crossroads derbyshire newsletter spring 2018...crossroads derbyshire newsletter spring 2018 a new...

www.crossroadsderbyshire.org / [email protected] / Tel: 01457 856675 1

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Crossroads DERBYSHIRE

NEWSLETTER Spring 2018 A new play space for children fleeing

domestic abuse.

Read more inside about the grand opening of our Harmony Project garden...

http://www.crossroadsderbyshire.org

mailto:[email protected]



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A MESSAGE FROM THE SERVICES MANAGER

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who supports Crossroads. We have had some incredible support from the local community, from helping to run events, to just calling by and dropping off food, clothes, toys and Christmas presents; it really has been fantastic.

The newsletter is packed with lots of positive achievements and our staff work really hard to ensure that we deliver the best possible service. We have welcomed new staff onto our Harmony Project night staff team and welcomed an additional Women and Girls Safe Worker (WAGS) which will enable us to deliver far more support to girls and young women at risk of abuse. Our new ‘We Can Change’ project will be up and running very soon, working with young people who show signs of becoming abusive.

We were delighted to receive a grant recently from the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner which will fund a new court support worker from April this year. We have been monitoring the effects of the closure of Buxton Court in June 2016: the impact of this has meant service users now have to travel to Chesterfield or Derby to court and this is very daunting for those who are already very afraid to have to face up to their violent partner. The court support worker will work alongside our outreach team to provide support and advocacy and will attend the court with our service users, where a family law case can take up to three days to reach a conclusion. Having this additional resource frees up time for staff to deal with the ever increasing referrals into the service.

We are currently campaigning against the government’s proposals to change the way that refuges are funded. This change could be disastrous for our refuge service as the proposals mean that Housing Benefit will no longer be paid to the refuge for each service user but will be given to Local Authorities in the form of a grant. Our refuge is one of many who are self-funding and as we are not commissioned by the local authority, Housing Benefit is a significant part of our running costs. We urge you to help us campaign against the proposal which could close many refuges across the country.

On a positive note we were recently assessed by Women’s Aid as part of the Women’s Aid Standards Stage 2 accreditation. A lot of hard work went into preparing for this and I have to thank the staff for all they did to help us achieve this award. The assessor has confirmed that we will be recommended to receive the accreditation and has said that Crossroads’ services are exemplary - well done everyone!

It’s been a very positive few months and funding is secured for most of our services and this is largely due to Vicky, our Business and Operations Officer, who writes most of our bids. The Trustees have also contributed to the running of events with Vicky and I would also like to thank them for their continued commitment to Crossroads.

I hope you enjoy reading the newsletter.

Pam Whittle





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New plans for the Harmony Project

This year we are launching a fundraising appeal for a complete refurbishment of the Harmony Project refuge. The works will include: A full rewire New boiler and heating system Improvements to the safety and security of

the building A new fully fitted kitchen to include a shared

cooking space New bathrooms, including making some

rooms en-suite More natural light in the main living areas Hearing loop and other adaptations A full redecoration throughout

We need to raise at least £140,000.

Can you help?





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OUR SERVICES

HARMONY PROJECT

Last autumn, we were delighted to welcome our supporters and donors to visit the Harmony Project to celebrate the opening of the new garden. The new play space was funded by Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust, the Methodist Women in Britain and other local friends and supporters. It has been designed with younger children in mind, and has space to allow the young women to grow vegetables and herbs, to relax outside and to play with their children. There is also a new covered play space designed for babies and toddlers. The garden was officially opened by Sara Rowbotham, who played a huge part in helping to get offenders brought to justice in the Rochdale child abuse case. Sara was portrayed by Maxine Peake in the drama documentary Three Girls. She enjoyed meeting the young women, chatting to staff and volunteers, and learning more about the work we do at the Harmony Project. We were also joined by Ruth George, MP for High Peak. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the new garden, including Glossop Gardening Club and Wimberry Hill Garden Centre for donating plants, bulbs and tools.





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OUR SERVICES

Me2 CHILDREN’S SERVICE Our very popular Me2 group work for children who have experienced domestic abuse in the home was awarded three more years’ funding from BBC Children in Need, starting in November 2017. This new funding (totalling £120,000) will allow us to expand the service into the Derbyshire Dales, and work with more children each year. We will also focus more on online safety.

