active life.
Crisis helps people rebuild their lives through housing, health, education and employment
services. We work with thousands of homeless people across the UK and have ambitious plans
to work with many more. We currently offer services in Birmingham, Coventry, Edinburgh,
London, Merseyside, Newcastle, Oxford and South Yorkshire.
We are also determined campaigners, working to prevent people from becoming homeless
and to change the way society and government thinks and acts towards homeless people.
For further information call 020 7426 3880 or email media@crisis.org.uk. For out of hours
media enquiries please call: 07973 372587
2
Well done Connie!!!
A
former
homeless woman
has turned her life
around after
beating a drug
and alcohol
addiction and
going on to
become a selfe m p l o y e d
labourer.
Just one year
ago, 26-year-old
Connie Palmer
was struggling with
an alcohol and drug addiction and found
herself on the streets after being kicked
out of her home.
In Christmas 2014 things came to a head
and Connie began to get her life back on
track with the help of Shekinah, a charity
supporting homeless people and those
with alcohol, drug, offending and mental
health issues.
"I was drinking and doing drugs and was
homeless; my life was a mess," said
Connie, who lives in Lipson.
"Shekinah took me in and helped me to
get clean, stop binge drinking and find a
path into an amazing new career."
She spent three months at a rehabilitation
centre and completed a four-week work
experience placement with APEC, a
subcontractor of construction firm Mispace.
After impressing the company during her
work experience, Connie was offered the
chance to stay on after her placement.
She said: "My first week of work
experience was a bit nerve-wracking but I
fitted in well.
"Everyone was so supportive and it really
boosted my confidence.
"Before I took on the work experience, I
had major anxiety issues and wasn't very
sociable at all.
"Because of everything that had
happened to me I had retreated into my
shell but thanks to this opportunity I am a
completely different person."
Connie now works as a self-employed
labourer helping to refit kitchens and
bathrooms at affordable housing sites
across Plymouth.
She is now living in shared
accommodation and was praised as one
of Plymouth's top learners at a special
awards ceremony with On Course South
West recently.
"I can't believe how much my life has
changed in one year," said Connie.
"Thanks to Shekinah, Mi-space and APEC I
have been able to make plans for the
future, gain new qualifications and learn a
trade.
"I love where my life is now but you never
know, maybe at some point I could go it
alone with my own business."
Soo Brizell-Hogg, head of employability at
Shekinah, said: "Connie is absolutely
amazing.
"Here we have a woman who went on a
traditionally male-dominated construction
skills course and showed such promise
that she was taken on by Mi-space.
"She has taken every opportunity and run
with it and it is fantastic to see how well
she is doing."
Shane Jones, Mi-space senior project
manager, said: "During her work
experience placement, Connie showed a
willingness to learn, initiative and a
fantastic level of commitment, even when
her personal circumstances were difficult.
"She really proved herself during the
placement."
3
Employability
The employability team is nearing the end of a
very busy, successful year, an exceptional 75%
clients have gone into employment through
Shekinah’s employability programmes.
Additionally, Re:work has supported its 100th
candidate into employment in Torbay. The
candidate had previously experienced rough
sleeping and long term unemployment and
found sustainable employment through our
partnership with Torbay NHS.
What have we achieved in the last 6 months?
•
We have welcomed 6 organisations from across the UK to share best practice and helping the
most vulnerable members of our community move towards sustainable lifestyles.
•
Consistently delivered a quality employability service to people who have experienced
homelessness
•
Delivered a successful Responsible Business event in Plymouth
•
Used Shekinah’s Painting & Decorating Enterprise to engage with 20 clients to help develop
practical maintenance skills as well as team building and personal development skills
•
Engaged with 8 new business supporters
•
Launched a partnership with Crisis, national homeless charity.
Following 8 years of delivering work placement and employment opportunities, Shekinah is
proud to announce an important new partnership: ‘Shekinah and Crisis join forces to
enhance local employment services for homeless people’.
