A Letter From The Chief Executive (September 2007)

Dear Supporters,

Welcome to this, the first of a series of updating newsletters to inform all interested in our work.

Summer doesn't bring any respite, as homelessness is not seasonal. I think people are more generally aware of homelessness in winter - particularly close to Christmas - but figures show there's no seasonal variance.

August's hostel occupancy rate was 98.84%, in other words we were full almost every night. For the most part, on the day someone left, someone else would immediately take their place.

Three items of good news are:

1. We have ordered our 2007 Christmas card from the printers; the design printed below, doesn't do it justice as it is silver foiled. Price is £1.50 for 5, and they can be ordered by completing the form on this website and posting it in to us. All profits come to the Ark.

2. We now have a leaflet about our planned training extension, and these are freely available to all. Just phone to obtain a copy. Having mentioned our planned extension, we were fortunate to receive Globe and Wirral News coverage of our fundraising activities (Globe issue 8 Aug, and Wirral News issue 15 Aug.). It goes without saying that if you're interested in joining any of our fundraising activities; we'd love to hear from you.

3. Wirral Primary Care Trust has just agreed that our nursing service at the hostel can continue. They recognise its value in bringing the service to where disadvantaged people are.

Wirral Council are about to publish the recently commissioned external review of Wirral's homelessness strategy. We wait with interest to see what the report contains, or perhaps more importantly, what Wirral Council's response is, in real terms, to the content of the report.

For our part, we are trying to develop a more 'training and progress orientated' approach at the hostel. The world expects more from hostels these days than providing a bed and three meals a day. There is an expectation that we will support residents to 'move their lives forward' to progress towards returning to mainstream society. We already have twice weekly workshops and numeracy, literacy, and art classes, but we plan to develop this approach further.

Sincerely,

Bob Jarvis
Chief Executive

The Ark Christmas Card 2007