cardinal hume centre summer magazine 2015

centre life

www.cardinalhumecentre.org.ukSummer 2015

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES p4

GIVING BACK Darryl’s story p10

BEHIND THE SCENES in the hostel p5-9

WelcomeThose of us working in the housing and homelessness world are very concerned to learn that the government intends to cut housing benefit for 18-21 year olds. Many of the young people who come to the Centre don’t have the option of living with their parents; the main causes of youth homelessness being domestic abuse, relationship breakdown or lack of space in the family home.

For these young people, housing benefit can make all the difference to whether they will become homeless and therefore at risk. The policy could have disastrous consequences for the most vulnerable young people in our society such as care leavers who have no home to return to and those escaping domestic violence.

The government has indicated that those with nowhere else to go will be protected but we know from our long experience of working with young people that it can be very difficult to tell which young people need support the most.

This policy is intended to save money by reducing the benefits bill but my worry is that it will actually contribute to an increase in youth homelessness.

When you read the moving stories in this issue of our Centre Life magazine and see just how these very same young people can turn their lives around with the right kind of support, I hope you will agree that cutting housing benefit just doesn’t make any sense at all. Helen Doherty’s reflections about living on benefits (page 12) is an honest account of why benefits are so important for those in need.

Without them young people like Nadeisha, Georgina and Darryl would have been unable to change their lives for the better.

Thank you so much for what you have made possible. We genuinely could not continue to open our doors and welcome so many people in need without your generosity.

‘Foot in the Door’ is a partnership between the Cardinal Hume Centre and businesses who share the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their goals and build better lives for themselves and their families.

Thanks to a ‘Foot in the Door’ partnership with New West End Company, Tessa has gone from having temporary and volunteer roles to a career helping other people find work.

Tessa, 23, was living in hostel accommodation when she came to the Centre in October 2014 to meet with the employment team.

“At the Cardinal Hume Centre I felt like they were asking me what I wanted rather than trying to force me into a job. The one-to-one sessions really helped,” said Tessa.

When a job as project support assistant at New West End Company came up, the employment team thought it was the perfect role for Tessa. They encouraged and helped her to apply. Tessa impressed at the first round of interviews, was short-listed, and shortly afterwards

was offered the job. She has been in the role for two months and really loves it.

“I feel really lucky and relieved. I feel like I am learning a lot. I see myself having a career with New West End Company.”

Companies can support ‘Foot in the Door’ in a

2 Centre Life Telephone: 020 7222 1602 www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk

Cathy Corcoran OBE Chief Executive

FOOT IN THE DOOR Businesses making a difference

Dona moved to the UK in January 2013 in order to be with her son. However, the reality of finding work with a limited grasp of English proved difficult, and Dona found herself relying on her son more than she would have liked:

“It was difficult for me to take money from my son. I had to ask him for money so I could cook and wash clothes. He was a plumber, and worked from 8am – 4pm; then he studied in the evening. He didn’t have weekends off, or holidays, and was saving to pay for his University tuition fees. I wanted to be able to help him.”

Dona found out about the Cardinal Hume Centre from a friend and came to the Centre in July 2013 to start learning English. She received one-to-one lessons from Maureen, one of our volunteer tutors, who was impressed by her dedication:

“When Dona first arrived she was clearly aware of the limitations of her language, but she was very motivated and very keen to learn. She wanted recommendations of books to read, and requested homework so she could make a lot more progress.”

Dona set her sights on getting a job in a care home. She applied for a role as a care assistant, but after sitting an exam to test her English was told that she would

need to reapply when her language skills had improved. The manager offered Dona the chance to work in the care home’s laundry room in the meantime and while it wasn’t the job she had hoped for, Dona was thrilled at having her own income:

“I thought – ‘Dona, now you can help your son!’ When I paid rent for the first time I was so happy.”

Dona worked in the laundry room on her own, which unfortunately meant she had little

opportunity to practice her English. However, she continued to attend her lessons with Maureen, and her enthusiasm continued to grow:

“Overnight, I didn’t sleep, I translated, translated, translated. I enjoyed learning about the history of England. I like learning about what people do in different places.”

