Helping our Homeless

Nicky Pugh, Ashley Morris and Sarah Mason

I recently came across this relatively new group in Llandrindod Wells on Facebook. Prior to that I had not realised that there was support for homeless people in Powys, and realised I knew very little about the subject. Homelessness is suddenly very much in the news – particularly in Windsor because of an imminent Royal wedding – but what of the situation in Powys?

Reading on further on the group’s Facebook page I discovered that much fundraising work had taken place locally in the lead up to Christmas 2017. As a result Helping our Homeless had “supported homeless in Swansea, Cardiff and in our local vicinity, most recently supporting local homeless with clothing, essential items of food and toiletries and footwear.”

Keen to find out more, I messaged the group on Facebook, and one of the group’s founders, Sarah Mason, quickly got in touch. She told me how she, Ashley and Kayleigh Morris, Lee Jarvis and Nicky Pugh came together to take action to help homeless people.

Tell us how the group Helping our Homeless came about and why?

Last year I saw a post on Facebook from Ashley, who was going to do a calendar where every day he placed an item in a box to give to the homeless at the end of the time. I messaged Ashley and his wife to offer some donations as she had been collecting items over the past couple of years and donated these. Ashley and Kayleigh accepted my donation, and this led to us talking about possibly going bigger.

During the year I met Lee Jarvis in a local supermarket and we spoke about homelessness and raising money. Lee agreed this was a good way forward and came on board. Another friend, Nicky, joined us soon later.

After September, I contacted all the interested parties and we met in a local pub where we put together a plan of what we would like to achieve. To be honest we have never looked back.

What is the main purpose of the group?

We want to provide practical and emotional support to homeless people and their animal companions. At the same time we hope to raise awareness of homelessness with the general population.

Who is eligible for support from Helping our Homeless?

Anyone who is street homeless in Wales (but not exclusively), and their animal companions.

We also work with agencies and individuals to reduce poverty and prevent homelessness. In particular we are keen to support Shelters across Wales and in surrounding areas.

How many homeless people are there in Powys roughly and how are where are they living?

A lot of homeless people in Powys are not accounted for on the rough sleeping count as unlike the street homeless in the cities, we don’t always see them here. In a large rural county people could be sleeping rough in barns or farm outbuildings, or in woodland, and remain hidden much of the time.

(The National Rough Sleeping Count, produced by the Welsh Government, is “an annual report which includes information on the estimated number of persons sleeping rough over a two week period and the number of persons observed sleeping rough.”)

Why are people homeless in Powys or elsewhere?

There is no one reason why people become homeless. All kinds of factors can lead to homelessness, including health issues, unemployment, and family breakdown. Many homeless people have previously been employed and in a position to pay for their housing, but something suddenly changes and their lives are turned upside down.

Some of the key factors leading to homelessness include: benefit changes, a rise in the cost of living, the loss of employment and a lack of new job opportunities. Also a person’s mental health may deteriorate, they may have drug and alcohol or other addictions, or a completely unexpected change in their circumstances could lead to homelessness.

It is said that most people are just two pay cheques away from poverty and three from homelessness.

What support does Helping our Homeless provide to people?

We provide essentials, care, and face-to-face interaction, whether in Powys or further afield.

On the practical side, we find that the essential items homeless people really do need are food, care packs, toiletries, clothing and some form of shelter for their time on the streets. Tents and sleeping bags are very popular! We will also provide first aid provisions.

We talk to people. We empathise. We guide people to other agencies that can offer support. We spend time engaging and trying to make day-to-day life easier for those on the streets.

Most importantly, we offer face-to-face confidential support without judgment. We are a face that cares.

In other parts of the UK we will work directly with local shelters and help promote the invaluable work they do.

As a group we provide online support to each other.

How does being homeless impact on a person’s mental health?

Hugely. Many homeless people are struggling with low self-esteem. Their confidence and morale have completely dipped. Some people have such low self-worth, and are so lonely, that they resort to self harming, including substance misuse. In worse case scenarios, some people have suicidal thoughts.

Physical health can also deteriorate rapidly when people are sleeping rough. If they are not eating regularly they can experience malnutrition, and, inevitably, they tolerate a deterioration in their personal hygiene.

If people don’t receive the support they need, what can happen to them?

Health can deteriorate rapidly, with the result that homeless people have a lower life expectancy.

