£37,000 for young people and families services in East Sussex
01/10/09
Crime Reduction Initiative's (CRI) East Sussex Young People and Families Services is developing a new Home Improvements Scheme. It supports families to learn decorating skills, while gaining an accredited qualification and making improvements to their home. And it's all thanks to a £37,247.42 donation by CIH South East.
The Hastings-based service works with many young people and families who live in social or private accommodation that is poorly decorated and furnished. For families that are involved in anti-social behaviour, this can exacerbate conduct. And for vulnerable groups it affects confidence, motivation and self-esteem.
The donation will contribute towards CRI's professional courses in painting and decorating, restoring and repairing furniture, making curtains and blinds, gardening and other related skills. These courses are provided on a one-to-one basis for young people and their families to improve the inside and outside of their homes. It's anticipated to have great benefits - promoting wellbeing, reducing anti-social behaviour and increasing tenancy sustainment.
The £37,247.42 cheque was presented at CRI's launch of a number of other initiatives. These include commissioning an artist and writer to work with young people - supporting them in writing, directing and producing a show to be performed at a professionals' conference next year. It will also deliver a series of health promotion workshops in rural areas. And, in partnership with East Sussex County Council, CRI is developing an accredited home study pack to support teenage parents returning to education.
Rachel Britt, CRI Services Manager, was delighted with the initiatives created by the donation. 'It's a fantastic opportunity to respond creatively to the way we deliver our core services. This money will help us to deliver innovative solutions, enabling service users to gain new skills, have better access to services and improve their homes at the same time. I hope the projects will have far-reaching benefits for individuals, families and the community.'
Graham Maunders, Immediate Past Chair of CIH South East, thanked members and supporters for generously supporting the regional charity during his term as Chair. 'In particular I would like to thank Ocean Media and CalfordSeaden for helping to make our events so successful. I have admired CRI's excellent work in addressing complex housing-related issues for many years. It is particularly pleasing to help further their work and make a real difference to people's lives.'