The new Shekinah and Crisis partnership will support a Work & Learning Coach to support
the employability team across the Plymouth and Torbay area helping homeless people
gain the skills and confidence they need to secure employment.
I first became aware of Shekinah when as a university
Careers Advisor I volunteered to take part in mock
interviews at 24 Stonehouse Street. The experience was not
only eye-opening (pretty much all my preconceptions
about homelessness were shattered), but also very
rewarding. I’m in my third week at Shekinah and the
experience has been thrilling, sometimes nerve wracking,
ever changing and wonderful (often all at once!). I’m
delighted to be a part of such a fantastic and supportive
team and really hope to be able to contribute to the
wonderful work of Shekinah. (Louise Sharland, Work &
Learning Coach)
4
Places of Change
It has been an exciting time over the last few months
in Plymouth, with changes within the staff team as
well as changes within the services we provide.
Shekinah has always prided itself in offering an
amazing innovative service to those who are most
vulnerable in society but it is always good to take a
step back and revaluate where we are and where
we need to be.
Over the last few years, in order to offer the best
wraparound support to our clients, we have
increasingly worked in partnership with other local
agencies.
The Drop-in Centre has developed its
alliances with Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH)
who are experts in supporting people into
accommodation, as well as medical services via a
GP and nurse and Harbour Drug & Alcohol services.
Enhancing this offer Shekinah now work more closely
with The Eddystone Trust who run drop-ins for sex
workers and they have arranged a monthly GUM
clinic.
Plymouth Age Concern who have also offered a
member of staff on a weekly basis who will work
alongside those who are over 50. In order for the
staff team to work most effectively, the Drop-in is now
open from 7.15am for those who are homeless and
rough sleeping or in desperate need. Lunch now runs
from midday until 2pm and is now a simpler meal and
the longer times encourage an atmosphere of ‘food
and fellowship’.
Woman’s
Space
Please contact Teresa at Shekinah,
Bath Street 01752 203480 for more
information.
Laura Fraser-Crewes
Head of Operations and
Client Support Services
Most afternoons are taken up with a variety of
activities including craft sessions, cooking, women’s
and men’s activities as well as fitness classes, and an
opportunity for staff to offer individual therapeutic
support to those who require it.
Shekinah’s 4 counsellors are now offering support
across both the training site at 24 Stonehouse Street
and the Drop-in Centre in Bath Street. We have also
recruited some fabulous new volunteers who are
offering their skills to support our clients in a variety of
ways.
The training still continues at Stonehouse Street with a
few changes to the tutor team. The Re:construct
programme has been enhanced by the introduction
of the CSCS Health & Safety module which improves
the learners’ employment outcomes. The New Year
will see additional activities including a weekly
Mindfulness group.
This Christmas the Drop-in are running 12 days of
festive activities to ensure that everyone is supported
and cared for during what can be a difficult time for
many.
The restructure is a fluid process and the changes will
continue over the next few months with many more
exciting opportunities offered to support people into
moving positively forward in their lives.
Staff from Shekinah, The Eddystone Trust and Trevi House
identified that, due to funding cuts within the City, there is a
deficit of services specifically for women in Plymouth. So with this
in mind the 3 organisations have come together to form
Women’s Space; Re:covery and Beyond which is a safe womenonly space open every Tuesday from 2.30pm at Shekinah, Bath
Street, Plymouth. There is something lovely about hanging out
with women, particularly when everyone is engaged in a
creative activity. The idea is that all women, whether they are
service users, workers or business leaders can come together
and support each other wherever they are in life; ‘Big Sister; Little
Sister’ concept. The long-term plan is to move towards opening
a Women’s Centre in Plymouth with co-located services as well
as childcare, and hopefully from small acorns great oak trees will
grow!
Although Women’s Space is held at Shekinah, this is not a
Shekinah-specific initiative; the plan is that other agencies come
along to offer support and progression for anyone who wants it.
