The Neetside Community centre, situated in the heart of Bude, learnt some sad news at the beginning of the year as Pete Adams from Stonham Housing informed them that they would no longer be able to hire a room in the building on a weekly basis from the end March 2011, due to their funding being withdrawn as a result of the recession cuts.

 

This news was greeted with great regret by the Manager of the centre Sue Lamble and her Colleague Geoff Turney as ever since ‘Stonham’ have been using the ‘Neetside’, Geoff and Sue have seen first hand how vital the service that ‘Stonham’ provide is to the local community. 

 

For those of you who don’t know, ‘Stonham Housing’ provide a free and confidential housing related support service for vulnerable people over the age of 16 living within Cornwall.  It is aimed at developing and maintaining clients’ abilities to live independently with managing their tenancy, to move on or to settle in their own homes.  This includes help with claiming relevant benefits, liaising with local councils, housing associations and letting agents, budgeting skills or signposting them to local services, agencies and education.  Clients who can apply to the service include those with learning difficulties, physical or sensory impairments, mental health issues and HIV and Aids.  Also clients who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, women or men at risk of, or escaping domestic violence, drug or alcohol users, vulnerable young adults, young people at risk or leaving care.

Many people have been helped by ‘Stonham’ since they have been coming to ‘Neetside’, every Thursday afternoon between 2pm to 4pm, to operate their ‘drop in’ service.  In addition, many of the 43 agencies who use ‘Neetside’ over a month, for example the CAB, The Bude Health Trainer, Cornwall Alcohol And Drug Agency, Careers South West and Pathways to Work, have been able to refer their clients to ‘Stonham’, should they feel that they can help – a great resource and one that will be sadly missed.

 

However, it is important to stress that although the Thursday afternoon drop in at ‘Neetside’ will no longer be available from the end of March, ‘Stonham’ will still be operating their ‘floating support’ service.  Clients can be referred by an agency, service or education provider or can self refer via the telephone.  Once a referral is received, ‘Stonham’ will send a letter of acknowledgement and arrange an assessment as soon as possible, or keep clients informed if there is a waiting list. Two team members will carry out an assessment of need and if appropriate the client will be appointed a project worker.  This project worker will complete a support plan with the client to identify objectives which will enable them to work towards developing and maintaining their independence.

 

Geoff and Sue wish Pete and the Team all the best for the future and hope that once this difficult time is over, ‘Stonham’ will return to ‘Neetside’ to once more become part of ‘Neetside’ and to resume the excellent work that they have done for our Community

 

 

Telephone Details for ‘Stonham Housing’ are:

Stonham Area Office

01726 871910

 

 

SUE LAMBLE

MANAGER

NEETSIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE