Promoting Social Inclusion by Enabling Individuals and Developing Communities

[ Ujima (BME Communities Project)] [ My Neighbourhood ] [ Flying Start ] [ SCDE ] [ Funding Advice and Support to Groups ] The [ CARD ] [ PORCH ] project

Overview: Homelessness, although still a very real issue in Exeter, has lost the appeal it once had, both locally and nationally. So fundraising will continue to become ever more difficult for the individual organisations involved in the city, and therefore a more collaborative approach is seen to be one of the ways forward. ECI is working with the frontline homelessness organisations in the city, to help find ways to work more effectively, efficiently and in partnership with each other. A great deal of valuable work is undertaken by: the Big Issue, the Clock Tower Medical Surgery, MOP (Exeter Shilhay Community’s Meaningful Occupation Project), SHOT (Street Homelessness Outreach Team) and St Petrock’s Centre, and these organisations together with Exeter City Council Housing Department, have asked ECI to facilitate this project.

What is the aim?: It is hoped by working together in this way, better understanding and trust can be built between organisations, and practical mechanisms can be designed, including: Joint Assessment processes, and Joint Working Protocols. Perhaps most importantly though, a client focus can be better provided.

What has been achieved?: A comprehensive Service audit has been completed which shows what services have been provided by which organisations. By Christmas, 200 homeless and vulnerably housed people in the city had been interviewed by means of a one to one interview and also though 6 focus group sessions. Both the client and the service audit combined, have resulted in the publication of a report, in partnership with the University of Exeter. A copy of this report can be found by clicking here.

An event was held at the Cardinal Newman Centre on 31st January to launch the Final Report into the views of people who are homeless and vulnerably housed, about the services that are provided to them in Exeter.  The event was well attended by over 60 people from a range of organisations that had helped us to access their clients for interview, along with the volunteers who conducted the interviews.  Huw Vasey, the PhD student who analysed the data and wrote the report, presented his findings well, and clearly demonstrated the evidence behind 11 recommendations for action. Click here to view Huw Vasey's presentation.

What is currently happening?:  ECI have been funded by ECC to take the project forward for another year, and the next stage of the process is to draft an Action Plan for making improvements to the services provided in Exeter for homeless people.

Why ECI?: ECI has a great deal of experience of working with homeless people, but currently is not directly involved with any homelessness projects, so are seen as an honest broker, that can help those on the frontline to navigate a path, that will offer better services to homeless people and more certainty and security for their own organisations, by means of closer collaboration with each other.

14 York Road, EXETER, Tel: 01392 205800, Email: [ info@eci.org.uk ] [ Project COSMIC 2004 ]