The important thing is that women feel safe, supported and are
given opportunities to move forward in whatever way is right for
them.
All women are welcome; also, anyone who has a
talent, skill or service that they would like to share with
the group are very welcome – music, crafts,
pampering, DIY skills.. please let us know. Equally if
anyone has any craft items they would like to donate,
please give us a call.
5
An
update
from
Torbay
Sarah Pengelly - Torbay Service Manager
Leonard Stocks Centre
- We
have been very busy recently. We have a
new
Manager called Danny who has previously
worked for Shekinah and has
since run support services in two hostels so is
very well prepared and qualified for our
service.
The hostel staff are now preparing for our
Severe Weather Emergency Provision
(SWEP) which will see up to 10 additional
rough sleepers staying at the hostel when
the weather is really bad. We are working
closely with the Local Authority to ensure
that as many rough sleepers as possible
have a roof over their heads at this time of
the year.
We are also gearing up for Christmas which
can often be a difficult time
Endeavour House
- We are going
from strength to strength and have recently
secured Big Lottery funding which has
allowed us to employ a Coach/Trainer role
who will run personal development sessions
much like we run in Plymouth and also
support customers accessing other services
already running in the building. We also
have an Administrator starting
soon who will be responsible for keeping
data on our services and helping to coordinate our service in Torbay.
Some of the activities at Endeavour House
now are; Jatis who run a substance misuse
community rehabilitation programme,
Unleashed Theatre Company who are
currently putting together a play about
for many of our residents but we always
have a brilliant Christmas day
and get the residents involved with the
preparing and cooking of the Christmas
dinner - We have already received a kind
donation of Beef and have been
approached by a chef who has
volunteered to help cook on the day which
is amazing!
The residents have been busy with lots of
activities recently and are all loving
the new craze....Adult Colouring....
homelessness which will be at The Princess
Theatre in Torquay in February, Jamtastic
which is a musicians jam session, SMART
Recovery which are a peer support group
for people in recovery of substance misuse
and Probation who run a Hub twice a
week.
Again, we are preparing for Christmas also Torre which is the area we are in Torquay
had its Christmas Light Switch on recently
and it was a brilliant community event and
we were very proud to have been a part of
it. There was some great entertainment for
the local families and plenty of food
prepared by local residents and businesses
- We look forward to being part of a bigger
and better event next year!
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year from all of us in Torbay.
Thank you for all of your support over the past year - We really couldn't do what we do
without the support and donations from our supporters so Thank you
6
‘From Homelessness to
the House of Commons’
Interview with Tony Hanning – Pathways Project
(A Devon & Cornwall Probation Trust and Shekinah Partnership)
From an early age, all Tony wanted to do
when he grew up was follow in his parents’
footsteps and join the Army. As a young
Cadet, his future was assured as far as he
was concerned and at the age of 15 years
and 9 months, he completed the application
procedure and signed up.
“Back then, it was 52 weeks basic training
and I couldn’t wait to get started,” Tony
reminisced . “Everything was going well,
when after a few months I began to feel
pretty ill. I saw the army doctor 9 times over a
period of weeks but they couldn’t find
anything wrong with me and thought I just
wanted to get out of training. Then they sent
me on a 9 mile cross country run and I
honestly thought I was going to die. I
returned to barracks and was unable to take
my kit off or do anything. I knew something
was very wrong and it seemed by this point,
they did too, as my Sergeant and another
lad literally carried me to hospital where I
was diagnosed with a serious case of
pneumonia.”
Having been undetected for so long, the
illness had led to other health issues which
rendered it impossible for Tony to continue
with his dream of an Army career. Still only 16
years old, he was discharged on the grounds
of ill-health. Tony had no ‘plan B’, the Army
being all he had dreamed about, he felt his
life had fallen apart.
