The Guild PROJECT UPDATE  Borderline Supporting homeless Scots in London February 2009 Support for Borderline ensures they are able to provide support for those who are homeless and require help, support and advice. The three years of partnership have given their work a high profile in churches around the country. Guild support has continued to enable Borderline to raise awareness of their work. In a twelvemonth period, they have made over 3,900 contacts with clients and agencies – finding accommodation; supplying grants for training or accommodation; accessing birth certificates; enabling them to travel to interviews or family visits; and helping some return to Scotland. November 2008 The Borderline newsletter reports that Borderline’s team of ambassadors have been round Scotland speaking and Guilds and are grateful for the warm welcome! Their new advice worker, Sarah reports on her post working with Borderline and also on her previous work with the Oasis Trust which worked with homeless young women. As a result of this interest, she now volunteers at the local YWCA. Borderline report that the annual service of commemoration for homeless people who have died in the past year takes place in St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, Lond on Thursday 6th November. If you can’t be there in person, you are asked to pray on that day at noon, if you can. September 2008 This update contains various bits of news: Andy, who was helped by Borderline, says thank you for the deposit they gave him for a tenancy – he had a job but didn’t have a deposit – Borderline made all the difference. The director, Eileen, and lead advice worker, Mark, attended the launch of a new report about the use of the private sector for homeless people. The private rented sector is playing an increasing part in responding to homelessness in London. Eileen also reports on staffing changes at Borderline – the post of Client Services Manager was made redundant and an advice left for pastures new. As well as Eileen and Mark, they have a new admin assistant and an interim advice worker. January 2008 This update starts with news that the Borderline offices have no heating – it’s broken down. The staff reflect that they are luckier than their clients – they put coats on and stay open for the clients who need them One such client is expecting a baby – it will be born into one room, with a cooker that the midwife says is not suitable with a child around and shared bathroom faculties. It’s a complicated story, but Borderline are able to offer some help – thanks to the Guild – and prayers for the couple involved are requested. Borderline staff were grateful for the support of the Moderator during her visit in November. The Moderator of the General Assembly traditionally visits this Church of Scotland project annually. Borderline are joining with The Passage (a day centre for homeless people) to host the drop- ins for clients – the clients often feel they are passed from service to service. They are often seeing as much as 3 clients in the hour they are at The Passage and are finding it easier to find out about homeless Scots through working together. Also highlighted is a letter Borderline sent to the Independent regarding the London Councils intention to ban vital ‘soup runs’ and free food for the homeless which they regarded as encouraging a life of dependency. Borderline write to express their view that this was vital help and the homeless didn’t choose to live in this way. They have succeeded in stopping this proposal for now, but are remaining vigilant. November 2007 Eileen ward records her appreciation of the Guild annual meeting which she attended on behalf of Borderline. She notes that now the temperatures are dropping, we should think of those who are sleeping on the streets, or who have a bed, but no home comforts. As a small agency, Borderline relies on its partnerships (such as that with the Guild!) to take forward its work and have recently joined the project ‘Putting down roots’ run by St Mungo’s. It encourages community involvement on open spaces, and clients can get involved with gardening projects – one has obtained a gardening qualification through it. Despite the Borderline offices being rather small and cramped, they have offered a corner of their stationery cupboard as a local distribution point for the Big Issue. Looking to the future, Borderline is working with others to assess the impact of the Olympics in 2012 on those who are homeless in the area. Borderline are celebrating winning the Third Sector Excellence Award for Best Annual Report. The designer worked for free, allowing a professional document to be produced on a tight budget. This report is a key resource for Guilds for the project. September 2007 Eileen Ward, the director, started off this update by reporting on how important the donations, as well as the prayer support, were to the work of Borderline. She highlighted a fashion show staged by an Edinburgh Guild, and a fund raising effort which involved collecting pound coins in Smartie tubes. There is also a report from Betsy Wilkie, a Borderline volunteer, about how she became involved with their work, from the very beginning. The update includes the story of Ahmed – a man who found himself on the streets of London after a bad experience renting in Edinburgh. He was distressed, and depressed and so Borderline referred him to the council for housing,however, he wasn’t deemed vulnerable enough. At the same time, Ahmed discovered a son he hadn’t known about. He began to see his son and the depression lifted. He wanted to stay in London to keep contact with his son but could see no way to do so. Borderline helped him stay in London and helped him get a crisis loan to pay for a hostel. He now has a place in a Salvation Army hostel which trains people for independent living. February 2007 This update reports on the recent visit of the Moderator to the Borderline office in London. Rt Rev Alan McDonald met the staff, trustees and one of the clients. Borderline is entering a team in the Edinburgh Walk in June and are inviting sponsorship and support. The update includes a report from the new advice worker, Erin about her background and daily work. It also gives an update on the client, James, who has opened his bank account, but has now lost touch with the agency helping him to set up a window cleaning business. It is hoped that this is due to things going well for him. Over Christmas, Borderline helped a client with schizophrenia; they found him emergency accommodation, and he has now returned to his partner in Scotland, and hopes to have work soon. November 2006 Borderline are enjoying their partnership with the Guild and were happy to be at the annual meeting. Their mascot, Tam the bear goes to talks with Eileen, and they will be running a competition to see who can guess the distance Tam has travelled. A new trustee has been appointed – Douglas McNeill is an investment banker originally from Midlothian. The latest update carries a report from Stephanie Scholtz who spent 8 weeks on placement with Borderline. Borderline will shortly be recruiting a new advice worker following the departure of Caroline Bradshaw. September 2006 The first edition of the Borderline newsletter gave details of the launch of the new film created to promote awareness of Borderline’s work. It was launched in London and in Edinburgh at the Scottish Parliament. Borderline also announce their carol service, so be held in St Columba’s, Kensington at 6.30pm. Anyone in London on Thursday 7 December is warmly invited to attend. The newsletter gave details of their new website www.borderline-uk.org which has been developed with help from agencies specialising in charity websites. News from the advice workers highlighted the importance of Borderline networking with various agencies, particularly those who participate in the Westminster Homelessness Forum. A recent meeting focussed on health issues for those who are homeless. Difficulties also arise when those who are homeless try to open a bank account – they often lack the identification papers required. Borderline have helped some homeless people in this area by providing letters of introduction and help locating certificates etc.