In April of this year, thanks to her hard work and your support, Dona was promoted to being a care assistant. Your donations have allowed her to get the one-to-one support she needed to achieve her goals, and she wanted to express her gratitude to those who have helped her:

“The people at the Cardinal Hume Centre are so dedicated. It is such a pleasure working with them all. Rachel and Maureen in the learning team are so kind. They have helped me so much. There aren’t the right words to describe them. The staff and volunteers are the pride of the Cardinal Hume Centre.”

People come to the Centre to learn English for a variety of reasons, but above all getting to grips with English is a way for them to integrate into a society which would otherwise be very alien to them. Your support allows us to extend a warm and understanding welcome to all who come to us in need.

DONA’S STORY

Centre Life 3

“When I paid rent for the first time I was so happy”

variety of ways including offering interview practice, work experience, visits to their offices or paid work. There are also opportunities for staff to get involved by volunteering or fundraising for the Centre.

If you know a company that would like to get involved please contact our corporate partnership officer, Patricia Marron, by emailing [email protected].

During Lent we asked you for your thoughts on how the Centre communicates with you. Over 200 of you replied and we were delighted that so many of you thought we were doing well.

One area that received slightly lower scores was ‘I understand how my money is used’. It received a mark of 8 of 10, compared to the 9s and 10s we received for the other questions. To try to make this clearer we have developed the graphic below to show how a donation of £100 is spent.

The success stories you’ll read in this magazine and on the website are a result of the one-to-one tailored support that is central to how the Centre works. Your generosity makes it possible for us to provide services in this way.

We know that this approach gives people the best chance to realise their full potential and ensures we stay true to our founder’s words: “Each person matters. No human life is ever redundant.”

The other area the survey highlighted was that very few people had recommended us to a friend or family member. We then realised that no one at the Centre has ever asked you to do this! So, please pass this magazine and/or the flyer in the magazine onto someone who you think would be interested in helping vulnerable people realise their potential and help Cardinal Basil Hume’s legacy live on.


WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

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Over the next four pages we will learn what it means to young people to be given a safe place to live in our Hostel. Veronica, Joseph, Perparim, Nadeisha and Georgina have all kindly offered to share their stories with you. But what practical support do our residents receive while living here? Deborah Whittle, one of the Hostel Team Leaders, explains what goes on behind the scenes in the Hostel:

Before a young person moves in, the Hostel team gather information about their background to ensure that they will receive the right level of support matching their individual needs. We draw up a profile for each resident detailing all their important personal details such as their name, date of birth, and next of kin. As well as this we put together a list of all important contacts from

their social worker, to friends, co-workers, and fellow students. It’s important that we gauge whether they have a history of mental health problems, or whether they have any connections to local gangs. We work closely with the young person’s social worker and external organisations they might have had contact with to draw a picture of what their support needs might be.

Once all the relevant information has been gathered the young person is invited for an interview. If a bedroom is available they can move in straightaway. They are given a welcome pack containing bedding and basic kitchen utensils as well as a copy of the house rules. They are also assigned a key worker who will work closely with them during their time with us. The resident’s profile helps the key worker to draw up an initial risk assessment and support plan.

The support plan highlights what the resident’s needs and goals are. The first steps in the plan can be as simple as helping the

resident to sign up for the GP and dentist. Their key worker will make sure they have applied for any benefits they might be entitled to and will help them to start thinking about getting into education or employment.

The key worker checks in with their residents on a daily basis, with time set aside each week to work through the young person’s progression. The support meetings aren’t usually formal pen and paper sessions; sometimes they can go for a walk or for a coffee while discussing the previous week’s goals and achievements. As a resident becomes more stable these meetings can become less frequent, allowing the resident’s independence to grow as they become more capable of supporting themselves.

