News : Roundswell & Sticklepath

One of North Devon’s Best kept secrets is opening it’s doors to all those concerned about the well being of the Homeless and Socially Excluded.

Saturday 10th November sees the first Open Day at the Centre and is being supported by The Mayor, Councillor Sue Haywood, Nick Harvey M.P., County Councillors Brian Greenslade and Chris Haywood amongst many others.

The Mayor, Cllr Sue Haywood  has arranged Collection Points at all the major Supermarkets where Tinned Foods, Toiletries, Warm Clothing (Socks and Underwear in particular), can all be donated. In addition The Freedom Centre will be open from 10.00 until 4.00 p.m. to accept Food, Warm Clothing, Toiletries, Tents and Sleeping Bags, Old Mobile Phones, Books, Used Inkjet cartridges and Jewellery.

Sue Haywood went on to say, ‘I have great respect for the work undertaken at the Freedom Centre. Many of their clients have complex needs and they are an essential element in Combating Homelessness, Mental Health difficulties and Substance Abuse in the area’.

The Freedom Centre on Howard Avenue has established a Drop In Centre for the
Disadvantaged and are currently catering for over 1,000 different people a year, 530 of whom will be new to the Centre. ‘A truly staggering figure’ says Phil Noall, the Project Manager  ‘We are able to offer respite in a safe environment where Hot Food, Beverages, Hot Showers and Clothing facilities are all available Free of Charge’. Phil went on to say ‘As a result of the Centre being open 5 days a week, it gives our clients the opportunity to engage and be signposted to some of the support agencies who would not otherwise be aware of their existence. Visitors will be able to see a typical 3 course meal provided by the centre for less than 35p’.

With a total of over 9,000 hot meals served in the year and a total of over 11,300 visits, The Freedom Centre is actively engaging with those on the margins of society, and enjoys the full support of the Police who recognise and value the work undertaken.

The Freedom Centre has no Statutory Government Funding and is totally dependant upon raising its funds through other means. ‘We rely upon the good people of North Devon to help support this initiative. As a charity we have enjoyed great support from the local Churches, however, with similar projects down sizing, we have now reached a point where the demands made upon the Centre by the needy are such that we desperately need greater help’.

For further information please contact:

Ian Williams on 07895 017199 or ianwillbarnstaple@yahoo.co.uk

Little Known Facts About The Freedom Centre

Monday
How Many Bags of Pasta are used in a Year                        Over 400 ½ kilo bags
How Many Drop Ins in a Year                                                   Over 12,000
How many Different People Visit the Centre in a Year        Over 1,050

Tuesday
How Many kilos of Sugar used in a Year                          Nearly ¼ Ton
How many Meals served in a Year                                          Over 8,500

Wednesday
How many pints of Milk is used in a Year                         Over 3,000
How many Showers are taken a Year                               Over 1,000

Thursday
How many new people use the centre each Month             Over 40
How many people are fed a 3 course meal for £10             Over 35

Friday
How Many people are reclothed each month                         Over 60
How many times has Freedom acted on behalf of
a Client in a Year?                                                                        Over 17,700

Helping the ‘Helpless’ to Help Themselves

For those suffering from Mental Health issues it is often immensely difficult for them to approach the idea of undertaking any form of work. The prospect of failure and not making any form of positive contribution is a massive hurdle to cross.

The Freedom Centre offers a safe environment where clients are able, when the time is right, to participate in the work of the Centre. Whether it is supporting the work of the Catering Manager or helping with the Clothes Store, it enables clients to build a degree of self esteem and shows new clients that there is a way forward.

In addition, this policy also helps to maintain control over potentially unacceptable behaviour within the Centre. As a result of the value that clients, (and clients who become volunteers) place upon the Centre, they tend to support the code of conduct and self police the Centre.

Supporting the disadvantaged can be achieved in many different ways. Helping individuals self fulfilment by offering showers and clean clothing is one obvious means of support, but the Freedom Centre’s holistic approach enables growth to be achieved by assisting the clients in a variety of ways.