“From that point I went on a self-destruct,
honestly not caring about my life anymore or
the consequences of anything I did. I hung
around with the wrong people, got into all
kinds of trouble and was still dealing with the
after-effects of my illness, which by that time
had affected my thyroid. My behaviour was
all over the place caused by my illness; my
mum thought I was on drugs which I wasn’t
but I was out of
control and
heading for rock
bottom.
My mum had
raised me and my
brother on her
own since I was 5
years old and I put
her through a lot
of stuff during the
following 6 years
after leaving the Army. Eventually, she could
take no more and asked me to leave. It
sounds harsh and I was really angry with her
at the time, blaming her for everything
wrong in my life. But honestly, it was a case
of ‘tough love’ and I needed it. It was
something of a wake-up call for me to
suddenly find myself homeless. Today I enjoy
a great relationship with my mum, things are
better than ever between us.
I sofa-surfed for quite a while and then got a
place at Plymouth House where my
keyworker there practically dragged me to
Shekinah to sign up for a bricklaying course.
That was in January 2007. I went along on my
first day ready to give it a go and was told,
“No bricklaying . . . plastering today mate!” I
was pretty fed up and was tempted to tell
them where to shove it, but instead went
back the next day.
The Re:construct building programme was
running from the other side of Stonehouse
Street then, number ‘25’ and for the first time
since the Army I didn’t mind the guys there
telling me what to do. I had an awful
temper, a lousy attitude and was often
frustrated but Ray Collom, Paul and Mike
challenged me virtually every day and I
began to change.
7
I achieved an Awards Certificate & Diploma
in Bricklaying & Plastering and had the
opportunity to work outside of Shekinah
under Ray’s supervision on some projects in
the City, including our old Hostel at The
Gates.
I learnt a great deal during this time and felt
part of a team and very soon began
supporting the tutors as a Volunteer Trainee
Trainer. All this happened within a year and
then a job became available as a Trainer
with Shekinah which I applied for and got. I
was at last able to afford my own place
which John Hamblin helped me to get and
suddenly I realised my life had turned
around.
It’s a hard thing maybe for people to
understand but I found all this good fortune
and change of events hard to accept. I’d
been on self-destruct for so long that I kept
asking myself, ‘Why me? Why do I get a
second chance?’ Why do I deserve this
opportunity? Maybe I thought all this good
stuff couldn’t last. All I know is that I was
strongly tempted to hit the self-destruct
button again.
Fortunately, I was being mentored by
Phillippa at British Telecom and at least had
the good sense to go and talk to her before
walking away. She was brilliant. It would have
ended there if not for her and I dread to think
where I might have ended up. Being outside
of Shekinah and the rest of what was going
on in my life, she was able to give me a
different perspective. She was professional,
balanced and helped me believe that I
could do this.
In March of 2008, I was invited to The House
of Commons having been nominated for the
Young Builder of the Year Award. I reached
the final 3 with a ‘Highly Commended’. I
found myself sitting, having posh little fish and
chips served in cones with other little dainties,
surrounded by politicians and wondering
how on earth I’d landed up there. It was a
very proud day.
I worked as a Trainer for 5 years obtaining my
PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Life-Long
Sector) and worked both here in Plymouth
and did a stint at Shekinah’s Torbay
Construction. An Intervention Mentor’s
position then came up within the Pathways
Project, a Devon & Cornwall Probation Trust
and Shekinah Partnership, and much to my
surprise, many of my colleagues thought I
should apply. I was both delighted and
bewildered to be appointed in 2012 and
have worked directly with ex-offenders
reporting to Probation for the last three years.
This has been a fantastic time of my life,
maximising my skills and enabling me to work
on a one-to-one basis with hundreds of
individuals, helping them whenever possible
to break cycles of re-offending. At its peak,
we have had 150 people reporting to the
centre, all of which I have worked with and I
can tell many stories of those who I’ve seen
turn their lives around. I’m thinking at the
moment of a 50 year old man with a long
history of offending who had never in his life
worked. I bumped into him in town the other
day and he is still working, is now married and
enjoying life. That’s a priceless feeling to be a
part of.