Throughout the young person’s time in the Hostel, and from the moment they move in, their move-on is discussed. In order to prepare them for moving out when the time comes, it is important that they know that

Centre Life 5

“

Preparing a resident’s profile

Interview

Deborah & the Centre’s Hostel team

Daily catch up

(continued)

BEHIND THE ScENES IN THE HOSTEl (continued)


WHAT THE HOSTEl MEANS TO ME By Perparim Hilaj

In English

I feel really good in the Hostel. The team have helped me find a job. My life in the Hostel is safe, and the room is great. I have been in the Hostel for two months and feel very happy. I feel safe and happy because we are a family. I would like to have a pool table in the television room though! In the future I hope to become a mechanic, and the staff at the Cardinal Hume Centre are helping me towards this goal.

In Albanian

Une ne hostel ndihem shume mire, ketu ne hostel me ndimojne per te gjetur pune. Jeta ime ne hostel eshte shume e sigurt, dhoma ku un flej eshte shume e mir. Une jam ne hostel per 2 muaj dhe une ndihem shum shum I gezuar sepse gjithqka per mua eshte mir. Ne hostel une ndihem shume I sigurt dhe I ngrohte sepse ne jemi nje familje. Une dua qe te kemi nje bilardo ne dhomen e televizorit. Ne te ardhem une do te behem mekanik dhe nga te jetuarit ne hostel Cardinale Hume Centre une e ndjej se stafi me ka ndimuar drejt ketij qellimi.

“ “

”

”

“I feel happy because

we are a family”

Handing their keys back

their time in the Hostel is limited. It is crucial that the young people move onto more independent living as soon as they are ready. Not doing so can hold them back from developing into well rounded young adults.

Together with the young person the key worker will assess whether a resident is ready for independent living or whether they need to move onto further supported accommodation. They will make referrals

based on the resident’s needs, and will help them apply for social housing or private rentals if appropriate. The end goal for all residents is for them to be in full-time education or employment, with the means to live on their own without any support. However, some young people may need additional support beyond their time here before these

goals can become a reality.

We work hard with each young person who lives at the Centre to help them work through their emotional problems; we give them practical support in looking for work or applying for college and university, and we encourage them to engage with external organisations such as substance abuse groups or health advisors to help them be responsible teenagers and young adults.

It’s not always an easy task. They are young, and so they will try to push the boundaries. Many come to us with complex emotional issues. They can be anxious, angry, confused and lonely, but we hope that during their time here they are made to feel like they matter, and have been given the tools which will equip them to live independent and successful lives.

Thanks to your donations, and funding support from Westminster City Council, we can continue to be a place of refuge for young people in need. From all of the Hostel team thank you for your support!

Weekly support meeting

”

7

Joseph has been living in the hostel since March. This piece of art work by Joseph is based on the trials and triumphs he has experienced in his life. In the piece he is represented by the blue car, which is driving off the white plateau. The plateau represents a tough time in his life, when he felt alone and exposed. The road beside the pink and black house similarly represents the ups and downs, trials, frustration, pain and loneliness he faced.

Now the car is on the straight and narrow road. There are blue skies on the horizon symbolising happier days ahead. The road leads to Tower Bridge which represents London, where Joseph feels safe, secure and at home. The sun is shining over the bridge, showing that Joseph is embracing the new life that has presented itself to him.

JOSEpH’S ART pIEcE

When I was 16 I knew that I had to take my life into my own hands, and I moved to London on my own. My parents had too many problems to help me so I needed to become independent. I had been living with my mother and stepfather in Rome for nearly 10 years. During that time I was constantly running back and forth to the hospital as my mother suffered from schizophrenia, a mental health disorder brought about by her depression. She was constantly in hospital and I was the only person who could take care of her.

My father was in prison in Belgium, and my brother was in prison in Romania. Just after New Year in 2013 I got a call I hoped I would never receive. It was my father, and he was crying when he told me, “Veronica, your brother is dead”.

My brother had been sent to prison because of a fight he had

been involved in in a club. He had been in prison for seven years and had become severely depressed. He was worried that he would become schizophrenic like our mother, and that he would live his life in hospitals on medication. He didn’t want that to happen and decided to take his own life.

When I heard the news I felt like the sky had fallen down on me. It was more than I could handle. It pushed me to take my life into my own hands, and it made me look at the world from a different point of view. I knew I was strong enough to overcome the problems in my life, and that my brother would be proud of me for taking care of myself.