They are also far more likely to commit crime. Due to their circumstances they may lack self control, and they may become addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Homeless people are still entitled to claim benefits using the Simple Payment card. However, in reality not everyone receives all the benefits that they are entitled to.

I know you want to grow your group – what are your main aims?

We would really like to register Helping our Homeless formally as a charity – we are working with PAVO development workers to progress this. The next step would be to expand the group, so we will raise awareness of our activities as much as we can with the aim of recruiting more volunteers. Bigger, more permanent premises, with sufficient storage space would be an added bonus!

If people are interested in volunteering for the group, what roles are available (alternatively, what skills do you need)?

Roles that we currently have available include:

• Collecting donations.
• Sorting the donations that come to us.
• Advertising.
• Distributing.
• Fundraising.
• Promoting the cause.

Do get in touch if you are interested! Contact details below.

Which other organisations do you work closely with, either locally in Powys, or in the rest of the UK, to provide support to people?

Quite a few, mainly in Wales. In Swansea these include Unity Group Wales, the Unum Project and Zac’s Place. In Llandrindod Wells – Mid Powys Mind, the local food bank, and the Herb Garden Community Café.

We also engage with lots of online shelters and organisations.

What are the main challenges of the role?

The big one - not being able to commit as much time as we would like. And feeling so far away as we are remotely based.

On a very practical level, we currently lack long-term storage, and vehicles – we would love a van.

We also have to deal with our own mental challenges as we carry out the work.

Tell us about some of the most rewarding work you have done at Helping our Homeless so far.

Our top 8 most rewarding aspects so far:

1. Provided shelter to many rough sleepers.
2. Food and drinks.
3. Medical aid.
4. Support and advice.
5. Support to other shelters.
6. Time with the street homeless.
7. Making our street homeless feel wanted.
8. Learning about the street homeless and building relationships.

When you are not volunteering how do you enjoy spending your time?

We all work full time, so we juggle working with volunteering. Some of our hobbies include bowls, football, pool, art and craft work. And we spend time with our families of course!

Many thanks to Sarah and the rest of the team at Helping our Homeless for telling us more about their work in Mid and South Wales in particular.

If you want to find out more or get involved you can contact Sarah by ringing 07775 851 718 or send a message on the Helping our Homeless Facebook page.

On the BBC website this week two articles feature Homelessness:

Rough sleeping 2018: Violence and loneliness

From a home and job to sleeping rough

Back to the Floor: Katie Blackburn, Powys Community Health Council at Newtown Community Mental Health Team

Katie Blackburn (top left) with Newtown Community Mental Health team

In August last year I observed Superintendent Jon Cummins go Back to the Floor at the mental health inpatient unit in Powys, Felindre Ward, and wrote about the idea behind the activity and Jon’s experience on this blog. Put simply the concept is that Chief Officers, Service Directors and other high-level staff have the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a member of staff at the operational end of a service. This gives them the opportunity to find out what is really happening on the ground, and what consequences strategic decision-making can have on people who are in receipt of a service.

In late 2017 I was pleased to observe Katie Blackburn, the Chief Officer of Powys Community Health Council, go Back to the Floor at Newtown’s Community Mental Health Team. The county CHC is the “Healthcare Watchdog for Powys - an independent statutory organisation that represents the interests of patients and the public in the National Health Service in Powys”. Katie has been in post since January 2017.

Lauraine Hamer, Senior Practitioner AMHP (Approved Mental Health Professional) at the CMHT, met us at the start of the morning with details of what she had planned for Katie’s visit. This included chance to find out more about her work and that of her colleagues, plus an opportunity to join a Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting and also to accompany a Community Psychiatric Nurse on a visit to a client. In the event we had to stay flexible as circumstances changed throughout the morning… but such is life at a busy mental health service.

Before the visit: Katie’s view

I had no idea about the work of this particular CMHT in Newtown before my visit. From my previous life, I have an understanding of the roles of CPNs and social workers. I was CEO of a drug and alcohol charity and mental health is an issue there. To a lesser extent with The Prince’s Trust, I was working with vulnerable young people in the care system.

I was very keen to shadow and meet the team and listen. I felt that perhaps I could ask questions that other people were perhaps uncomfortable asking.