The Pathways Project has won national
awards receiving a ‘Highly Commended’
winning the Community Partnership of the
Year with the National Probation Service and
becoming a finalist at the Redemption &
Justice Awards. All this is a long way from the
homeless man I once was – angry,
destructive and without hope.
At the end of this week I shall be leaving
Shekinah and moving on to new challenges.
The fact that I can move on without Shekinah
is a testimony to all that I’ve received here.
Shekinah has challenged me, supported and
trained me and given me the confidence
and self-belief to reach my potential. Now it’s
time for me to look outside of Shekinah and
spread my wings but I’ve grown up here,
learnt how to be professional and deal with
issues in a positive way and I hope now to
grow some more, face new challenges and
continue to help other guys in the same
position as I once was, to move on.”
As told to Helen Pearce
8
The Plymouth Clarion Male Voice Choir
Andy Lang - Drop-in Centre
and Rev David Young giving the
benediction. The evening was rounded off
with refreshments served by volunteers.
The Plymouth Clarion Choir was formed in
1915 based in H.M. Dockyard.
They
borrowed the name from a north country
news paper. They have performed in many
places throughout England and Wales and
their activities include some 50 broadcasts
for the BBC. Members of the Choir have
voiced an interest in performing in support
of Shekinah Drop-in Centre and if this gains
the acceptance of everyone, we should be
delighted.
Friday 18th March @
7:30pm
Congress Hall, Salvation Army
Armada Way, Plymouth, Devon PL1 1LD
Tickets available from Shekinah,
Bath Street, Plymouth, Tel: Pat
Andrews on 01752-203480, or
Stonehouse Music School, Brunel
House, 16-18 Stonehouse Street,
Plymouth, PL1 3PE
Tel: Sian Jamison on 01752- 262663
Plymouth Area Police Choir with
the Stonehouse Music School
Concessions £5
As this is the Centenary Year for the
Plymouth Clarion Choir, we congratulate
them on this amazing achievement and
pray God will continue to bless them and
consequently those who hear them over the
next 100 years.
Tickets £6
It was with great pleasure that we hosted
The Plymouth Clarion Male Voice Choir at
the Drop-in Centre on the evening of
Thursday 26th March.
What a wonderful
evening we all had, with renditions of ‘How
Can I Keep from Singing’, ‘You Raise Me Up’
and ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’. We were
then treated to an inspiring testimony from
Rev David Young, a retired Minister,
illuminating an impressive and busy life with
humour and great interest.
Despite
retirement, it doesn’t sound as though life is
any less busy.
After David concluded, Mark Roberts
stepped up to support the evening with
three well chosen songs which we all joined
in with in real worship and fellowship. The
evening continued with the Choir
performing another three songs, ‘Eternal
God’, ‘The Heavenly Aeroplane’ (this was a
song which most of those present didn’t
know but thought was brilliant)! The last
song was ‘A Gaelic Blessing’ which was
followed with closing prayers by Andy Lang
Shekinah Charity Shop - Mutley Plain
Wendy Smith - Manager
The Mutley Plain shop in Hyde Park House has
continued to grow stronger thanks to the loyalty
of the volunteers and the continued donations
from the community. Our donated stock level
is at the highest it has ever been and I really
hope this is how it will always be. The occasion
wear 50/50 system has grown with regular sales
on a weekly basis so new stock is always
required.
We have had
some donation
highlights over
the past few
months including
an 1850’s French
brass casket that
was sent to
Bonham’s in
Edinburgh for
auction, the
hammer went
down at a
fantastic £300.
After attempting
to collect one
piano from a first
floor flat (it was as though the flat had been
built up around the piano and it simply would
not make it’s way out in one piece), we were
offered a second piano which now sits proudly
waiting for a pianist in the shop, to then be
offered a third piano! We now have a piano
buyers waiting list for any future donations. We
have some early 1900’s sheet music books that
lend the imagination to wonder at the type of
venues they have been played in. There is so
much history and sentiment attached to some
items we receive, if only they could talk.
Shekinah and the shop have gone International
thanks to Mariana and her Ocean Corner
project; she continues to network our re-use recycle ethos alongside her art to help raise
awareness of Shekinah. She has used the shop
location as a venue for Spanish TV and local
media. The shop is a great platform to
introduce Shekinah’s work to customers, many
of whom have misconceptions about what we
do. It is always a delight when a customer
leaves with a fire in their belly about helping us,
it isn’t usually long before they come back with
boxes of donations to help us fundraise. I have
certainly noticed a positive difference in
people’s attitude toward our clients and at this
time of the year, many people are thinking of
those less fortunate. As many charities struggle
to gain support, our strength is that we are local
and people can see where their money goes.
On a daily basis we
are fortunate
enough to hear
positive feedback
about the stock, the
prices,
the
atmosphere and
the staff. We are
only as good as the
donations we
receive, so I would
like to say thank you
and please carry
on.
Merry Christmas from all of us in the shops.
Wendy and her team
Shekinah Charity Shop - Union Street
Linda Williams - Manager
Things are going from strength to strength in
the Union Street store with some talented
new volunteers as you will see from our
wonderful Christmas window display –
special thanks to Suzanne and Calvin.
The shop is bursting with bargains to suit
every pocket and we now stock both
summer and winter wear all year round.
Keep a look out in the spring for our garden,
currently under construction, which will be a
gem when completed and where we will
hold events in the summer.
10
Plymouth University/Peninsula
School of Medicine & Dentistry
For some years now, Shekinah has been a sought after
placement centre for students studying Medicine,
Psychiatry, Health & Social Care, Criminology, Nursing
and Police in training. Frequently, students report that
time spent at Shekinah has been the most rewarding of
their placements and has significantly changed their view
and attitudes towards the marginalised sector. Many
have returned after their placement as volunteers and
have gone on to arrange fundraising and promotional
events to support the work. Here is a selection of their
comments:
“Shekinah are doing
brilliantly well at getting
people back into work.”
“I found it very interesting
talking with people who
Shekinah help and hearing
their stories. The time I’ve
spent here will help me a
lot in the future when I am
a doctor.”
“It really surprised me how Shekinah
started off with only a £50 donation
over 20yrs ago, and since has been
able to help countless people get
back on their feet. I think it’s a brilliant
idea for medical students to interact
and visit places like Shekinah because
in the future, as a doctor, I will be able
to empathise a lot more with patients
who suffer with homelessness and the
underlying issues.”
“I think Shekinah is an absolutely great and vital facility in this
community. It definitely deserves a lot more support and the
staff here have been absolutely brilliant. I hope Shekinah
continues to grow. Thank you so much for the experience.”
“I really enjoyed interacting
with the service users and
serving the food at lunch time.
I felt like we were doing ‘real
work’ for ‘real people’ in
difficult situations.”
“Wow! How involved you are
with housing, education,
training and health. I thought
you were just a soup kitchen!
I now have far more
understanding of how people
become homeless – I thought
it was only ever through drink
and drugs – I now know
better.”
“I didn’t realise
Shekinah did so much!
There’s such a broad
cover of help available
– housing, training,
employment etc. Such
a lovely bunch of
people!”
“I had no idea that Shekinah had
services like the doctor, chiropodist
and so many other services. Even
more, I really want to get to know
people and how best to help them.”
“Really lovely placement – great to
get stuck in and feel we’re helping.
Very friendly and welcoming place
– would love to come back.”
“I am now fully aware of the homeless and
their needs have to be met just as much
as anyone else. I was thrilled to be able to
help today and loved getting involved.”
“I was surprised at the level of support provided at
Shekinah. I feel I have a far better insight into the
work the Mission does and how they help
people.”
“I didn’t realise how much Shekinah did and
how much they help out in the community.”
