Transcript
Page 1: Transforming Lives Together: Autumn 2014

Transform Lives; Cul�vate Talent; Release Poten�al

Friends First offers a “hand-up” by encouraging people to take

posi�ve steps forward with their lives; enabling progression

from despera�on: homelessness, isola�on and

unemployment to aspira�on: a home, belonging to a

community and employment.

Despera�on to Aspira�on: A Life-Transforming Journey

We are o en front-line support to

those who have been orphaned as

children and remain ‘adult

orphans’. One such person is Billy

who recently joined Friends First. He

was 12 years old when his father

died. On return from his father’s

funeral his mother was tragically killed in a car accident. Billy

went onto live with his mother’s sister which was not a happy

or a successful period of �me, followed by turbulent teenage

years in care. A er living at many different hostels Billy found

himself homeless at 22 years old; living on the streets. We

managed to provide a room for Billy at our community house

and he began a+ending our work-readiness ini�a�ve in

carpentry. Over the weeks he began to find a sense of joy and

achievement in working with wood and he enrolled at City

College to complete a weekly course in carpentry and joinery.

He is doing extremely well and recently received three

dis�nc�ons following his prac�cal examina�ons. He refines his

newly acquired skills at our workshop and is thankful for the

underlying support structure that Friends First offers during

this �me. Billy is showing reflec�ve maturity towards his past

issues; looking forward to the future, with genuine hope and

purpose!

Serena Crisp of Friends First met with the Head of Curriculum

for Business and Commercial at City College, Brighton to

ascertain how we can work more closely together going

forward. Partnership with City College will offer our

beneficiaries the opportunity to gain a formal qualifica�on

in-line with our work-readiness training.

Cooking up a Storm

Our team of beneficiaries have been tes�ng their culinary

skills over the past few months by preparing daily

community lunches alongside team leader Pat Wilby; who

is an excellent support worker and cook! We were recently

offered the opportunity to work in associa�on with the

Clarendon Centre, Brighton to prepare food for a large

event over a 6 week term. This enabled Pat to take some of

our beneficiaries a step further on their culinary journey.

This week they set to work to prepare dinner for 200

people! Each person worked �relessly to prepare the most

delicious Thai Curry which also included a vegetarian op�on.

Brighton MP visits Friends First

We welcomed MP Caroline Lucas to

meet our wonderful team, see our

newly renovated office and visit our

basement workshop. She was

delighted to meet some of our

beneficiaries; gaining first hand

insight into their journey so far

whilst they presented some of their

fantas�c handiwork.

Going forward we are looking to

create bespoke furniture out of

discarded scaffolding planks and

crates to sell; infusing an element

of enterprise into this area of our

work. Caroline was thrilled by the

possibility of being our first

customer (and so were we!)

Summer 2013

TRANSFORMING LIVES TOGETHER

Please Note: Names of beneficiaries featured in this newsle+er are changed to protect their iden�ty

Contact us: For more informa�on on Friends First or anything featured in this newsle+er contact

Serena Crisp (Communica�ons Manager) on [email protected] or 01273 840880

Autumn 2014

Page 2: Transforming Lives Together: Autumn 2014

The Amphibious Car Fundraiser

Two local engineering geniuses,

Barclay Hamer and Dan Boot-

Handford, set the challenge to

modify a standard road car into an

amphibious car that not only drives

on land but also powers across water

to raise funds for Friends First! The

lads successfully launched their

amphibious car, into the Adur at Ropetackle slipway and

travelled down the river half a mile to Emerald quay. The

tension rose to see if the car would make it back up the slip

way at Emerald Quay onto dry land: which it did!! It was such

an incredible achievement and a fun-filled event where people

of all ages joined in the excitement! Barclay and Dan chose

Friends First to raise funds for as it is par�cularly close to

Dan's heart following his family playing an instrumental role in

mentoring and suppor�ng past and present beneficiaries of

Friends First. There is s�ll �me to sponsor them via:

h+p://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanielBootHandford

Awareness of Friends First

The Amphibious Car a+racted a flurry of media a+en�on. This

included a full page ar�cle in The Argus and various interviews

by Brighton’s Latest TV. This gave us the opportunity to invite

James Dunham, from Latest TV, to visit our base and work-

shop at Clarendon Villas. James

enjoyed mee�ng and filming team

leader Danny Cassidy and some of

our amazing beneficiaries taking

part in our Carpentry Ini�a�ve. Visit

this link to view James’ footage of

life at Friends First:

h+p://t.co/15Dt8f7G0P

Barista Training

Our base, at the Clarendon

Villas, has a Coffee Shop on

site with a barista coffee

sta�on. This has enabled our

beneficiaries to learn

valuable skills in barista.

An Opportunity to Give Back

In November we will see the launch of

our fourth Winter Night Shelter in

associa�on with local churches. It is

such a privilege to be able to provide

warmth, shelter and community to those who are homeless.

We are so encouraged that two of our beneficiaries who were

helped on last year’s night shelter have volunteered their �me

this year; offering inspira�on and hope to others.

A Homeless View of Brighton

We organised a trip around Brighton

for our beneficiaries who were

keen to prac�ce their photographic

skills. They, like no-one else, know

this city like the back of their hand

and can show us a side of life that

we may not see.

For some, it brought back memories

of their hide-outs at night.

For Pete, this was a shelter on the

seafront at the end of Grand Avenue.

For Jake, it was steps in the lanes

where he spent most of his nights on

the street.

One beneficiary simply took a picture

of a wall, behind the Thistle Hotel,

where he and others gathered at night

for warmth and shelter.

A Beneficiary’s Story

“I found myself needing the help of the Rough Sleepers team.

Un�l then I had never heard of Friends First and the work they

do with the homeless. My first day (at Friends First) was

nerve-wracking and I felt fear clouding over me like so many

�mes before, though as soon as I was there, I felt all fear fall

away. The people were so welcoming and friendly and I

instantly felt relaxed and at ease. The worries I had about

certain things felt like they no longer ma(ered and it seemed

like all my ques�ons were answered without even having

asked them. I was slightly worried about what work I would be

doing, but I was soon put at ease. Friends First provide training

that includes gardening to computer skills; which is where my

skills lie. Woodwork and furniture-making is something quite

common at Friends First. I have never done this type of thing

before but found myself asking to have a go and I did some

sanding and surprisingly enjoyed it immensely. I am wan�ng to

learn new skills and feel that being at Friends First will help me

to do this. Life brings more security each day, and I am making

new friends as well. I am keeping all my op�ons open and all

my paths in view. Hopefully I will take the right one which

leads me to where I want to be in life. Yet for now I am happy

where I am heading!”

A Christmas Tree that will make a

Life-Transforming Difference!

Friends First will be raising money

this year by selling real Christmas

Trees to order! Orders will need to be

completed online by 24th November

2014, details to order will follow

via our website:

www.friendsfrist.org.uk

Make a Dona�on Any dona�on, however large or small, is really appreciated. It's great to know we've got such

wonderful individuals suppor�ng FF to transform many more lives. Please visit www.friendsfirst.org.uk to donate.

Alterna�vely you can contact Serena Crisp on 01273 840880.


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