“Putting roofs over heads and tackling damaging addictions and behaviours is not enough without rekindling real purpose in life” says Chief Executive.
Thursday 23 November 2006 - Tomorrow, Friday 24 November, Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Social Exclusion will officially open ‘The Garden Rooms’ in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Garden Rooms is an innovative project - believed to be a national ‘first’ - and the brainchild of Tyneside Cyrenians, one of the country’s leading and most progressive homelessness charities.
The project, which started in spring this year, has resulted in seven of the thirteen men who at the outset were homeless, unskilled and unemployed;
- qualifying with NVQ Level 2 in Construction Skills
- establishing new homes
- starting new jobs and
- stabilising previously chaotic lifestyles.
‘The Garden Rooms’ is a single storey building in the grounds of Elliott House, Tyneside Cyrenians’ head office. It provides bedroom accommodation and new office space.
Stephen Bell, Chief Executive of Tyneside Cyrenians, said:
‘This is a fantastic day for many people. Our aim from the outset was to add a whole new dimension to how we help the homeless and vulnerable in our society. Putting roofs over heads and working to change damaging addictions and behaviours is not enough unless real purpose in life can be rekindled.
‘We are so proud of the men whose achievements we are celebrating today. Not only have they given themselves a brand new start in life – they have opened the doors for others to follow in their footsteps such has been the interest and support we have attracted from Government at both national and local levels.
‘We know they have had to dig deep and that it has taken real courage and hard work from them to get this far. In many ways their journeys are only just beginning – but what a great future they have ahead of them now.’
Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP said:
‘It’s clear that, through this project, these men have been given a life changing opportunity. The skills they have developed will be of benefit both to them and society as a whole. Their pride in their achievements and raised self esteem is tangible.
‘We congratulate all at Tyneside Cyrenians who have made the vision a reality and we have been impressed by their persistence, commitment and ability to bring other organisations and individuals together in support. We are following Tyneside Cyrenians future plans with great interest to see whether this innovative approach can be adopted more widely.’
David Faulkner, Deputy Leader at Newcastle City Council, added:
‘We are very proud that this scheme which is so simple and draws on total common sense has been initiated, planned and delivered here in the North East. We are always pleased when people or organisations from our region set new standards and lead by example.
‘We have supported the work of Tyneside Cyrenians for many years and we know our challenge in terms of homelessness and vulnerability in this region is no different to other parts of the country. We are looking forward to assisting Tyneside Cyrenians more as they seek to extend the benefit of their reach further afield.’
The Garden Rooms were designed by leading regional architects Jane Darbyshire David Kendall Limited (JDDK). The timber framed, ecologically and environmentally friendly building, follows ‘self-build’ construction principles pioneered by the renowned ‘Walter Segal’ method and the siting and style of the building itself are based on historical records of earlier structures in the walled garden.
Under the watchful eye of main contractor and project managers of this scheme, Lumsden & Carroll Construction, part of Esh Group, all of the men involved completed a foundation course in Health & Safety and the seven who completed the project received their NVQ Level 2 in Construction. This, importantly, makes them eligible for their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card; the construction sector ‘passport’ for site workers. The training was delivered both by tutors from Newcastle College and staff from Lumsden & Carroll Construction.
Andy Pritchard, Contracts Manager with Lumsden & Carroll Construction, explained;
‘It’s fair to say that everyone involved in this scheme has been affected – for the better. We have all benefited and learned from our experiences – teamwork is always a strong feature of any construction project – and here the site has been pulsating with enthusiasm and camaraderie. Everyone, from Peter Darkings, our Site Foreman, to all the visiting trades has gone out of their way to support and encourage the ‘self builders’.
Alison Thornton-Sykes, Principal Designer with JDDK, continued;
‘We’re delighted with the finished result. The building is both attractive and ecologically sound – and the manner in which it has been created gives it greater qualities. At JDDK we believe that buildings which have stories to tell take on real character and life. If that’s true this one, for all it’s single level, is a real skyscraper!’
The scheme uniquely harnesses contributions from a wide range of partners and organisations. It is principally funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG previously the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) and through Newcastle City Council and Tyne & Wear Partnership through the Community Foundation. Supplementary support has been provided by the Department for Work & Pensions’ Employers’ Subsidy Scheme and Newcastle City Council’s Building Initiative. Stephen Bell continued;
‘We’re extremely grateful to our partners in the project both for their belief in our vision and their financial contributions. The list of people who deserve credit is almost endless and we are looking forward to highlighting their roles at the Official Opening.’
