Threshold had an absolutely inspiring Give & Gain day. Three teams of volunteers from Irwin Mitchell solicitors, Lloyds TSB and Regenda joined with Theshold customers, staff and our colleagues from St Peter's Partnerships to transform the refuge.
Regenda decorated a balcony area to a create colourful children's reading and study area.
Lloyds TSB created a "Moroccan" ambience in one of the lounges. The Irwin Mitchell team installed planters and created sensory and herb garden areas. Thank you to all our partners for their hard work, their generous donations; but most of all their positive energy and genuine support for what we do. We've all made some great connections.
All went away with smiles on their faces and some small gifts made by childern at the refuge. A GREAT day.
Threshold has joined Tameside-based New Charter Housing Trust Group after signing a formal partnership agreement.
The New Charter Group owns and manages around 18,600 homes across in Tameside, Oldham and Nottingham.
The new working relationship will strengthen the housing related support network for vulnerable people across communities by allowing the Group to expand its services on a charitable basis.
Both companies are committed to supporting vulnerable groups, and the new arrangement means we will share services and resources to improve the way we do this.
Threshold will remain as a charity within the Group with our own board, branding and business plan, but will share services such as corporate support and purchasing to help drive improvements, create efficiencies and enable Threshold to be more competitive in its market.
Tony Powell, New Charter’s executive director for neighbourhoods said: "This new relationship is going to help provide better services to vulnerable people, and the coming together of the two organisations can only strengthen the support network in the area which is a great step forward.”
Threshold’s chief executive, Steve Goslyn added: "The partnership will build opportunities and increase choice for our customers while creating links for new business ventures.
"We’re very excited to be working with one of the country’s top not-for-profit companies and are looking forward to what the future holds for us and more importantly, for our customers.”
Pictured below are Chairs of both organisations.
On 22nd March staff and customers from Threshold, Depaul UK, Positive Steps, Oldham and Oldham Theatre Workshop, who work to prevent and relieve homelessness, will be sleeping rough outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Medtia Place, Union Street, Oldham from 7.00pm to 7.00am.
Additionally, four brave souls have taken the step to stay out for a full 24 hours in order to hopefully get a more realistic taste of the issues that homeless people have to face everyday.
Why are we doing this?
We are continuing to raise funds to purchase tenancy starter packs for those who have experienced homelessness and are taking up their first tenancy. Currently, the resources available to people before they are able to move into their own accommodation are quite limited, especially young people who may be living off state benefits whilst at college or have little or limited parental support. Inside Out provides a start up pack of items to help them with this transition including crockery, cutlery, mugs, pots/pans, cleaning materials, a kettle, light bulbs, bedding and towels.
The packs are delivered direct to customers when they move into their home. Customers will be able to pay back into the project for these items over a period of time and offer something back to the project thereby supporting others. This will ensure, following the initial start up cost, that there will be an element of self funding to make the initiative less reliant on donations or grants to survive. We have been receiving referrals since November 2011 and have successfully begun to get the packs to those who are most in need.
You will be able to follow us on Twitter for up to date snap shots of progress and we will also be posting videos on Youtube to help you get a taste of the experience first hand.
Any support that you are able to give will be gratefully received. To donate, please click on this link:
Threshold customer's fishing club, appropriately known as 'Gone Fishing' has this week been named as a runner up in the Acorn Awards, a national competition for projects that use nature to enhance and improve the lives of those people who may be vulnerable or socially excluded. The group which operates in Oldham has been running for 18 months and was established through the creativity, passion and energy of one of the housing support workers and two of Threshold's customers. They had the idea of using fishing as a model for self help which would also help to develop new skills and new relationships, create a sense of purpose and belonging and develop health and well-being.
Through this drive and commitment, Gone Fishing started in 2010 and the project was launched with the support of key partners, Oldham East District Partnership's Community Chest, Oldham Community Leisure and Alexandra Park. Since then, the group have met every month to fish and spend the day learning about their environment, building their confidence, learning new skills and meeting new people. The project has also now developed it's own steering committee and now has a number of volunteer marshalls who act as mentors for group members, many of whom have never fished before and they offer guidance on how to prepare equipment, give tips about how to fish safely and effectively and importantly to celebrate and respect the surroundings and environment.