That’s what brought me to the Centre. When I saw my room for the first time I was a little nervous. I thought that I would be alone, and that no one would care for me. But at the Centre I have had the

chance to learn life skills such as how to budget and how to cook. Living here has taught me how to become a responsible teenager. I’ve received much needed advice, and I know that with the Centre’s help I will be fine. This is my home now.

I have a lot of plans for my future and I hope to go to University. My dream is to become a dentist or a lawyer. With the Centre’s help I am attending college and have just secured a part-time job.

Thank you for supporting the Centre and making all this possible. In the three months that I’ve been living at the Centre I feel like my life has changed drastically, and I know that my day in the sun is just around the corner.

WHAT THE HOSTEl MEANS TO ME By Perparim Hilaj

MY STORY by Veronica“

”

Nadeisha started volunteering in the centre’s Hostel at the beginning of this year, returning to the centre 18 years after receiving help here herself. Having faced a number of tragic losses within her family she has demonstrated an admirable determination to move forward with her life. She has come through the other side determined to help others and at peace with the losses she has suffered.

Nadeisha’s relationship with the Centre started in 1997. She moved into our Hostel after finding herself homeless following a breakdown in communication with her mother. Within a couple of months Nadeisha had settled into Hostel life and was proud of her independence. She was working and attending college, and she was able to pay her own rent:

NADEISHA’S STORY


“Instead of receiving, I’m now giving”

You can watch Georgina’s video on our website, www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk where you can also find a range of stories in our Turning Lives Around section.

Georgina had been in foster care since she was four years old. She’d grown up in the system, and had seen very little of her mum as a result.

When Georgina turned 17 she decided she’d like to give living with her mum a go and moved out of her foster home. But her mum’s dependency on alcohol led to a number of clashes, and Georgina realised that she would have to find somewhere else to live.

Speaking to her social worker she found out about the Cardinal Hume Centre and applied for a room in the Hostel. Support from the Centre has given Georgina the opportunities she has needed to move forward with her life; providing the opportunity for her to be independent and to get her life on track:

“Without this place I really wouldn’t be on the right track, starting a new job, getting my education. At the Cardinal Hume Centre I get all of my independence plus a little bit of extra support. I never feel lonely here. As soon as I moved in everything just felt right.”

GEORGINA’S STORY

NADEISHA’S STORY

“I thought, this is my home. It’s small, it’s not what I’m used to, but it’s mine. It was my key, my space, my domain.”

After leaving the Hostel and starting a family with her partner, Nadeisha was looking forward to the future. However she tragically lost her partner and her grandmother within the space of two years and, while studying Forensic Science at University, found out that her mother had been diagnosed with cancer. The news hit her hard and sadly her mother passed away when she was a year away from graduating. In 2014, after coming to terms with the loss of her mother Nadeisha finally graduated with a degree in Criminology and Youth Studies. She believes that the help she received as a teenager went a long way to building her resilience:

“Because of the skills, the help, the platform that I got, I was able to cope with the traumas I have been through. I was able to come out of it undepressed, unshaken, undisturbed.”

Through her degree and volunteering with charities and her church youth groups Nadeisha developed a passion for working with young people. So when a volunteer role opened up in our Hostel she jumped at the opportunity to return and lend her experience to the team.

She now works one day a week in the hostel and is responsible for running a young people’s forum for the residents. The forums are an opportunity for the young people to receive information about education, training and apprenticeship opportunities; and a chance for them to share any issues they might be having either inside or outside the Hostel. Nadeisha feels like she can offer advice because she’s been through the system herself, and working with the residents is a chance for her to give something back:

“Instead of receiving, I’m now giving. The young people are so misunderstood. They have a limited knowledge of the world around them. I try to give them the tools they need to help them move in the direction they need to go. I can see where they’re coming from because I’ve been there. I realise I’ve come a long way. I hope others will see my story and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Centre Life 9

Nadeisha with fellow volunteers, William & Giuseppe, at our annual volunteer BBQ

Our supporters often ask us what happens to people after they receive help at the cardinal Hume centre. For people like Nadeisha, Darryl, christine and Yassir the help they received, and the impact it made on their lives, has encouraged them to return to the centre in order to kindly give something back. Their stories highlight the importance of the dedicated one-to-one support which each individual receives at the Centre and its long-lasting influence.

