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The Ashley Foundation is a registered homeless charity, established in 1997 for the purpose of providing accommodation and support to ‘homeless individuals in need’. We are committed to treating individuals with dignity and respect. We are determined to offer the opportunity and the support necessary to encourage and enable personal growth and self-development.

The

Ashley

Foundation

Supporting Homeless People in Need

Registered Charity No. 1063208 / Company No. 3366712

The Ashley Foundation 2011

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About Us

About Us
There are many and varied reasons why people become homeless. Relationship breakdown, domestic violence, young people asked to leave home, people with drug and alcohol or mental health issues who are unable to sustain an independent lifestyle and more recently due to recession, where someone might lose their job and are then are unable to pay their mortgage or rent, the list goes on and on.Helping someone to rebuild relationships with family or friends, stay in education, take up employment and training opportunities or deal with their drug and alcohol or mental health problem is as much about tackling homelessness as is securing a roof over their head. A place to stay.......We have three hostels in the Blackpool area (Oak House, Elm House and Holly House), as well as eight move-on flats (Birch Lodge and Cedar Lodge). We also have three hostels in Blackburn (Union House, Islington House and Canterbury House). Opportunity and Support...Here at The Ashley Foundation we don’t just offer a room, food,heat and light. We also offer a safe and secure environment.Our aim is to empower individuals to develop the necessary skills through a programme of high support and educational opportunities, which will enable them to move into independent living and successfully sustain their own tenancy.

The

Ashley

Foundation

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Our Clients

Bowling

Our Clients
The homeless men and women who use our services have a rich diversity of backgrounds and experiences. There are a many number of different personal and social factors which can contribute towards people becoming homeless. These may include drug and alcohol misuse, lack of qualifications, lack of social support, debts - especially mortgage or rent arrears, poor physical and mental health, relationship breakdown or even just coming from an institutional background such as having been in care, the armed forces, or in prison.Most people who become homeless can fell very isolated as many have lost all contact with their friends and families. People come to us with increasingly complex needs and to help them start to regain their independence we recognise that we must constantly modify and modernise our homeless services.Our clients' progress and achievements as they work towards recovery are made even greater by the significant hurdles they have overcome.

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0ur People

Our People

Trustees

Chief Executive

Senior Management

Staff

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Trustees

Trustees

Paul Bamber

Roy Alleway

Neville Bramhall

David Kam

Although The Ashley Foundation employs a team of dedicated, professional staff to run and support all of our services on a day-to-day basis, the ultimate legal and financial liabilities lies with the Board of Trustees, who devote their valuable time freely to uphold and promote the interests of the organisation and the people who we work with.Being a Trustee can be challenging and our Trustees come from a range of backgrounds, bringing an enviable array of knowledge, experience and skills in order to carry out their responsibilities to the utmost degree. In addition to formal duties, such as approving the annual budget and accounts, the trustees actively assist the Chief Executive and the Senior Management Team in setting the overall strategic direction and managment of the charity.We have four Trustees who work very hard for all the staff and residents here at The Ashley Foundation. You can see our Trustees in the photo gallery opposite.

CEO

Chief Executive
Lee Dribben is our Chief Executive and is responsible for the overall running of the Charity. He is also responsible for the management of the Hostel Managers, the Support and Development Manager and the Administrator. Lee esures that the Charity is financially viable and that all the Foundation’s legislative responsibilities are fulfilled.

Lee Dribben CEO

Senior Management

Senior Management

Amber Sylvester is our Support and Development Manager. She is responsible for the management of the Support Team and for ensuring that The Ashley Foundation meets its contractual requirements with Supporting People. Amber is also responsible for taking The Ashley Foundation forward, looking for new business opportunities and raising the profile of the charity.

Amber Sylvester

Paul Wyatt is our Administrator. He ensures that our accounts are in order and is responsible for the administration of the day to day finances. Paul also deals with all our Personnel and Human Resource issues and ensures that there are sufficient staff on shift to cover the three hostels. He is responsible for the management of the Support Administration Officer

Paul Wyatt

Staff

Staff

In order to keep our 9 sites, across Blackpool and Blackburn, adequately staffed, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, we employ over 50 people, including using a loyal pool of enthusiastic volunteers.

Each member of staff contributes their skills and experience to help us provide a high qualtiy, innovative accommodation based service that seeks to meet the needs of the homeless men and women we support.

