Summer was a busy time, not just for the bees but for Impact too!
With longer, warmer days, plenty of sunshine, vitamin D and a bloom of beautiful colours, it was the perfect time to come out of hibernation and that is exactly what we encouraged everyone to do.
Now we are knee deep in colourful and crisp Autumn leaves, preparing for Winter’s frost and the festive season, it is the perfect time to reflect back on the months just passed!
“Let’s Talk Day”
On 22nd July, our Purbeck Court Scheme hosted a “Let’s Talk Day” as part of the Mcvitie’s and Mind campaign!
Mcvities and Mind teamed up to help get the nation talking about mental health and to prove that sometimes it really is OK not to be OK.
At Impact Living we joined in by getting everyone talking! We provided the biscuits and all neighbours needed to do was turn up and talk.
Bank Holiday Fun
This August Bank Holiday, tenants from our Cornmill Scheme enjoyed the sunshine and scarecrows at Thornton-Le-Dale’s annual Scarecrow Festival.
Crofton Court Development
This summer, we completed the purchase and renovation of Crofton Court, phase 2.
We have converted 2 flats into 4 one-bed flats, fitted with brand new open-plan kitchens, windows and flooring.
Thank you to Waller & Partners, Howdens, Dudley Hill Carpets and Sonic Direct for your services.
Welcome to the Team
We are pleased to welcome back Kiren to our Fundraising Team.
“After completing my Degree and Masters in Sociology at the University of Essex, I moved back to Bradford in 1998, which is when I first became a volunteer at Impact. I became particularly interested in the fundraising side of the charity, and after 6 months joined the team full time.
After 6 incredible years at Impact, I decided to move down to London. For 12 years I worked for a national disability charity, raising funds from charitable trusts and local and national government to set up projects helping older and disabled people to live more independently in their own homes. A few years ago, I took a break from work to spend more time with my two daughters. When the opportunity came along to work at Impact again, it felt like perfect timing. I am really looking forward to becoming part of the team again and using the experience I’ve gained over the years to contribute to Impact’s valuable work.”
Kiren was sadly missed when she relocated to London. We are overjoyed to have the opportunity to work together again.
Personal Development
Well done to Helen, Ian and Jack on completing your 8-day intensive training in SIA Door Supervision and CCTV Licence.
Safety, Security and Risk Management
Impact Living offers a safe supportive environment. This includes qualified Safety Security Officers who patrol particular schemes as well as monitor CCTV coverage to ensure that our clients feel safe in their own homes. We also have a Security helpline, available 24 hours a day,7 days a week.
Our clients are often from at risk groups such as those fleeing domestic abuse, those at risk of hate crime as well as cuckooing; a form of crime in which drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for drug dealing.
It is therefore especially important to have a comprehensive security system in place to protect our clients.
Brand New Security Office – The Cornmill
We have a strict monitoring system to manage visitors to our tenants so that we can help protect our clients from unsolicited callers who could potentially take advantage of them or even endanger their health and safety.
Which is why we are building a brand-new security office within the main entrance of our Cornmill Scheme. We look forward to sharing the opening of our new security office with you soon!
Recovery Model
Since developing the extra care support package, we have learned that recovery can mean different things to different people and it may not always refer to the process of complete recovery from a mental health problem in the way that we might recover from a physical health problem.
We aim to deliver support services to adults with mental health through providing person centred care and recognising that recovery is about supporting individuals to live meaningful, satisfying and purposeful lives; not necessarily about finding a cure or treating symptoms, but finding ways to become resilient during challenges in their lives.
Through our enhanced support programme, we support people to regain their place in their local community, promoting social inclusion through running activities, day trips, providing volunteering and traineeship opportunities, signposting to colleges, community groups and leisure activities, enabling flexibility yet a stable system of support, which involves the individual themselves, as well as their personal relationships and other specialist support services.