When Darryl came to the cardinal Hume centre in 2010 he was in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse; his life was in ruins. However, what he had in abundance was motivation, a determination to turn his life around and in six short months, with the help of the staff at the centre, he managed to do just that.

You may recognise Darryl from our Winter magazine in 2010. At that time Darryl was moving out of his room at the Centre to start a job as a night receptionist for a luxury hotel in Central London. He had worked extremely hard during his time at the Centre – learning how to do his own washing, how to cook and attended IT classes. The employment team had helped set up an interview for Darryl and the housing team had helped him find his own flat.

It has now been over four years since Darryl left the Centre and his motivation to succeed has seen him rise through the ranks in the hotel industry. From porter to night receptionist to general manager in the space of four years, Darryl has transformed his life in a truly remarkable way. His appreciation for what the Centre did for him in 2010 has prompted him to see if he can give something back:

“When I think back to how I was pre-2010 and how I am now I can’t even compare it. I was a mess. The Centre was a safe place where I was able to get myself together. It opened doors to everything. Through the Centre I learnt how to look after myself, I got help to find a house and a job. Everything

I’ve achieved has come through the Cardinal Hume Centre.”

Darryl currently manages a team of 31 staff in a newly refurbished hotel in the heart of London’s West End. With a high staff turnover in the hotel industry he is always on the lookout for new staff and is keen to link in with the Centre to offer work opportunities to the people your donations are helping:

“We’re always on the lookout for good staff and I’d like to give someone a chance. It gives them a starting point. Getting a job was a chance for me to find myself again.”

Alongside part-time and full-time roles, the hotel’s links with Paragon Skills for Industry will also offer new recruits the chance to do NVQs in catering and the Centre’s employment team are keen to make the most of Darryl’s generous offer by matching up people they are working with to the roles available.

Darryl’s story is a shining example of the importance of allowing individuals to realise their full potential. Because of your support he is now in a position to help others and his own ambition continues to grow:

“My plans are to establish myself here and get a West End hotel on my CV and then take a sideways step into a bigger hotel. There is still so much to learn and I’d like to learn from an experienced General Manager. Who knows, I could be training someone to take over my job. And so the cycle will continue.”

WHAT HAppENED NExT

DARRYl’S STORY


Centre Life 11

When Yassir first came to the Cardinal Hume centre for help he was demoralised, lacking confidence and fired up by a sense of injustice. His family were struggling, his father was sick, and Yassir needed to find work in order to look after them.

Because of your support the employment team were able to help him set goals. He was able to use the computers in the Centre’s IT room to apply for jobs and he received the dedicated help he needed to get on the right pathway and in the right frame of mind.

Yassir formed a close bond with the employment team. They really listened to him and got to know him, and were able to figure out what his skills were and the type of jobs which would be best suited to him:

“They gave me motivation on how to move forward. It’s much more than just how to write a CV. I’m so grateful for their help.”

The emotional support which the employment team provided went a long way to changing Yassir’s outlook on life. Their belief in him boosted his confidence,

taught him how to deal with difficult in-work situations, and showed him that there were people in the world who were willing to help.

Yassir now works for Primark as well as Prêt a Manger, which has allowed him to start saving for his future. At Christmas he returned to the Centre to volunteer, helping the fundraising team wrap and package presents for children in the family centre, and before leaving he donated some of his own money to the Centre. He explained why this was important to him:

“I’ve taken so much from the Centre during my time here; I can’t just take and not give back. There are no words to describe the Centre. It’s an oasis in the desert. Anyone can walk in here from any part of the world and be welcome.”

Thank you for placing your confidence in people like Yassir by choosing to donate to the Cardinal Hume Centre. Your support has given him the chance to move forward with his life and inspired him to give something back.

YASSIR’S STORY

Dear Richard (Immigration Team),“I don’t know if you remember me, but you helped me with my immigration case in 2009 and 2010. I had been out of work for four years while suffering from depression, and had dropped out of my course in Mental Health Nursing. My visa was running out, and I faced the real prospect of deportation. At that point it had been nine years since I had left my home country and all my family were now based in the UK. Being deported would have meant returning to a country where I had no family or friends and no support.