Development & Training

We also think it is important to continue the improvement of not only our services but our staff. We are dedicated to providing the appropariate training and support for each employee and volunteer, which will enable them to develop professionally and also gain job satisfaction from their role.

Both our staff and volunteers are offered a range of learning opportunities, from NVQ's in Health and Social Care, Food Hygiene, Business Administration and IT, to both internal and external training courses dealing with drugs, alcohol and mental health issues.

Accommodation

aCCOMODATION
We have three hostels in Blackpool (Elm House, Oak House and Holly House) and three hostels in Blackburn (Union House, Islington House and Canterbury House). Aswell as eight move on flats (Cedar Lodge and Birch Lodge)

Elm House

Oak House

Holly House

Cedar Lodge

Birch Lodge

Union House

Islington House

Canterbury House

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Services

Support

Support
We have a dedicated team of Support Workers based at each of the hostels. The main aim and objective of the Support Team involves creating a strategy which will encourage residents to take control of their own lives, by developing the skills necessary for independent living and to enable them to improve their own network of support, once they have left The Ashley Foundation. These aims and objectives are achieved by offering practical support, advice, assistance, advocacy, representation and counselling. The Support Team liaise with specialist agencies such as mental health services, drug and alcohol agencies, debt management schemes, mentoring projects, probation services and so on. The team also have good links with and invites on-site work from numerous educational establishments and also offers social life skills courses and other projects for our residents to access. The desired result of all these opportunities is to enable the individual to cope better with daily problems, to help increase self-esteem, improve motivation and raise levels of confidence by the meeting and overcoming of challenging situations.

Resettlement

Resettlement
We want to encourage residents to live more independent lives. For most of our residents hostel life is a temporary stage prior to achieving a safe, secure and permanent tenancy. Resettlement is not just about moving people through the hostel system. It must also be about providing the appropriate and flexible support to help people maintain their home as they move towards independence. A failed tenancy is traumatic for the person concerned and can be costly for the housing provider. By preventing failed tenancies, effective resettlement will also help to make the best of housing stock. The definition of resettlement is: "to secure access, for vulnerable homeless people with a history of sleeping rough, to long-term accommodation which best suits their needs and reasonable preferences and to ensure that they do not subsequently lose it or move to less suitable accommodation". It is the job of our Support Workers, who work closely with our residents and the numerous letting agents and private landlords within the Blackpool area to achieve this aim.

Catering Housekeeping

catering & housekeeping
Here at The Ashley Foundation we provide four meals a day. The menu is varied, healthy and is seasonally adjusted. Missing any meal of the day can mean missing out on the recommended daily amounts of essential vitamins and minerals. This can result in poor physical and mental abilities, so we try to promote healthy and balanced diets for all our residents. Our Hostel Services Manager and the team of chef/housekeepers try wherever possible to help those residents with particular strict dietary needs, such as vegetarians, lactose or starch intolerant etc... Not only do our team of dedicated chef/housekeepers prepare meals and carry out full housekeeping duties, they also provide domestic skills training for our residents to undertake in order to help towards preparing them for independent living. The training consists of the following topics: HousekeepingThis training is based around the resident being aware of general hygiene around the home (such as cleaning a cooker, fridge and microwave and keeping bins and the surrounding areas clean and disinfected). It will also include the understanding and uses of cleaning products and their storage. Cooking and Basic Food HygieneThe resident will learn how to prepare inexpensive, simple but nutritious dishes and be advised on dietary needs. This training will also include advice on how to store and cook frozen foods safely and how to safely re-heat and store chilled and cooked foods. It will also involve personal cleanliness in the kitchen and how to avoid food poisoning and cross contamination.

Drug Alcohol Work

dRUG & aLCOHOL wORK
Drug and Alcohol dependency is a nationwide problem which can affect many people. The misuse of drugs and alcohol can also have a detrimental effect on health and social well being within the local community. Our Drug & Alcohol worker will provide one-to-one key work sessions, which will provide both practical and emotional support to individuals. Clients will be supported and encouraged to achieve their own personal goals and develop new interests. The aim is to bring hope and confidence which will allow residents to take control of their lives within a safe and secure environment. As soon as a client has been assessed by our Drug and Alcohol Worker, they can then be referred to the appropriate agency for treatment and intervention. The faster this assessment can take place the faster the client can then receive the right level of support they require in order to tackle their drug/alcohol dependency.

