Charity Registration No THE GATEHOUSE PROJECT Overview of January – December 2015

WORKING WITH THE HOMELESS AND VULNERABLY HOUSED FOR OVER 26 YEARS

GETTING TO KNOW YOU…. By the beginning of 2015 Kat Horne had been in post for just over three months and had the first experience of the Christmas period at the Gatehouse and all that entails. Trying to understand the unique volunteer model of work at the Gatehouse was intriguing along with the volunteer sandwich and soup volunteer model. An understanding of the wealth of people involved in some way with the Gatehouse had begun, but it was just the tip of the iceberg. Getting to know staff, volunteers and Guests was also a priority.

DEVELOPMENTS 2015

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GARDEN AREA HAS MADE GUESTS FEEL VALUED! The first major piece of work in 2015 was to work in partnership with our neighbours, Thames Valley Police and the City Council Anti Social Behaviour Team so we could all work together in close proximity and manage Anti Social Behaviour in the outside space. So we:  Engaged Guests to develop and design the Code of Conduct for the project and the garden area  Devised an action plan on how anti-social behaviour would be managed and recorded  Recruited a third Project Worker throughout the summer months to engage Guests and make the garden an extension of the project rather than an exclusion  We have not had a neighbour complaint for over a year and a half!

CODE OF CONDUCT DEVISED AND DESIGNED BY GUESTS

GETTING TO KNOW GUESTS…  This has taken some time to build up positive and trusting relationships  I asked Guests what they wanted to keep the same at the project and what changes they wanted to see  Guests wanted to keep the core service the same as it is still much needed and continuity is valued  Guests development ideas have been a one to one worker, additional hot food, regular welfare benefit support and a film night once a month

INCREASE IN PEOPLE WHO WERE ROUGH SLEEPING ATTENDING THE PROJECT 2015 April

NUMBER OF VISITS 2015  April 2015 (one week)=317  July 2015 (one week)=360  Sept 2015 (one week)=342  Dec 2015 (one week)=375

FOOD HYGIENE INSPECTION  The last one was in 2005  Most of what we were doing food hygiene wise, was good, we just didn’t have it documented anywhere  It took 5 months to implement changes across 40 food groups and hundreds of volunteers who deliver the service  One of the main changes was to add allergen information to all of our donated and purchased food

THE GATEHOUSE FOOD SAFETY HANDBOOK

WE GOT THE HIGHEST FOOD HYGIENE RATING!  This is a huge achievement for a volunteer led organisation and wouldn’t have happened without the effort from all volunteers and staff.  It also allowed me to visit food groups and understand the enormity of the planning and preparation that the sandwich and soup groups have to do to operate. In just one food group alone, there are 40 people involved.  It also allowed hot food to be introduced into the sessions. A range of Tesco staff, volunteer their time and bring in additional food every Tuesday which includes hot food. This has fast become one of our busiest nights and is fondly known as Tesco Tuesdays. Guests really enjoy the different range of food and the additional nutrients provided. We would really like to extend this to two nights a week, if we can find another provider.

2015 STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ANNUAL TRAINING PLAN  This is developed with coordinators and staff  This is a chance to show volunteers and staff that they are valued  Vital earning to be able to support Guests with issues that arise in sessions DateTypeCostAimsVenue February Sunday 15 th pm March 15 th pm Level 2 Emergency First Aid at Work (3 hours per session x 2) £600 Maximum 12 people For staff and co-ordinators, to ensure adequate First Aid trained levels for drop In sessions. The Gatehouse 10 Woodstock Road Oxford, OX2 6HT May xxx Saturday X 2015 Mental Health First Aid Training (accredited) £1000 Maximum 16 people To increase awareness and confidence in staff and co-ordinators when working with someone who maybe presenting with mental health symptoms or a potential risk to self or/and others. Restore Manzil Way Cowley Rod Oxford, OX4 1YH June Saturday 6 th pm Boundaries and Confidentiality Training In House Maximum 30 people For volunteers to increase awareness and understanding of maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality in and out of the working context. The Gatehouse 10 Woodstock Road Oxford, OX2 6HT July Saturday 25 th pm Conflict Resolution TrainingIn House Maximum 30 people For volunteers to increase confidence and develop strategies when dealing with conflict in the work place. The Gatehouse 10 Woodstock Road Oxford, OX2 6HT October Sunday 18th pm October Saturday 21 st pm Level 2 Food Safety Course £900 Maximum 15 People For staff and co-ordinators to ensure safe handling of food and to meet health and safety standards. The Gatehouse 10 Woodstock Road Oxford, OX2 6HT December Saturday 5th pm Boundaries and Confidentiality Training In House Maximum 30 people For volunteers to increase awareness and understanding of maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality in and out of the professional context. The Gatehouse 10 Woodstock Road Oxford, OX2 6HT

WRITING AND IMPLEMENTING NEW POLICIES TO GUIDE OUR WORK Professional boundaries policy Confidentiality policy Health and Safety policy Equal Opportunities policy Disciplinary policy Recruitment policy Volunteer Complaints procedure New HR paperwork New financial management procedures

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW WEBSITE FOCUSING ON GUEST INVOLVEMENT AND TO HELP RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS

DEVELOPMENT OF FRIDAY NIGHT LITERACY GROUP AND WEBSITE  Focuses on encouraging Guests to discuss writing, to write fiction, non fiction or poetry  Each week a set of different prompts are prepared to motivate the process  This has led to an online literary forum

THE LOSS OF A VALUED STAFF MEMBER  In August 2015 one of our long standing staff members passed away  Bernie had been a staff member at the Gatehouse for over 6 years  The loss impacted the whole volunteer and staff team and the homeless community  We were able to celebrate Bernie in partnership with Ruskin College in October 2015

WE NEEDED TO DEVELOP OUR STAFF TEAM  So we recruited two Project Workers to fill Bernie's very large shoes and both used to be Guests of the project. We really want to promote people with lived experience delivering the service.  We also recruited a third staff member who would be a third Project Worker on our busiest nights due to the increase in Guests using the project.

SHARING THE VENUE  In September 2015 a Montessori Nursery began sharing this venue in the day  Despite challenges in the first term, the two organisations now work in a mutually supportive way  Apparently it is un-heard of that a children's service and a homeless service can work together in the same building

SUPPORTERS  A significant amount of the Project Directors role is meeting and working with people who support the project and maintaining those relationships. Whether that be:  People volunteering their time  People supporting the project with funds  People donating food or clothing  Fundraising is another significant area of work and Jayson and I have shared that responsibility in 2015 and 2016