The key barrier I am aware of – which I know of from my domestic abuse background – is that whilst aspiring to put individual people at the heart in reality individuals are often bounced from pillar to post. For example, they might have to continually provide their national insurance number, or relate details of stressful events to different people. The journey should be (and could be) much smoother and easier. Sometimes we need to make a decision there and then, which might not fit in with governance and procedure. For example, the question of who pays to get people from A to B often comes up. If there is an individual who needs to be transferred from Brecon to Nottingham……who pays? Agencies can become tied up in which budget is paying for this journey and can lose sight of the individual’s needs.

When it comes to strategic issues, I am not aware of any recent changes within the CMHT, but, I am aware of, and have been involved with the development of the Health & Care Strategy and the intention to align health and social care in Powys. It will be nice to see the operational impact of that.

I am conscious that services are very stretched because of pressures on staff and budgets, and that things can sometimes become more complex and complicated than they need to be.

I hope that Powys’ Health & Social Care Strategy will bring change – whilst recognising that not everyone likes change; there is a risk of unsettling an already stretched workforce.

There will undoubtedly be a growing use of digitisation going forward – however, it’s about putting the individual first. With regard to a future workforce we need to identify what skills Powys needs.

Lauraine Hamer and Katie Blackburn

Back to the Floor exercise

Lauraine is an extremely experienced and knowledgeable Senior Practitioner, and was able to give Katie a very thorough grounding in the work of the team at Newtown CMHT. At the MDT meeting we met CPNs, members of the North Powys Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team, Admin staff, a trainee AMHP, Social Workers, and a Support, Time and Recovery (STR) worker. Later we learnt more about the Accredited Accommodation Scheme* from the Co-ordinator Wendy Laws, and Katie spoke to Dr Fran Foster, a Consultant Psychiatrist.

Unfortunately, we were unable to shadow CPN Kelle Hall on a home visit to a client. This was due to a last minute change in the person’s circumstances.

After the visit: Katie’s view

When deciding whether my understanding of what the services does is correct, I think “no” is the simple answer. There were elements of it that I knew, however, other elements were new to me. Staff in the MDT meeting worked co-operatively very well together. Particularly when sharing information - the team focussed on the needs of the individual rather than their specific jobs.

The “seeing is believing” approach is very important. It would have been nice to sit in on a visit with an individual using services, but I understand the issues around confidentiality and the vulnerable lives people lead.

My main observation is that the people in this team are doing the best they can in the circumstances. There is clearly an issue around staff capacity. Other obvious issues include – cross-border, cross-boundary provision and the lack of in-county beds for people. In the MDT meeting, the real focus was on the discussion of high-end/vulnerable situations and not on the preventative side of the service. I wonder if there is an opportunity for reflection and discussion on what might have prevented a specific situation and what changes could be made in the future (if any)?

Staff are very much dealing in the here and now. They are not looking at people’s pasts or where they might be in five years’ time. I wonder - is there an opportunity to look at where resources should be channelled?

This experience will definitely mean I’m able to contribute more effectively at times when strategic decisions about services are made. I am a big believer in real-life examples. There are also pressures on recruitment for the CMHT. There appears to be an element of disjoint between strategic and operational. The staff clearly work well as a team, and there are a number of opportunities to build on (and share) existing good practise across Powys. In addition, their working environment is extremely poor, despite this, it strikes me that they are a dedicated, professional team doing their best in the circumstances.

Going forward, I am keen to do something in my role at the CHC around listening to vulnerable voices. There is definitely an opportunity to start with this service - certain groups do not access our service or receive support including young people and young carers. Listening to Vulnerable Voices will be a priority for Powys CHC in 2018-2019.

* Wendy Laws co-ordinates the Accredited Accommodation scheme in Powys, which is the only one of its kind in Wales. People supported by secondary mental health services are entitled to access day visits or overnight stays with registered accommodation providers who have their own lived experience of mental health distress. People accompany their hosts on shopping trips or days out to the seaside, for example, and enjoy a caring and nurturing environment. This service prevents hospital admission and people have described the incredible benefits of feeling part of an extended family.

Owen's 5 x 5 Ways of Wellbeing: Part 2

Owen & the team learning about Bilberry Bumblebee habitat with
(far right) Barbara Brown, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust

by Owen Griffkin

Mental Health Participation Support Worker

In Part 1 of my blog series I introduced readers to the Five Ways to Wellbeing and wrote in more detail about the first Way - Connect.