Support

Resettlement

Catering Housekeeping

Drug Alcohol Work

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Referrals

Referrals

To find out how to refer into our services, whether you are self-referring or you are a key worker working on behalf of a client, please click on the Referrals Process PDF document below.

Referrals Process.pdf

If you are eligible to apply for our service, you will need to complete one of our Referral Forms. The form can be returned by post or in person to: 81 Abingdon Street, Blackpool, FY1 1PP, by fax (01253) 626500 or via email to:

referrals_theashleyfoundation.org.uk
New TAF Referral 2011.pdf

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Donate

Donate

Donations

It’'s really easy to make a difference.

But if you'’d like to make a donation too, well, we would be incredibly grateful.

And we promise to put every penny to work where it’s needed most - your generosity will literally change lives.

You can use either of these services to donate directly or if you’d like to organise a fundraising event.

There are many ways in which you can help The Ashley Foundation, which are:

By Post

By Phone

Online

By MyDonate

By Text

By donating specific toiletries and goods

Just click on the navigation buttons on the left hand side

By Post

By POST

If you would like to send us your donation by post, then please make your cheque payable to:

'The Ashley Foundation' and post it to the address below:

The Ashley Foundation

81-83 Abingdon Street

Blackpool

LANCASHIRE

FY1 1PP

If you have any questions or queries, then please contact us on 01253 297200 or e-mail:

laura.cooper_theashleyfoundation.org.uk

Thank you very much for your support !

By Phone

By PHONE

To make a donation by phone, just call us on 01253 297200 and speak to Paul Wyatt at our main office.

Lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except at Weekends and Bank Holidays).

If you have any questions or queries, then please contact us on 01253 297200 or e-mail:

paul.wyatt_theashleyfoundation.org.uk

Thank you very much for your support!

Online

Online Donations

If you'd like to make an online donation, please click on any of the logos below.

You will then be directed to the appropriate secure website to continue the donation process (in a new browser window).

BT MY DONATE

MY DONATE

Another way you can help The Ashley Foundation raise funds online, is by using MyDonate from BT.

MyDonate is a not-for-profit, online fundraising service for UK charities. This service provides a secure, easy-to-use way to raise money for our charity. With My Donate there is no commission and no fee which means our charity gets 100% of the donation you make.

If you want to know more about donating through MyDonate, please click on the icon below where you will be redirected to the MyDonate website. Once on the website, go to the Donate to Charity section where you can search for our charity and make your donation.

Fo a full list of FAQ's for Donors, please click on the Help section on the MyDonate website.

By Text

by Text

It's now even easier to make a donation and support the work we do here at The Ashley Foundation. Donations can now be made by sending just a simple text message via the Just Text Giving service from Vodafone.

why use this service?

100% of every donation goes to the charity

All text messages are FREE on ALL networks

It’s quick and easy to donate, helping your chosen charity to raise more money.

How to use this service

Just send a text to 70070 with our unique donation code, plus the amount you wish to donate (minimum £1; maximum £10 per text, the number of texts you can make is unlimited).

The Ashley Foundation's unique donation code is: TAFD11

So if you wanted donate £2, then simply text TAFD11 £2 and send it to 70070.

Once you've sent your text, you'll then be sent a text confirming your donation has been received .

If you want to learn more about JustTestGiving, then simply click on the JustTextGiving logo below and you will be redirected to the website where you will find all the information you need.

Toiletries and Goods

Toiletries & goods

The Ashley Foundation depends on the support and generosity from schools, churches and the general public to be able to continue our much needed work within the community. We are very grateful for any and all gifts, large or small and they will never go to waste. We are always looking for non-perishable goods especially:

Shampoo & Soap

Toothpaste and Toothbrushes

Disposable Razors

Combs

Deodrants & Shaving Foams

Tea/Coffee

Baked Beans/Plum Tomatoes

Sugar/Condiments

Pot Noodles/Soups

Tinned Meat/Tinned Vegetables

The Ashley Foundation is always grateful to receive any donation in support of our work. We do not dictate what we are prepared to accept. If you feel that your gifts will be useful to our work with people who are homeless, then we will be grateful to receive.