Principles of Recovery:
“While there is no universally accepted definition of recovery, one definition, often referred to as the ‘recovery model’ argues for the importance of building the resilience of people with mental health problems and supporting their identity and self-esteem. It is a strength-based approach that does not focus solely on symptoms and which emphasises resilience and control over life’s challenges. This model aims to help people with mental health problems move forward, set new goals, and take part in relationships and activities that are meaningful.
Recovery is also often referred to as a process, and some of the important features of this recovery process can be described by the acronym ‘CHIME,’ which stands for: Connectedness, Hope and Optimism, Identity, Meaning and Purpose, and Empowerment”
The Recovery process:
- provides a holistic view of mental illness that focuses on the person, not just their symptoms
- is a journey rather than a destination
- does not necessarily mean getting back to where you were before
- happens in ‘fits and starts’ and, like life, has many ups and downs
- calls for optimism and commitment from all concerned
- is profoundly influenced by people’s expectations and attitudes
- requires a well organised system of support from family, friends or professionals
- requires services to embrace new and innovative ways of working.
- The recovery model aims to help people with mental health problems to look beyond mere survival and existence. It encourages them to move forward, set new goals and do things and develop relationships that give meaning to their lives, and the lives of the people around them.
Recovery emphasises that, while people may not have full control over their symptoms, they can have some control over their lives. Recovery is not about ‘getting rid’ of problems. It is about seeing beyond a person’s mental health problems, recognising and fostering their abilities, interests and dreams. Mental illness and social attitudes to mental illness often impose limits on people experiencing ill health. Health professionals, friends and families can be overly protective or pessimistic about what someone with a mental health problem will be able to achieve. Recovery is about looking beyond those limits to help people achieve their own goals, aspirations and a hope for their future.
Recovery can be a voyage of self-discovery and personal growth. Experiences of mental illness can provide opportunities for change, reflection and discovery of new values, skills and interests.”
Mental Health Foundation:
- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/r/recovery
- https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/a-to-z/recovery/
Recovery Star
Over the coming weeks, as part of developing the enhanced support programme with a focus on the recovery model, we will be piloting the Recovery Star; a tool which enables those we support to measure their own recovery progress.
“In the Mental Health Recovery Star, the Recovery Journey, is described as the ladder of change, where a client moves through stages:
- Stuck – Leave me alone
- Accepting help – I want someone else to sort things out
- Believing – I can make a difference. It’s up to me as well
- Learning – I’m learning how to do this
- Self-reliance – I can manage without help from the service”
Recovery Star User Guide, Joy MacKeith and Sara Burns of Triangle Consulting with the Mental Health Providers Forum, 2008
We have met with Triangle, creators and implementors of the Outcome Star tool, and we are thrilled to be signposting our team to training which will fully equip them in using the new system.
“The ‘star’ contains ten areas covering the main aspects of people’s lives, including living skills, relationships, work and identity and self-esteem. Individuals set their personal goals within each area and measure over time how far they are progressing towards these goals. This can help them identify their goals and what support they need to reach them, and ensure they are making progress, however gradual, which itself can encourage hope.
The Recovery Star also enables organisations to measure and assess the effectiveness of the services they deliver”
Mental Health Partnerships, Resource, Recovery Star, 10th September 2009
Mental Health Recovery Framework – September 2019
We are extremely pleased to announce that we will be collaborating with Sheffield City Council as a recognised provider on the Mental Health Recovery Framework; providing support for adults with mental health issues to progress their mental health recovery and to live in a way that is based on hope, confidence and the ability to live a rich and full life. Commencing from September 2019.
World Suicide Prevention Day – 10th September
Nicola Doran, Housing Manager of the Wilfred Drive Scheme, had the privilege of attending the launch of the Sheffield Suicide Prevention website. She pledged to share the website and complete the Free 20-minute online training!