I wanted to say thank you for helping me with my case and to update you on how things have been for me since we worked together. Since I got Discretionary Leave to Remain in September 2010, thanks to your help, I have been working continuously. I started working in my uncle’s nursing agency, and my job there gave me the experience I needed to move on to working as a full-time nurse in July 2012. I have since started working for the NHS again, and am hoping to carry on with my education. I also recently applied for an extension to my visa and was granted a further three years of discretionary leave.

Because of the help I received at the Cardinal Hume Centre I have been able to feel positive again. My health has really improved and has been on an even keel for over three years now. I cannot thank you and the Centre enough for what you did for me, and I’m sure a lot of others like me.

Now that I am working full-time I would like to know how I can make a donation to the Centre, as I can now afford to pay what I couldn’t back then, and would like to show my appreciation for all that you did.

Thank you for helping me to get my life back on track; I hope the Centre continues to help people in need for many years to come.

With love and thanks,”

Christine x

I don’t know where I’d be right now if I wasn’t receiving benefits. Probably on the streets and hungry. Thanks to Housing Benefit I have a roof over my head - the Cardinal Hume Centre helped me find my current place as I was in a homeless hostel beforehand. I also get Job Seekers Allowance. JSA gives me enough to pay my utility bills and put food in my stomach while I’m looking for work, with enough left over to travel to the Cardinal Hume Centre to use the IT room, from where I search for jobs.

When I visit the Centre I also meet with Jeanita Snowdon and Ben Anderson from the employment team, who give me invaluable advice relating to my job searches, my CV, tailoring my covering letter and more. They have also helped me prepare for interviews several times, which has really helped with my confidence.

I see benefits as a means to an end. Like many, my last job ended through no fault of my own. JSA is specifically designed to encourage those, like myself, who are willing and able to work. It’s not intended as a way of life. However, despite how certain media outlets portray those of us on JSA, the vast majority of us are genuinely trying our best to look for work. In my case I’ve had quite a lot of interviews lately, but have been pipped to the post each time by another candidate. With Jeanita

and Ben’s help I’m perfecting my game, however, and honestly think I’ll get lucky one day very soon.

I can’t deny I was disappointed at the results of the recent General Election. I’m very concerned about the extent to which the government will cut benefits and restrict choice for those of us who have to depend on them. Even before I was reliant on benefits I was in favour of social welfare as a matter of principle. One of my A-Levels was in ‘Government & Politics’, and it introduced me to the vast spectrum of political ideologies in common use both currently and in modern world history. The one I found I resonated most strongly with was Modern Liberalism. Modern Liberals believe that there should be equality of opportunity across society for all citizens, and social welfare is one of the ways they believe this can be achieved.

I’m not proud of the fact I’m on benefits. I don’t think anyone is; save for the odd exception that the media uncovers and focuses on. I am, however, immensely grateful that this safety net has been here for me when I’ve needed it. It is my hope I will not be on benefits much longer. Thank you for supporting the Centre and wanting to challenge the negative misconceptions of those of us whose lives would be impossible without the help provided by JSA and other benefits.

Centre Life

lIFE ON BENEFITS by Helen DohertyHelen is currently being supported by the Centre’s employment team while she looks for work. You can read about her reasons for first coming to the Cardinal Hume Centre on our website, www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk.


“

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“I’m very concerned about how benefit cuts will restrict choice for those of us who depend on them.”

Steve Currid joined the fundraising team in June, as the new community fundraiser.

As the new community fundraising officer at the Cardinal Hume Centre, I’m looking forward to sharing the Centre’s work and meeting many new faces in parishes, schools, and community groups. I would like to pass on my greetings, and thanks, to all of the hard working community groups who help raise money for the Centre.

Having lived in London all of my life, I am painfully aware of the problems that homeless young people can face in this city,

especially those aged 16-25. I also realise that the journey from having a home to feeling lost and alone can often be just a small step for some families, especially with increasing family poverty. Thankfully, the Cardinal Hume Centre is here to help.