WOMEN AND GIRLS SAFE (WAGS) and WE CAN CHANGE

Following the announcement of funding for two posts late last year, we have recently recruited a new Young Women’s Worker and a We Can Change Worker, and will be setting up groups across the High Peak and North Dales from April 2018. WAGS works with young women aged 13-24 who are struggling with bullying or low self-esteem or are at risk of abuse, online grooming or exploitation. We Can Change works with young people (male and female) at risk of perpetrating abuse, or who have been involved in unhealthy relationships.

To find out more about both projects or to refer in, please call 01457 856675.

HARMONY MOVE-ON PROPERTIES

We received funding last year to set up two properties for young women to move out into the community following a stay at the Harmony Project. Some of the young women in the project were struggling to find their own tenancies due to the shortage of housing locally, and still needed some ongoing support.

The first of these properties was ready in the autumn, and the second will be available in April 2018.





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OUR SERVICES

OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

We have seen significant rises once again in the number of referrals we are receiving for support for both adults and children in the community. In response to this we were able to secure additional funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation to pay for additional hours in both our adults’ and children’s teams to ensure that we continue to be able to respond to the demand. Key facts from Autumn 2017:

96% of those referred engaged with the service 97% of our adult service users reported a reduction in risk 61% showed an improved understanding of how to keep safe 100% of children showed an improvement in safety

FREEDOM PROGRAMME

The following courses will take place this spring:

Glossop starting 8th March

Matlock starting 4th April

Both courses run for 12 weeks.

Childcare is available by prior arrangement.

Call 01457 856675 for further details.





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OTHER NEWS Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Annual Celebration Evening which was held on Monday 20th

November 2017, 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm at Bradbury House, Market Street, Glossop.

Crossroads Derbyshire want to let all our volunteers know how much we appreciate their

hard work throughout the year.

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

Our Christmas Extravaganza and Candlelit Vigil took place on 7th December. Thanks to all who helped make both events so successful.





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FUNDRAISING NEWS Thank you to everyone who voted for us to

become Bakers Solicitors Charity of the Year

2018. We look forward to working with the firm

over the coming year.

DONATIONS FROM CHARITABLE TRUSTS Massive thanks to all the trusts, foundations and organisations that have

contributed to our service over the past six months. We have secured large

donations from:

Garfield Weston PCC for Derbyshire BBC Children in Need Anonymous donor (WAGS)

We were delighted to be chosen as the League of Ladies WI Charity of the Year. The group have already got off to a flying start by supporting a coffee morning at Bradbury Community House. The event raised £250.00.

Thank you to everyone who has donated clothes, toiletries, children’s items and gifts throughout

the year. It really makes a tremendous difference to the families we support.





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Thanks to all the staff at the Itsy Bitsy Boutique in Chapel-en-le-Frith for holding a fundraising event along with TSB Buxton

Co-op Glossop have once again chosen us as one of the three charities to benefit from their membership scheme.

We were delighted to have received over £3,000 from the Cooperative Local Community Fund in New Mills.

Thank you to the Methodist Women in Britain who have raised £1,870 to date to support the Harmony Project.

Thank you to all our regular donors who give each month by standing order.

CAN YOU HELP?

We need to raise at least £20,000 every year from the local community to keep our services running. Collect your £1 coins in a Smarties tube Take part in a challenge event

Hold a bake sale at work Support one of our coming events

People carrier: We need to raise £11,000 to

purchase a vehicle to help when transporting

children to groups, and for trips out.

RAISED TO DATE: £5,000 from

the Masonic Charitable

Foundation and Foundation

Derbyshire.





STANDING ORDER FORM

A standing order for a regular monthly amount is the best way of

supporting Crossroads Derbyshire because this is regular income

that we know we can depend on. You also have the opportunity to

gift aid your donation so for every £1.00 you donate we will receive

an extra 25 pence, so your £10.00 will give us £12.50.

Alternatively you can donate through BT MyDonate.

Further details can be obtained from our website:

www.crossroadsderbyshire.org

To find out how you can

support Crossroads Derbyshire

visit

www.crossroadsderbyshire.org

How to contact us: PO Box 22, Glossop, Derbyshire. SK13 8AE

Tel: 01457 856675 | Fax: 01457 899438

Email: [email protected]

www.crossroadsderbyshire.org | Registered Charity No: 1134679

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HOW YOU CAN HELP




crossroads derbyshire newsletter spring 2018...crossroads derbyshire newsletter spring 2018 a new...

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