One of the Fishing marshalls says "I love being outdoors and fishing is my hobby. What I now know is that others also share my passion. These sessions have been great and I've met some brilliant people. We often have difficult lives and it's great to meet others and share experiences. We learn all sorts of things and it helps to keep us all focussed. I am proud to be involved and I'm now running the sessions and it's great that I can share my hobby and my love of fish with other people. I've learned so much through Gone Fishing, not only about fish and fishing but most importantly about myself"
Earlier this year, the project was given further support through a Homeless Link sports bursary and they said of the project that they were "happy to support ‘Gone Fishing’ as it had a proven track record of engaging and inspiring people. It demonstrably allowed the project’s direction to be customer led through their Steering Committee and ensured participation impacted on additional outcomes relating to employability and engagement."
Steve Goslyn, Threshold's Chief Executive says on receiving news of the award
"Threshold is delighted that this project has received this deserved recognition. We are very proud of this project and those people involved. Threshold is keen to develop more imaginative ways of engaging with customers and in this case, fishing was the hook!! National evidence shows that angling is a fantastic way of engaging, relaxing and improving behaviour and the way this project has developed has exceeded our initial expectations."
Gone Fishing has plans to develop further in 2012 with more marshalls, links to other training and the expansion to other sites both in Oldham and in neighbouring areas.
Gone Fishing is always looking for support and if anyone would like to offer support or sponsorship, please contact neilthomas@thp.org.uk
Children in Need Interview November 2011
Residents in supported housing in Tameside have reaped the benefits of an innovative partnership between Threshold, an organisation which provides support and services to homeless and vulnerable people, and leading retailer Iceland.
Threshold facilitated a team-building day for Iceland’s area management team at Westbrook, which provides accommodation for young mothers and single young women in Stalybridge, Tameside.
Teams of managers from Iceland had to complete three tasks in an ‘Apprentice’ style challenge. They redecorated the communal lounge and revamped the garden to develop a sensory garden.
The teams worked to a brief developed by Westbrook residents, who also assessed the teams on their leadership, team work and practical skills. At the end of the day, the teams gave presentations to a panel of Threshold staff and customers on what they had learned and why they should win.
The teams were also supported by expert mentors from New Charter Housing Trust and St Peter's Partnerships with extensive professional decorating and gardening experience.
As well as their work on the day, Iceland staff and customers had raised funds in support of Westbrook through store collections and staff initiatives, which included one member of staff singing outside one of the stores one Saturday morning.
Graham Cooper from Iceland said "As a team we all had a fantastic day and everyone was so happy to see that work and effort put in was appreciated by the people who live and work at Westbrook. The team were delighted to be part of the community and give something back. We hope the work will go some way to helping everyone enjoy the space that we were able to help improve. It has been great to work with everyone at Threshold".
Steve Goslyn, Chief Executive of Threshold, said: "We’re delighted with the results of this project and very grateful to the Iceland staff. It is the first time we have taken part in a project like this and it has been a great success. Our staff have worked hard to carry on providing support to our customers in the face of challenging budget cuts across the board, and this is a creative response to bringing in extra resources to the organisation. We could not have made these improvements to Westbrook without the support of Iceland.”
One Westbrook resident said "I can't believe the difference this has made. It makes it much more welcoming for people living here and those who will move into the scheme in the future.”
For further information please contact Andrew Atherton on 0161 785 9426 or at AndrewAtherton@thp.org.uk.
New Charter Housing Trust has formed a partnership with Threshold which will help strengthen the housing support network available for vulnerable people. The Group, based in Greater Manchester, will now work with Threshold as part of a formal strategic alliance agreement.
Oldham-based Threshold provides housing support to those most in need and works with vulnerable people, including those who are homeless, to help them live independently.