This time I am looking at the second Way - Keep Learning.  A great way to start the New Year!

I recently embarked on an Open University course and have found it really improved my self-confidence and wellbeing. Plus there is always the chance that what I learn might actually come in useful one day in my career, and take my life to unexpected places. (I already went to Wrexham for a one-off lecture, so I suppose you could say that was unexpected). Here’s 5 ways you can challenge yourself whilst adding to your knowledge.

1. The Open University

The Open University is known for providing degree level education which you can complete from the comfort of your own home. They now also provide FREE short courses. These short courses are modules from older courses which are no longer available and offer a great stepping stone into further study. The range of subjects on offer is mind-boggling. As I said above I’ve loved my study - jumping from Stalin to Madonna to Cezanne as subjects has really broadened my horizons.

Click here for a full catalogue of the free courses.

2. Learn a language

There are a host of tools, apps and games to help you learn another language. Experiment with them all and see which one suits your learning style. One I enjoyed playing with my 7 year old daughter was ‘Learn Japanese to Survive’ which taught us both how to write and recognise Hiragana characters. 

For a more serious and FREE language course try these links:

• Say Something in Welsh 
• Duolingo
• Busuu - This is a unique way to learn, as you connect with people around the world who want to learn your language, and you can learn their language. 

 3. Traditional ‘classroom’ courses

The internet is a great tool for those wanting to further their education, but sometimes a traditional bricks-and-mortar establishment might be more beneficial for learning. It can be easier to grasp a concept with a real live tutor helping you, plus the social and collaborative benefits of working with other people in a classroom can help with your wellbeing. When I did my Open University Course I went to a lecture in Wrexham, and I learnt more on that day then in my own online sessions, plus I met some very nice fellow students.

One of the options in Powys is NTPC Group of Colleges, who have colleges all over the county that are open to all.

There is also the U3A - University of the 3rd Age - If you are in your ‘3rd age’, eg: retirement or semi-retirement, than maybe the U3A will be suitable for you. It’s a social and fun way to learn and they have a surprising amount of groups in Powys, including Llandrindod, Welshpool, Newtown and Brecon.

4. Learn an instrument

Bob Duke, the director of the Centre For Music Learning in Texas, argues that learning an instrument is one of the best ways to give your brain a workout. He founded the centre to bring psychologists and neuroscientists together with expert musicians to break down the barriers between disciplines and really explore the physiological benefits of learning an instrument. If you want to read more check out this article - Music and the Brain.

I embarked on an online piano course recently called Skoove and it was great fun. Similar to the Japanese learning tool I mentioned, it presented itself like a game, with achievements and goals to reach, and it’s obvious that this sort of ‘challenge’ type learning suits me. Sit me in front of a piano with a book and I don’t want to know. However, call it Mario Piano and have a virtual Italian plumber teach you how to play, and I’m in.

Again there are many different ways to learn an instrument, including one-to-one tutoring, books, and now a wealth of online tools. Check the free Broad Sheep magazine online and distributed around Powys for some music tutor adverts.

Here are a few links to get you started with online training.

• Skoove
• Flowkey
• BBC resources

5.  Learn a craft

I’m going to say that this one is not for me. I can see the benefits of it. I can see how self-discipline and creativity and perseverance can combine to produce wonderful pieces of work. It must give you a wonderful sense of well-being and satisfaction to spend time crafting a raw material into something new - moulding a piece of lumpy clay into a beautiful ornament, weaving fabrics together to create a quilt, or a knitted item of clothing that you or a loved one can wear over winter.

Whenever I try to do anything crafty however, it ends up looking awful. Like something a five year old would be embarrassed by. I am quite creative generally, but arts and crafts were never my outlet.

People who do craft, however, do get a huge boost to their well-being from their work, and some crafts can be very easy to master, especially with a good teacher. Maybe this year I will set myself a challenge to learn a craft to a reasonable standard. If anyone has any ideas as to what this could be then reply to this post.

For those who are naturally better at arts and crafts than me there are lots of places you can learn crafts here in Powys, and many of these groups/courses are brilliant for socialising as well.

• Minerva Arts Centre
• Arts Alive Crickhowell
• Arts Connection 

I’ll be back with another set of ideas in my next blog post but if you have any ideas or activities of your own that I haven’t covered please reply to this post with some details.

Read Part 3 of Owen's blog series on the Five Ways to Wellbeing.