Agencies we work with
During our sessions, a number of agencies are on hand to give help and advice on many issues including housing, health, addictions, and welfare benefits. NHS Health Outreach and West Suffolk Council Rough Sleeper Service are very active among our guests at each session.
At each session, a volunteer is available to help guests who are willing and able to take the next step in improving their situation. This can include encouraging and helping them to sign up to a Job Club, to find voluntary or paid employment, or training to improve their job prospects.
Anglia Care Trust is a charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable people within the community. They specialise in preventative, community based services, giving people the stability and support in order to enable them to realise their full potential. The Alcohol Outreach Officers work with identified “street drinkers” to support them into and through the recovery and rehabilitation process.
Gatehouse is a registered charity based in Bury St Edmunds. They provide a number of services aimed at serving the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the community.
(Part of Suffolk Marginalised and Vulnerable Adults Outreach Services (MVA)
The MVA service provides health services to vulnerable groups who do not already have a GP or if they do, might need more assistance such as homeless individuals, refugees and gypsies and travelers. The MVA service also provides a first response to immediate need such as wound care, health checks, sexual advice, drug and alcohol services, needle exchange and prescribing.
Julian Support
Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion
The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion service (CJLD) was launched by the NHS Foundation Trust and works alongside partners Julian Support and military charity Walking With The Wounded. It offers valuable support for people who are attending police investigation centres or courts and are experiencing housing or financial problems or have vulnerabilities such as mental health issues, substance misuse or learning disabilities. This could include onward referral into services provided by NSFT, local GPs or social services, as well as help with education and employment.
Leonard Cheshire
Physical disability, learning difficulties and learning disabilities, mental health and any other health barrier support, digital support and life coaching.
Offers adult learning and supported employment. They hold expertise in helping those who are long-term unemployed, disabled and/or disadvantaged, parents/carers, ex-service personnel and ex-offenders. In addition, Realise Futures support our self-help group, Table 1.
Turning Point
(Drug and Alcohol)
Turning Point’s range of drug and alcohol services help people recover from addiction and gain control of their lives. They have vast experience of supporting people with a range of complex, multiple needs.
Sanctuary Supported Living
Supported housing for those with a range of support needs. Their customer base includes many households facing severe challenges, some financial, others because of illness or disability and they provide a range of support to the most vulnerable members of society to enable them to sustain their homes.
Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering addicts throughout the world whose members meet together to share hope, faith, and courage for the purpose of staying sober and helping others achieve the same freedom. Everything heard at the meetings is treated as confidential. There are no dues or fees of any kind. To be a member, you only have to want to quit. They also exchange phone numbers, and give and seek support from one another between meetings.
Citizens Advice West Suffolk give free, confidential information and advice to help people with their money, legal, consumer and other problems.
Havebury Housing Partnership is a not-for-profit housing association charity which lets 6000 properties to tenants in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Their Anti-Social Behaviour team work closely with other agencies such as the police, environmental health and residents’ groups plus town, borough and county councils. They attend the police’s Safer Neighbourhood Team tasking meetings where anti-social behaviour is discussed and priorities are agreed each month.
Julian Support
Supported Housing
They provide support to people in a range of supported housing schemes in Norfolk and Suffolk. Their focus is on empowering tenants to build and maintain skills that will enable them to live independent and meaningful lives. They offer practical advice and assistance and work with clients to assist with daily living skills such as accessing benefits, budgeting, social activities and exploring opportunities for work and education.
Notting Hill Genesis
Supported Housing
The Suffolk based STARS (Supporting Treatment, Accommodation and Recovery) service delivers intensive recovery support and work in partnership with Public Health.
Probation – Accommodation Officers
A service helping those recently released from prison find suitable accommodation.
Safer Neighbourhood Team
The Safer Neighbourhood Team are part of Suffolk Constabulary and work within communities to deliver a local policing service. They work with councils and other organisations to deliver a service that is visible, accessible and responsive to what local people need.
West Suffolk Council Rough Sleeper Service
The Rough Sleeper Service is focussed upon assisting those who are street homeless or at risk of becoming so. They seek to ensure clients experiencing homelessness are aware of the housing options available to them and offer support in respect of housing pathways, either directly or by referral to relevant agencies.
Suffolk Coordination Service
(Supported Housing)
The Suffolk Coordination Service (SCS) is an access point to supported housing for homeless people. The Suffolk Coordination Service is delivered by St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Forest Heath District Council working in partnership with Suffolk County Council. It enables agencies working with people experiencing homelessness to access supported housing.