Gift Aid

How Gift Aid Works
The Gift Aid scheme is for gifts of money by individuals who pay UK tax. Gift Aid donations are regarded as having basic rate tax deducted by the donor. Charities or CASCs (Community Amateur Sports Clubs) take your donation - which is money you've already paid tax on - and reclaim the basic rate tax from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on its 'gross' equivalent - the amount before basic rate tax was deducted.Basic rate tax is 20 per cent, so this means that if you give £10 using Gift Aid, it’s worth £12.50 to the charity. For donations between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2011 the charity or CASC will also get a separate government supplement of three pence on every pound you give. In order to make a Gift Aid donation you’ll need to complete one of our Gift Aid declaration forms. This can be downloaded by clicking on the PDF below. This form can cover every gift made to The Ashley Foundation for whatever period you choose and can cover gifts you have already made and/or gifts you may make in the future.If you want to know more about Gift Aid, then please click on the link below and this will take you directly to the HM Revenues & Customs website page and the Gift Aid Toolkit.

Privacy and Security

Privacy & Security

The Ashley Foundation is committed to protecting your privacy and security. This page explains our policy on collecting, storing, and processing your personal and financial information and steps you can take to protect your privacy on our website.

To view our Privacy Statement and Security Statement's, please click on the PDF documents shown below.

Privacy Statement.pdf

Security Statement.pdf

Our Promise

oUR Donation Promise

Any donations, no matter how large or small, are vital in helping us to continue our vital work in providing accommodation and support to those most in need.

Our Donation Promise outlines our commitment to you and explains what you can expect from us when dealing with your donations.

Donation Promise.pdf

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Newsletter

Newsletter
To view our most recent newsletter in PDF format, please click on the icon below.If you would like to be able to read any of our previous issues of The Taffy Times, then please click on the 'Request a Newsletter' button below and complete the request form that will appear.Please state clearly how you would like to receive your newsletter(s), either by post or email and we will happily oblige.

TAFFY TIMES - ISSSUE 7.pdf

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Accounts

Accounts
The Ashley Foundation recognise that as a charity our continued success is dependent not only upon statutory and voluntary organisations trust and confidence in our work but also that of the general public. The Ashley Foundation believes that this trust can be built through being transparent and accountable. In essence it is our aim to provide relevant and reliable information to in a way that is unbiased, comparable, understandable and completely focused on our stakeholder’s legitimate needs.One way in which The Ashley Foundation tries to be transparent and accountable is by completing an annual Standard Information Return (SIR) about our work, along with our Annual Accounts, which are submitted each year to the Charity Commission. Our last three years of accounts are available to view and download, by clicking on the appropriate year opposite. Previous years accounts are also available by written request. Alternatively, you can go to the Charity Commission's website, by clicking on the link below, and searching using our Regtistered Charity Number: 1063208.

2008 Charity Accounts.pdf

2009 Charity Accounts.pdf

2010 Charity Accounts.pdf

www.charity-commission.gov.uk

Memorandum and Articles

Memorandum & Articles of Association
The Ashley Foundation's Memorandum and Articles of Association sets out the legal framework in which the Charity operates. They can only be amended by agreement by the Charity's membership at the AGM, held in association with the Annual Meeting. Please click on the icon below to view.

Memorandum.pdf

Newsletter

Accounts

Memorandum and Articles

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Latest News

Latest News

Read all about the latest news from The Ashley Foundation right here !

New Email

New Email !
If you need to contact us, to find out more about the work we do or to simply ask us a question -then please email us at our NEW address, which is:-info_theashleyfoundation.org.ukWe will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.Thank you.

Open Day

Open Day
Once again we opened our doors to host an Open Day. The venue was at our Oak House hostel and local businesses, statutory and voluntary agencies and the general public were invited to attend the event, which provided a unique opportunity to see what hostel life is really like.Amber Sylvester, Support and Development Manager at The Ashley Foundation, says that open days like these are all about breaking down barriers;"“This is a very unique opportunity for the public to see the work we do first hand and to understand better what hostel life is like.”“Often people have very negative misconceptions about the vulnerable client group that we support and the way in which homeless organization's like ours help them".Visitors were encouraged to chat with staff and clients and take a tour of the property. Light refreshments and a stunning lunch was also available for guests to enjoy.In the few hours that we were open, we had a large volume of people visit us to find out a little more about the work we do here. So a huge thank you must go to the trustees, staff, volunteers and of course residents of Oak House who helped out on the day.