What will you pledge?
http://sheffield-suicide.support/
Baroness Barran, Minister for Civil Society
On the 19th September, our Greaves Street scheme were delighted to provide a tour and talk to Baroness Barran, Minsiter for Civil Society and Co. as well as Matt Smith CEO of Key Fund.
The Minsiter was keen to learn all about a project supported by Key Fund, to bring to life how engaging with them in policy development at ministerial level, really makes a difference to local communities, as well as charities like Impact.
“We were all very impressed by the work you are doing, and really appreciate the team and residents taking some time out of their days” Scott Gordon, CFA, Policy Advisor, Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport.
For further information:
‘Breaking the Cycle’
Hate Crime Week, 12th -19th October
Impact Living joined forces with community services across Yorkshire to raise awareness about Hate Crime and how to prevent or report it as well as get involved in taking action against it!
Examples of how you can still get involved include:
- Joining a local Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel
- Encourage reporting
- Volunteer in local support groups
- Challenge stereotyping
- Promote empathy
- Hold awareness raising workshops
- Celebrate Diversity
- Host a Culture Festival
- Cooking food from various cultures and host a workshop
- Social Media campaigns #NoPlaceForHate #SpreadLoveNotHate #StopHateStartHere #SafePlaceForAll
- Bake ‘Spread Love Not Hate’ Cakes for the local community
You can check out the ‘Stop Hate UK’ site and also visit the ‘National Hate Crime Awareness Week’ website for more details for ideas on getting involved.
Cheers to Sixty!
With each decade that passes comes even more reason to gather those close to you and cherish valuable time together. Within our Greaves Street Scheme, we helped a tenant celebrate his 60th Birthday!
“Thank you to all the lovely staff who celebrated my Birthday with me!”
Renovations
Recently, our hard-working maintenance volunteers teamed together to change the quality of life for an elderly man living in poor conditions.
*Ray had been sleeping on an old, damaged mattress on the floor within his living room, while also living out of a small suitcase as he had no wardrobes or drawers.
He’d also been using a broken cd unit as a shelf and storage.
Although *Ray is still very independent, as he continues to age and due to life changing events, there has been concerns over his health and well-being.
We have worked together with *Ray to agree a suitable support programme for him, enabling him to live in his own home as independently as possible, with as much choice and control as possible.
With *Ray’s permission, the Impact support team assessed his health support and housing needs and have put a plan in place, which included sprucing up his home and making some minor adaptions to create a safer living environment for him.
With the help of maintenance volunteers, we have managed to turn the flat around by redecorating each room, completing some much-needed essential repairs, as well as providing new flooring, a new bed, mattress and shelving.
We have made the kitchen a safer space by removing the oven and replacing this with a microwave.
*Ray had been living in the flat since 2011 and told us that no one had ever been to visit him to see if he needed any repairs… after a spruce up, the tenant cried with joy when he had seen what had been achieved by the Impact maintenance and support team.
We will continue to support *Ray as his needs change over time.
*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality
Testimonials
Sana Khan
Background:
Sana came to live with Impact Living following estrangement from both of her parents, lack of family support and risk to her health and well-being. Sana left the family home and was living between friend’s houses and didn’t have a fixed residence, this was leading to extreme levels of stress as Sana was also studying for her A levels at the time.
Whilst living with Impact Living:
Sana had been living with Impact Living for over a year and had settled in well. Sana accessed housing support visits weekly and was always happy to chat with staff and other tenants. When Sana arrived at Impact Living, she didn’t understand much about how her rent would be paid and how she would be able to afford to pay her bills on the income she was on.
“I have worked on budgeting skills with Sana and she has taken to this; developing her money and budgeting skills massively over the past year. Sana has also worked with other agencies through Impact as she has utilised the Food bank on a couple of occasions, as well as granted £1000 for a washing machine and laptop through Family Fund, BBC Emergency Essentials scheme.”