“I was surprised by how much personal care you give to each person at
Shekinah. I have never experienced such a great relationship between
workers and their clients. Coming here has given me insight into how to
develop relationships to help people in difficult situations. Every time I
come, I have more sympathy for the clients. It’s been great to talk with
them, get their views on the things we are taught as medical students. This
teaches us how to treat people and I would want to encourage this as
much as possible. Thanks.”
“Very interesting placement. Nice to see this particular population from a different perspective
than GP/Hospital. Dedicated and enthusiastic staff doing a good job.”
11
Gifting
to
a
Charity
Wolferstans
Many people throughout their lifetime benefit from
the very valuable work carried out by Charities or,
at the very least, knows someone who has
benefited in such a way.
Very often people wish to benefit those Charities
when they die, by leaving them a legacy or similar
but, with demand on everyone’s time becoming
more and more on a daily basis, making a Will is
always the item that remains at the bottom of the
“to do” list.
Charities cannot benefit in any way if you die
without leaving a Will. The intestacy rules that
govern such situations are archaic. They provide
for a very strict order of people who have to
benefit under the estate, and in many cases this
can mean that very remote family members inherit
from you, even if you have not seen them for some
time or have no relationship with them. In extreme
cases, even the Crown can inherit !
Many people would not want that to occur and
instead would want friends or, indeed, Charities to
benefit, so making a Will is a valuable, simple, and
cost effective way of ensuring that those wishes
are carried out.
during your lifetime are also tax free, so it can be a
useful Inheritance Tax tool to make a gift to
Charity. Recent changes in tax legislation also
meant that in certain cases that attract
Inheritance Tax, it can be beneficial for 10% or
more of the estate to be paid to a registered
Charity, as it means that a lower rate of tax is then
paid by the remaining beneficiaries of the estate.
This can be done not only in a Will, but also if the
person has already died, by way of Deed of
Variation within two years of the person’s death, to
maximise such tax advantages.
This can mean that both the beneficiaries and a
Charity benefit from such a change.
Samantha Buckthought, Head of the Wills and Trust
Department at Wolferstans, Solicitors, Plymouth,
states “There really is no substitute for making a Will
and ensuring that your Will is valid and up-to-date.
Many people do not realise the valuable tax
savings and other protection that having a Will can
bring”.
Wolferstans have prepared a Gifting to Charity free
guide that is available from themselves and from
Shekinah.
Gifts to Charities are extremely important for the
ongoing work that they do. Gifts within a Will and
Richard Morgan
Chairman
All of us at Shekinah want to offer our thanks for the many, many people who support us and help care
for the disadvantaged – particularly now at Christmas. This wonderful time of year is a time of great joy
for many, but it can so easily become exactly the opposite. There can be few of us who do not cringe at
some of the more grotesque commercial excesses, seeming to miss the whole point of Christmas.
Similarly this time of year which can be unsurpassed for goodwill, family closeness and generous giving
can also become a time of maximum depression for the vulnerable.
The Christmas story has a very clear focus on simplicity with not a hint of luxury or Christmas excesses.
In the gift of the long-awaited Messiah, God chose the extraordinary revelation of a helpless infant – his
own Son Jesus. During his life he knew all about homelessness and was often rejected by the society of
his day, who eventually arranged to kill him. Yet here we are 2000 years on with a huge proportion of the
world’s population still celebrating his birth with unashamed thanksgiving.
Jesus clearly had a special affection for the poor, the disadvantaged and the homeless, and it is in that
same spirit that Shekinah carries on today. It’s just great if someone comes through our door with some
needs that we may be able to help with. What better time than at Christmas to be doing just that and so
our thanks to everyone involved in Shekinah, helping with this fantastic work.
With best wishes for a joyful and peaceful Christmas.
12
Another Successful Helping Hands Day
Dorothy Martin - Assistant Director of Public Affairs
On Saturday 20th June, members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints arrived at Grow For
Life – Shekinah in Paignton to help with two projects
as part of their Helping Hands day.