Welcome

Welcome !
The Ashley Foundation would like to welcome Amber Sylvester as our newest member of staff. Amber, who joined us in January, is our Support & Development Manager.She is responsible for the management of the Support Team and for ensuring that The Ashley Foundation meets its contractual requirements with Supporting People. Amber is also responsible for taking The Ashley Foundation forward, looking for new business opportunities and raising the profile of the charity. Amber previously worked for Wyre Borough Council as the Housing Options Manager, dealing specifically with statutory homelessness. We hope Amber will be very happy in her new role here at The Ashley Foundation.

Amber Sylvester

Goodbye

Goodbye
Carole Morley, our Support Resettlement Officer has left The Ashley Foundation, after retiring on Friday 29th July 2011.Carole started working at The Ashley Foundation back in April 2004 and since then has made numerous, excellent links with local landlords, letting agents and the local authority, in terms of sourcing suitable housing stock for our clients to move on into.Carole's role as Support Resettlement Officer was not just about moving people through the hostel system. It was about being able to provide the appropriate and flexible support to help people maintain their home as they move towards independence. Carole thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic retirement party and BBQ, courtesy of the trustees, CEO and staff. As you can see from the photo's opposite everyone had a great time.Carole is selling up and moving down to the beautiful market town of Brecon in South Wales, to live closer to her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.We wish Carole all the best in her new life and a very happy retirement.

Carole's Retirement Party

New Email

Open Day

Welcome

Goodbye

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Job Vacancies

jOB vACANCIES
The Ashley Foundation is looking to appoint a Community Development Officer to raise the profile of the charity within the local and wider community and to increase community support and giving for homeless people accommodated by the charity. Ideally you will have experience in working in public relations or sales and marketing. You will have experience of working with the media and have a proven track record of achieving fundraising targets. You will be able to speak confidently to groups on relevant issues. You will have an in depth knowledge of fundraising techniques, legislation and best practice and have a good local knowledge including an awareness of potential key donors. You will be willing to go the extra mile and be dynamic and self-motivated. You will be able to work under your own initiative and spot relevant opportunities and make the maximum use of them. You may have experience of working in a similar role for a socially excluded group although this is not essential. In return we offer an opportunity to join our team of committed and enthusiastic staff, a competitive salary and good terms and conditions. Please download our Application Pack (see below) and return the completed forms to:-81 Abingdon StreetBlackpoolLancashireFY1 1PPAlternatively, you can request an application pack to be sent out by email or by post, by contacting Laura Cooper on 01253 297200 or by email:- laura.cooper_theashleyfoundation.org.ukThe Application Pack for this position consists of:-Application FormEqual Opportunities Monitoring FormJob AdvertJob DescriptionPerson SpecificationTerms & ConditionsTHE CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POST IS 17TH FEBRUARY 2012 AT 5 P.M. Last updated June 2011

Application Form.pdf

Community Development Officer Advert.pdf

Community Development Officer Person Spec.pdf

Community Development Officer Job Description.pdf

Equal Opportunity Monitoring Form.pdf

Community Development Officer Terms and Conditions.pdf

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Volunteer

Volunteer
There are many reasons why people volunteer. For some, volunteering can be a route to employment, or a chance to try something new, which may lead to a career change.Our dedicated pool of volunteers regularly give a considerable amount of their time, energy, ideas and enthusiasm to the charity, free of charge, provide invaluable support to our clients. Volunteering is often the first step to a career with homeless people. To see some of our current volunteers, just click on the names on the photo gallery to the left.Volunteering can also be a way of:-• Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience• Developing existing skills and knowledge • Enhancing a CV• Improving one's employment prospects • Using one's professional skills and knowledge to benefit others For others, volunteering appeals because of its social benefits. These include:• Meeting new people • Making new friends • A chance to socialise • Getting to know the local community We encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness. If you have any enquiries about the volunteering opportunities at The Ashley Foundation or you need help processing your application, please contact ourVolunteer Co-ordinator, .

Emma Prince

Dylan Fielding

Theresa Fletcher

John Fraser

David Wood

Kim Markham

Joe Hansen

Shane Foley

Emma Surgenor

Kirsty McFadden

Rob Conn

Vicki Stephenson

Penny Lake

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Contact Us

feel free to Contact us....
81 Abingdon StreetBlackpoolLancashireFY1 1PPTel: (01253) 297200Fax: (01253) 626500Email: info_theashleyfoundation.org.uk

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