• Identify the true extent of housing insecurity for single adults in Chippenham
• Explore the support needs of homeless single people
• Evidence the need for a permanent service

North Wiltshire Homelessness Project

Starting in March 2003, CVS North Wiltshire chaired a multi-agency steering group to set up a pilot scheme and North Wiltshire District Council funded the necessary research. By December 2003 funding was in place for a pilot day centre managed by the new partnership between CVS North Wiltshire and The Salvation Army, and supported by a multi-agency Advisory group which included North Wiltshire District Council, CAB, Community First, Mental Health, Probation and Social Services.

The pilot day centre was called North Wiltshire Homelessness Project

This was the first service specifically for single homeless people in North Wiltshire. As such it was able to gather for the first time information about the nature and levels of single homelessness in North Wiltshire on which plans for the permanent service, Doorway, are based.

The Drop-in opened for two sessions a week on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons in The Salvation Army Hall, Foghamshire, providing:-

• A warm safe place for adults who were homeless or threatened with homelessness
• A free, hot two-course meal and laundry facilities
• Donated clothing and food parcels
• Sleeping bags
• Simple activities e.g. table tennis, newspapers, computer games
• Befriending and support from the Manager, Support Worker and trained Volunteers
• Signposting to specialist services such as NWDC Homelessness services, medical care, benefits, CAB, tenancy support, mental health and drugs agencies
• Information from leaflets and the internet
• Music improvisation sessions

Pilot Project Completion Report (pdf file)

Conclusions from the Pilot Project