Both companies are committed to helping these groups and the new arrangement means they will share services and resources to improve the way they do this.
Threshold will have access to New Charter’s corporate support and purchasing services which will improve services, create efficiencies and enable Threshold to be more competitive in its market.
Tony Powell, New Charter’s Executive Director for neighbourhoods said: "Threshold already does a lot of work with our tenants and we recognise that by having a formal partnership with them we can help each other to support more vulnerable people. We share the same values which are very important in a relationship like this and we hope that a joint approach will increase our presence in the market and secure a bright future for both organisations.”
Threshold Chief Executive Steve Goslyn said: "While we’ve been doing very well on our own, this partnership with New Charter has opened up many new and exciting opportunities for Threshold to grow and help more people. It’s a positive move for our charity which allows us to keep our own identity and independence, yet work towards the same goals.”
The possibility of Threshold joining the New Charter Group will be looked at in the future but, at this stage, neither organisation is bound to this commitment.
Pictured Tony and Steve signing the agreement
Customers and staff recently celebrated success in winning a tender for the Oldham Floating Support service. The new service will commence on 1st November, 2011.
The contact was won by Aksa Housing Association on behalf of a partnership of locally based agencies . Threshold will manage the service with Turning Point bringing expertise in substance misuse and mental health. A central point of referral to the service will be shared with First Choice Homes Oldham.
Steve Goslyn, Threshold's Chief Executive stated: "Customers were involved throughout in helping us prepare our bid. They helped shape a unique hub and self help approach to providing support to vulnerable people. We are now looking forward to bringing everyone's expertise together to make the new service a great success"
New era for housing related support in Oldham as Threshold and Oldham Family Crisis Group join Forces
Threshold welcomes Oldham Family Crisis Group into its organisation today (Friday 18th March). The merger will see them join forces to build a safe and secure future for their customers and staff.
All Oldham Family Crisis Group's and Threshold's women only services will be known as Threshold Women’s Services. They will have the 24-hour staff refuge in Oldham at their heart.
Threshold will continue its work with homeless and vulnerable people to support them to become more independent and make a positive contribution to their communities.
Steve Goslyn, Chief Executive of Threshold, said "We are delighted to welcome our colleagues from Oldham Family Crisis Group into the team here at Threshold. Oldham Family Crisis Group is a well respected organisation in the town, with a long history that mirrors our own. This merger makes sense, even without the current economic challenges. We both offer support to vulnerable people at times of crisis in their lives, and help them to make positive changes. By combining our expertise and resources, we can work even more effectively to help our respective customers.”
Jenny Taylor of Oldham Family Crisis Group, said "Our main focus is always on the needs of the women and children affected by domestic abuse who come to us when they have nowhere else to turn. We share the same vision for our service users as Threshold do for theirs. We will be sharing our expertise gathered from over thirty years on the frontline of family breakdown to help Threshold and Threshold Women's Services go on to develop creative and innovative support for our clients.”
Pictured Annie Hopley, Threshold's Chair, and Corinne Copeland, OFCG's Chair, marking the occasion.
Nine members of staff from Threshold and DePaul UK slept rough outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Thursday 3rd March from 7pm to 7am to raise both awareness of rough sleeping and also money for young peoples starter packs to help them to sustain new tenancies.
We are absolutely blown away both by the amount of money raised, which currently stands at around £700 with more to come and also by the amount of support they received on the night through the twitter page but more so with people giving up their valuable time to go along to see them.
During the night they had visits from lots of people who took along food and drinks to keep them warm
We were particularly delighted to have two Threshold customers, Jessica Covell and Melissa Clare who came along to offer support to their support worker, Stephanie Cook.
We are delighted with the way the event went and it helps us to reflect why we do the work we do and in particular, helps us to empathize more with those people who sleep outside alone in freezing conditions for much more than one night.
We hope we have done a little bit to raise awareness through the publicity, the local press and radio.
We are planning on using the money raised to apply for match funding for the project so watch this space.
A big thank you to everybody who sponsored us and for your support on the night.