Although The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints raised over £800 for Shekinah this year we were
unaware that help was needed on the Grow for Life
project.
We always contact Teignbridge CVS
Volunteer Centre, Newton Abbot who put us in touch
with people to enable us to do our Helping Hands
projects, so it was quite amazing when we were told
by the Volunteering Services that Shekinah Paignton
was in need of help. We would like to take this
opportunity to thank Anja Kroening-Maynard and her
team for always helping us with our Helping Hands
projects.
Terry Ingham, the assistant manager of Shekinah met
us and gave us a tour of this wonderful project and
instructed us on the work at hand, which consisted of
two different pieces of work, one doing some timber
work and the other weeding a large area in order for
crop growing.
Grow for Life – Shekinah helps people who are
homeless or have become unemployed, people with
drug, alcohol or mental health difficulties. Through
the Grow for Life project volunteers are taught skills
and gain confidence in themselves and without
pressure they are then enabled to embrace future
employment.
The Church of Latter-Day Saints
(01626) 774572 or e-mail
martin_dorothy@hotmail.co.uk
‘The Big Swim’
New Yea r’s Day 2016
2pm at Wembu ry Beach
Have fun and support the work
of Shekinah.
Sponsorship forms available –
01752-203480
13
This year, Christmas at Shekinah begins on
Monday 21st December 2015 until
Saturday 2nd January 2016
Twelve Days of Christmas
Schedule:
(For our clients)
Mon 21st
Tues 22nd
Wed 23rd
Thurs 24th
Fri 25th
Sat 26th
Mon 28th
Tues 29th
Wed 30th
Thurs 31st
Fri 1st Jan
Sat 2nd
Cake & Crafts
Festive Lunch
(sponsored by business partners)
Seniors Sing-a-Long Party
Carol Service
CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH
BOXING DAY BRUNCH
Gift Swap & Open Day
Volunteer Christmas Lunch
(prepared and served by clients)
Treasure Hunt
New Year’s Eve Hootenanny
(Music Afternoon)
‘The Big Swim’, Wembury Beach
or Brunch at Shekinah
Brunch with Bingo & Quiz
Sponsor an event or volunteer to help.
For more information please ring 01752- 203480
or donate on the website at
www.shekinahmission.co.uk
A person’s past, need not dictate their future . . . please,
help us to make a difference and bring about lasting
change.
14
SHEKINAH
Charity Number 1097409
Company Registered in England: 4687832
Contacts
Drop-in Centre
Bath Street
Plymouth
PL1 3LT
01752 203480
Fundraising &
Volunteering
Helen Pearce
Bath Street
PL1 3LT
01752 203 480
Growing for Life
Preston Down Road
Paignton
TQ3 1RN
07833 051819
07702 388915
Leonard Stocks Centre
Factory Row Torquay
TQ2 5QQ
01803 217890
Employability Team
Re-Store Charity Shop
142 Union Street
Plymouth
PL1 3HL
01752 203486
Re-Store Charity Shop
Hyde Park House
Mutley Plain
Plymouth
PL4 6LF
(Torbay & Plymouth)
24 Stonehouse Street
Plymouth
PL1 3PE
01752 223185
Re-solve Training
(Torbay & Plymouth)
24 Stonehouse Street
Plymouth
PL1 3PE
01752 220330
Endeavour House
2-8 Union Street
Torquay
TQ2 5QS
01803 203895
Would you like a guest speaker?
We are very keen to promote the work of Shekinah and
inform our many supporters of the on-going development
of our projects. Whether it is the Drop-in Centre, the
Training and Employability Academy, Shekinah Pathways
- (Probation/Shekinah Teams),Growing for Life Horticulture
Project, Social Enterprise Scheme, Charity Shops, or any
other aspect of our work – find out more! Ring: Helen
Pearce on 01752-223185 and book a speaker now!