I am inspired and humbled by the commitment of the Centre’s staff and volunteers who make such a difference to people’s lives on a daily basis. The Centre welcomes people without judgement; offering somewhere warm and safe where they can access advice and support. I am looking forward to sharing with you the inspirational stories of change that happen at the Centre.

If you would like Steve to visit your parish, school or community group you can give him a call on 020 7222 1602 or email [email protected].

Centre LifeCentre Life 13

Over the Eater holidays the Centre’s family service ran two weeks of free holiday activities for children and parents from low income households. Over 80 families enjoyed taking part in the fun with crafts, games, quizzes and group outings arranged by the staff team.

Children and their parents were given the opportunity to play, create and have fun in a safe and welcoming environment; with enthusiastic volunteers from one of the Centre’s Foot in the Door partners, Intuit, lending a helping hand.

EASTER AcTIVITIES IN THE FAMIlY cENTRE

A WORD FROM OUR NEW cOMMUNITY FUNDRAISER

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Centre Life14 Centre Life Telephone: 020 7222 1602 www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk

lAVONNE’S STORY A young mother with nowhere to go

Some of the saddest situations we come across are when parents with children find themselves with no safe place to sleep. Heartbreakingly, they are often forced to separate from their children to spare them from sleeping rough and the situation can be incredibly distressing for both parent and child.

Lavonne became homeless along with her one year old daughter in 2002. She had moved to the UK from Jamaica to be with her daughter’s father ; but he became abusive, and after just five months Lavonne and her daughter were forced to leave. Lavonne had nowhere to go. She depended on friends to put her and her daughter up for the night and recalls one occasion when she had no idea where they were going to sleep that night:

“I remember I was pushing my daughter along in her buggy and came across a phone box. I prayed that I might find 20p on the street so that I could phone someone. I found 50p on the windowsill of a pub and called a friend, but they couldn’t take me in for the night. Thankfully, with only 30p left, the second friend I called offered us a place to sleep.”

When her daughter was three Lavonne came to the difficult realisation that she couldn’t put her through the constant upheaval anymore. She had met a woman called Valerie, through a friend, who was willing to look after her daughter. Valerie would provide a safe place for Lavonne’s daughter to live during the week, and Lavonne would be reunited with her at the weekends. Being apart was extremely difficult for both mother and child, and Lavonne’s daughter struggled to come to terms with the situation. But knowing her daughter had a safe place to sleep was a huge relief.

Lavonne’s daughter lived with Valerie for six years; throughout that period Lavonne had tried and failed to resolve her own immigration status. When Valerie faced family problems of her own, her daughter was forced to move in with her father. During that time her daughter received indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and in 2010 Lavonne was able to reclaim custody of her.

In 2011 Lavonne sought immigration advice from the Cardinal Hume Centre. Sophia, the Centre’s immigration advice manager, worked with Lavonne on her case. She advised her to get in touch with social

services to request support for herself and her daughter. Social services eventually offered them a room in a B&B, but Lavonne points out that that might not have happened if it weren’t for Sophia:

“Sophia emailed them back and forth, she just would not take no for an answer.”

Despite the poor conditions in the B&B Lavonne was extremely grateful to have a place for her and her daughter to live. It wasn’t ideal, but all Lavonne could think of when they first moved in was how grateful she was to finally have a bed after so many years of sleeping on the floor.

Sophia submitted a new application to the Home Office requesting indefinite leave to remain for Lavonne, based around her daughter’s right to remain status, and supported Lavonne throughout the long process. In August 2014, Lavonne finally received her right to remain. Her new status has allowed her to receive benefits to help her support her daughter while she looks for work; and Lavonne has just started volunteering at Lewisham hospital:

“Before I came to the Cardinal Hume Centre I was distraught. I was sleeping rough. I just wanted to give up. I looked at my daughter and I couldn’t provide for her the way I wanted to. It killed me. I’m so grateful for Sophia’s determination. If it wasn’t for the Cardinal Hume Centre I would still be homeless with my daughter and having immigration problems. The Centre has changed my life drastically. I can work now, I can volunteer, and I can give back. I’m not worried anymore.”

