Christian Care Association is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of £489,091 from The Big Lottery Fund toward the running costs of the St Martin’s Day Centre in West Street, Bognor Regis. This money from the Reaching Communities programme will enable the day centre to be re-opened and be available to the association’s homeless clients six days a week
The day centre will provide a wide range of services, including food, shelter, showers, clean clothing and companionship in a safe, secure non-judgemental environment. It is designed to provide meaningful ‘pathways of care’ for homeless people so that they can be enabled to find secure accommodation, employment and the tools to lead a more productive life. In so doing they can regain their self respect and self-esteem.
Facilities will now include a full time learning support worker and mental health nurse as well as access to a GP for medical issues. Professional help will assist with resettlement, including housing benefits and employment information, and drug and alcohol matters including referral for inpatient treatment at the Sands project in Canada Grove. Life skills training will be given, including cookery, budgeting, CV writing and Job search, basic numeracy and literacy and Art.
St Martin’s was opened in May 2002. From January 2004 the day centre received a three year grant from the Big Lottery Fund, which ended in December 2006. Since then the centre has been operating on very restricted hours. The new grant is for a further period of three years.
Chief Executive, Mike Jones, said: “This is wonderful news for our clients and all those who work to help them. However, we will need to work hard to ensure the project is properly funded from other sources, including the local community when the present funding comes to an end”.
