ABOUT US

Background

Temporary Accommodation

Provision for Children

Resettlement

Community based support- the Purlin Project

Funding

Background

The Blenheim Project was founded in 1978 by a group of local Methodists. The official company title is Bradford and West Yorkshire Methodist Housing Limited, but the working title and name most people associate with, is the Blenheim Project.

The organisation offers quality service provision for homeless women and children, including; temporary accommodation, childcare service, resettlement and community based support. Active commitment to Equal Rights is fundamental to the organisation.

The Blenheim Project is the Managing Agent for Accent Homes Limited who owns the property providing the temporary accommodation and provides some move-on accommodation.

Temporary Accommodation

Blenheim provides temporary supported accommodation to homeless women, with or without children. Accommodation is in self-contained, mainly shared flats, which are fully furnished and equipped. There are ten flats, one of which is a dispersed unit within the local community. The other flats are within premises converted from three Victorian terraced houses. This building also provides a playroom, some communal facilities, office space and staff sleep-in room. Communal facilities include a lounge, laundry room and a large garden with a variety of play equipment. The building is not accessible for wheelchair users as there are stairs up to the front door and accommodation is situated on four floors, all accessed by stairs.

Temporary accommodation can be provided for 17 women and approximately 10 children at any one time.

Women can refer themselves to the Project or be referred through a range of agencies. A waiting list is operated, when the Project has no vacancies.

Most women who come to the Project are on a low income, usually in receipt of welfare benefits. They face a wide variety of practical, emotional and financial difficulties. Over half the women referred to the Project need a safe environment as they are leaving violent situations - from partners or family members - or are trying to protect their children from assault. Other women may be leaving Local Authority care, hospital or prison; situations of family breakdown; harassment from neighbours or landlords or illegal eviction.

Some of the children who come to the Project have experienced abuse and may be on the Child Protection Register and have Social Work involvement. In many cases, the women have experienced abuse and trauma in both childhood and adult relationships. These experiences often lead to low self-esteem, lack of confidence, feelings of guilt, mental health problems and alcohol or drug misuse. One of the most important things the Project can offer is a supportive environment and a breathing space to enable women to build up confidence and regain control of their lives.

Whilst living at the project, women are offered practical and emotional support on a range of issues. Support is geared to women?s individual needs, recognising the diversity and differing cultural norms within the community. Some of the workers at the Blenheim Project speak Asian languages. Women are encouraged to participate in the running of the Project through fortnightly Resident Group meetings. Feedback and opinions are also sought via Resident Satisfaction Surveys and Leaving Questionnaires.

Provision for Children

In 1998, money was awarded by the National Lotteries Charities Board, which enabled the Project to provide a playroom, resources and Childcare Workers for the first time.

The playroom opened in September 1998 and is well equipped, providing a welcoming and fun environment for children. The playroom and resources provided reflect Blenheim's commitment to Equal Rights and offers children and their mothers the opportunity to learn about cultures and communities different to their own.

The team of Childcare Workers provide a range of crèche and Kids Club sessions. A wide variety of activities are undertaken and trips are organised.

Children's Meetings are held every month, to provide children with the opportunity to have a say about the way the Project is run.

Resettlement

The Resettlement Worker's role is to assist women in their plans for moving on.

In the main, this involves applying for permanent accommodation with a Housing Association or sometimes in the private rented sector. The Resettlement service is geared to individual women's needs.

In addition to the practical tasks involved with finding a new home, Resettlement involves helping women prepare for managing their own home. For many women, this will be the first time they will have had the responsibility of managing their own home.

When a woman receives an offer of permanent accommodation, the Resettlement Worker helps her with all the practicalities of setting up her new home.

Community based support- the Purlin Project

Community based support is offered to women moving from temporary accommodation in to their own home. It is also offered to women in existing tenancies whose support needs are not being met, leading to risk of the tenancy breaking down.

Women don't have to have lived in Blenheim's temporary accommodation to access the services of Purlin. A range of statutory and voluntary agencies make referrals. However all women moving from Blenheim's temporary accommodation will be offered support from Purlin.

Support provided is tailored to women's individual needs and service provision offers both practical and emotional support. Support includes: home visits, Ex-Residents' Day including Support Group, advice service, shuttle service and Social Group.

Support can be offered on a flexible basis, ranging from six months to a couple of years.

The Purlin Project works with approximately 35 tenants at any one time. Part of the remit is specifically to provide tenancy support to African Caribbean and Asian women who have experienced domestic violence.

Although for many women, moving from temporary accommodation in to their new home is a significant achievement and time of excitement, it can also be a time of apprehension. There are often difficulties with benefits, schools to sort for children, health care to arrange and numerous other issues. It can also be a time when many women experience loneliness and isolation.

An important aspect of the Purlin Project's work is liaison with community-based agencies, to enable women to settle in to their new community as easily as possible.

The Purlin Project has established a team of volunteers to work alongside the paid staff. The role of volunteers is to provide a befriending and social support service to women who no longer require intensive housing support. This is a crucial part of Blenheim's work attempting to alleviate isolation and social exclusion.

Funding

The organisation receives funding from; Bradford Council Community Grants and Local Authority Supporting People Funding, Income from Accommodation Charges, Methodist churches, individuals and a range of charitable trusts, including Children in Need, Henry Smith Trust, Tudor Trust and Joseph Rank Trust.