Fundraising NEWS

Centre Life 15

Following on from last year’s hugely successful Sleepout at Wembley Stadium we will once again be asking CEOs and senior managers to abandon the boardroom for a sleeping bag, in collaboration with Depaul UK and CEO Sleepout.

This year’s event will be held at the iconic Kia Oval on 12th October and we aim to get people sleeping out in solidarity with those who have no choice but to sleep out every night.

The Centre’s CEO, Cathy Corcoran, says:

“It is a great opportunity to get business leaders together to take part in an exciting event to raise money

for, and highlight, the very serious problem of homelessness and poverty in the UK. Giving up one night of comfort does not compare to the hard reality of those who experience homelessness on a nightly basis, but this event will show that people do care. We all know that homelessness and poverty should not exist in the modern world. Following on from last year’s amazing success, we hope to raise even more money, as well as awareness, this year.”

Our ultimate goal is to help make London a fairer and an even better place in which to live, work and do business.

If you would like to take part, or would like to nominate someone to take part please email [email protected] or call Patricia on 020 7222 1602.

EVENTS

cEO SlEEpOUT UK 2015

OpEN EVENING

Tuesday 15th September, 6pm

With talks from service staff and clients, plus a tour of the building, it’s a great opportunity to learn about our work.

TAlK BY FATHER cHRISTOpHER JAMISON OSB

Thursday 8th October, 4pm

A talk about the Benedictine ethos of our founder, and how this relates to the Centre’s work.

ADVENT cAROl cONcERTWednesday 9th December, 6.30pmJoin us as we celebrate Christmas. Mince pies and mulled wine to follow!

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cONTAcT US Visit our website www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk

Email: [email protected]

Call: 020 7222 1602

Address: 3-7 Arneway Street, london, SW1p 2BG

Charity Number: 1090836

As this magazine goes to print we now have 1,006 members of the George Basil Hume Foundation! Thank you to all of our regular donors who give generously each month. Because of their committed support the Cardinal Hume Centre can continue to provide a place of sanctuary to each person in need who comes to us for help.

The Foundation was set up to encourage and celebrate the generosity of the Centre’s regular donors. As a thank you for their commitment all members receive invitations to events such as our Thanksgiving Mass, which we recently celebrated with over 140 of our supporters.

In remembering our founder and celebrating the work of the Centre, the Mass is an opportunity to reflect on Cardinal Hume’s vision and legacy. Because of his vision, his generosity and his determination the Centre is here to provide sanctuary for the most vulnerable people.

It is inevitable that when we remember the late Cardinal we reflect on his Benedictine ethos, which has so strongly influenced the work that is carried out at the Centre. As well as providing a non-judgemental welcome to all who come to the Centre,

there is a second Benedictine value which resonates particularly strongly here and that is a focus on community as a source of strength for the individual. Staff at the Centre, together with our volunteers and you, our supporters, form a community which provides support and understanding for those who may have no one else to turn to. Robert Arnott, the Centre’s new Chair of Trustees, said in his welcome to the Thanksgiving Mass:

“When you walk into the Centre there is a real spirit of community and genuine warmth. I think Cardinal Hume would be proud of what the Centre has become. The Centre is a community of which we should be rightly proud. Whether you are a client, staff member, volunteer or long-standing friend, thank you for the part you play.”

Building the strength and resilience of this community is vital to the Centre’s development and so we would urge you to tell your friends and family about the important work that the Centre does. If you have not already, please sign up to give a regular monthly gift to the Centre and become a member of the George Basil Hume Foundation by filling in and returning the attached form.

Thank you for choosing to be a part of the Cardinal Hume Centre family. Each gift made to the Centre is a gift made to the most vulnerable people in our community.

WANT TO SEE HOW LIVES CHANGE FOr THE BETTEr EVErY DAY AT THE CENTrE?

www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk

www.facebook.com/cardinalHumecentre

www.twitter.com/cardinalHumecHc

THANK YOU

Cardinal Hume

Robert Arnott & Bishop Nicholas Hudson

cardinal hume centre summer magazine 2015

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