Whilst living with Impact, Sana has been studying for her A levels in Maths, Biology and Physics. She has worked hard to prepare for her exams whilst trying to cope with living independently from a young age. Sana received her exam results in August and was over the moon to have passed them all. She is now in the process of moving into University halls of residence, as she will be studying an Undergraduate degree in Bio-Medical Engineering with the hopes of becoming a dentist in the future.
What Sana has to say:
“I first heard about Impact Living through my teachers as I was going through a rough time at home and needed supportive accommodation to help me, as I was only 16. At the time I never knew about Impact Living or what it was about, looking back, I feel so fortunate to have had this organisation and opportunity as it has helped me to become very independent and to remain positive in order to achieve my goals. My support worker as well as the rest of the Impact team were always there when I needed them; from requiring urgent repairs to assisting with me emergency food supply while my income was being set up. I have lived with Impact for a year and had a one bedroom flat, which was perfect, I never experienced any hassle either. Also, in that year it was my last year of A-Levels, so it was a stressful time and worrying about revision and exams alone was a hard task never mind maintaining a home; bills, cooking and cleaning. However, thankfully from the weekly visits to the motivational conversations and reassurances, this organisation made it possible for me to achieve a good education and keep out of mischief, whilst also living a good healthy lifestyle. This is more than I could have ever asked for from them but I couldn’t have done it without them and I am ever so happy with how everything has worked out. I am now moving on from Impact and have secured a place at a top university studying Medical Engineering, I’m now renting a flat myself as well”.
Sam’s Story:
December 2018 – July 2019
“My sister has been a Heroin, Diazepam and Cannabis user for 24 years. Has had abusive relationships over these years. As a result of this Sam was evicted from two homes, this was not all down to her but also the company she kept.
Sam felt that she had been “Failed” in her words, by her community,
This split the family up and I would go several months with no contact with her, when we did see each other it ended up with us arguing to the point we could not be in the same room as each other.
In 2012 after being evicted for a 2nd time, it was down to our parents and myself to move her. I told her it was strange that the people who she thought were her friends were never there for her when she was homeless and it was always down to us. Our parents took her in for a second time.
Eventually she moved out of our parents and into a squat with her abusive partner. In time they rented privately. December 2017 Sam walked out in the middle of the night, with only her pyjamas that she was wearing. This time things were different I could tell by her body language and expressions, for the First time in 24 years she let me help her.
January 2018 the Council told us a new supported housing scheme would be opening in Malton, The Cornmill. They told us they would put her name down for accommodation. We did not think anything would come of this as no one had wanted to help before. We were eventually told that Sam had been successful and would be moving into The Cornmill.
Sam has been living in The Cornmill since December 2018.
Impact Living have supported Sam tremendously, you have taken so much pressure away from us, without you we would not be where we are today. You have not only supported Sam but all of us as a family. We know Sam is happy being with you all as well as having her own space in her flat, which is lovely as well as being safe. She has gained a second family in you all.
I have learnt from you all too and realised addictions are an Illness and recovery does not happen overnight.
In this short time Sam has slowly turned her life around. She has since had two hip operations and is doing well. Impact Living have been fantastic with Sam while she has been recovering from her operations.
I recently put a before and after photo on Facebook the amount of support from old school friends and people who knew her before taking drugs has been Outstanding. One said they would not recognise her if they walked past her in the street.
On behalf of dad and myself we would like to thank Impact Living, their staff and residents for all the support with Sam. You are all amazing in what you do, hardworking and loyal attending appointments with her as well as having fun. Sam has been treated with the Dignity and Respect that everyone deserves and has not been looked down on or judged.
Without you all we would not be where we are today. You have given dad his daughter back, Sam and I have learnt to be sisters again rather than enemies, we are both enjoying the time we spend together and my children are getting to know their Auntie as they have not seen her look so well.
Thank you again for the tremendous support we have all received as a family, it’s fantastic to know there are people like Impact Living who do care.”
“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go”