Arc formerly Taunton Association for the Homeless

⭐️ CLIENT APPRECIATION POST! ⭐️

Tonight we would like to give a huge shout out to Jacob, a current client of ours at Lindley House. 📣

He has single-handedly been transforming the garden this week, digging out all the borders, replanting all the tubs and hanging baskets, sweeping, cleaning and jet washing the courtyard!

Jacob you are a superstar, you have made such a positive difference and should be really proud of how hard you have worked. 👏

Tickets for our NEW and exciting fundraising event are on sale NOW! 🌟

Digital tickets can be purchased by clicking on the link HERE ➡ https://tktp.as/EJYWPP

Paper tickets will be on sale Friday from Visit Taunton and The Nook & Cranny

Priced at £45.00 to include a 3 course meal.

As we approach the season of harvest we are putting out a plea to remember us in your thanksgiving plans this year. 🙏

Holding a collection in aid of Arc could make a significant difference to those in need locally, helping us to provide essential items such as food, clothing, and hygiene supplies, as well as support for those moving on into safe and stable accommodation.

If you would like to host a collection drive, raise funds, or organize an event to benefit those in need we would love to hear from you! 📨 [email protected]

September is here which means one thing... CARNIVAL TIME! 🎉

We still have volunteering opportunities available for collection fundraisers at Wellington, Taunton & Bridgwater carnivals.

For more information please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Joan at [email protected]

Full info can also be found here 👉 https://rb.gy/9kcpn1

We are delighted to introduce our new CEO Paul Richards and look forward to welcoming him next week. Paul has 20 years of experience running housing and support organisations and is passionate about leading teams to deliver a strong social purpose.

Paul is ‘looking forward to working with colleagues at Arc, helping it to transition into becoming a Registered Provider but most of all, continuing to deliver brilliant services to help those experiencing homelessness in Somerset’.

We would also like to say thank you to Caroline Moylan, who has been supporting Arc as Interim CEO over the past months

We have more exciting news to share! 📣

Victory House has now been awarded accreditation via the StreetVet Hostel Scheme, making Arc the first veterans service to have been awarded this status. 🏆

The scheme will provides support to Victory House staff, their residents, and pets, through e-learning, free veterinary treatment, food, a telemedicine platform, equipment and provisions along with pet boarding, pet-friendly taxis, and pet references to name just a few of the benefits.

It also ensures homeless veterans can access safe and suitable accommodation for them and their pet, ensuring pet ownership never prevents someone from accessing the help and support they need. 💙

Today we held a Naming Ceremony & Afternoon Tea to mark the retirement and dedication of Dr Lisa Horman. 🍰

Dr Horman is a specialist GP in Health Inequalities and has been working with Arc for many years, bringing healthcare directly to our clients. 🩺

She was a vital part of setting up the Reach Centre and our GP Surgery, and with the help of Dr Timothy Norbury who arranged the plaque, we have named our surgery in recognition of her many years of commitment and hard-work. 🙏

Through her work with us she has helped many people facing homelessness to access healthcare. It has been great working alongside her and we will all miss her tremendously and so will our clients. 💙

Sometimes it's the small things that make a big difference! 🌺💐🌺

Julie, a dedicated member of our Housing Support Team, spent the afternoon gardening with a client, cultivating not just flowers but also confidence, hope and a sense of belonging. 💙

⭐️⭐️ We've been nominated for an award! ⭐️⭐️

We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted at the HSJ (Health Service Journal) Awards, for our involvement with the Somerset Armed Forces project, run in partnership with ARK at Egwood and NHS Somerset

The Hubs have been recognised as an outstanding contribution to healthcare and this has secured us a place at the prestigious awards ceremony later this year. 🎫

You can read more about the Somerset Hubs here: https://rb.gy/mibm60

All set up in the foyer of Asda Bridgwater today! 😀

If you are heading there to do your weekly shop please pop an item in our trolley 🙏

📣 Final Call For Outreach Donations 📣

There is still time to support our Outreach Team with donations over the weekend. 🙏

You will also find us in the foyer of Asda Bridgwater tomorrow where a member of our team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about our organisation.

Huge thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign so far, especially the drop off locations:

📍 T1 Fitness & The Nook & Cranny - Wellington
📍 Taunton Brewhouse
📍 The Waffle House Community Café - Burnham on Sea

🙏💙 APPRECIATION POST 💙🙏

Today we were gifted a box of 50 caps from Total Triumph Taunton after they saw a plea go out on our social media. These caps will be given out to clients during periods of hot weather to prevent heatstroke and sunburn.

Huge thank you to Gabby and all of the team for your very generous donation. 🙏

At the end of July Housing support worker Samantha Jones attended a Veteran led Breakfast Club cookout in the woods, hosted by our partners at ARK at Egwood

Jon cooked up a yummy feast of bacon and sausages on a man-made fire pit in the woods. 😋

If you are a member of the Armed Forces community and would like to come along, or you need some support with housing issues, mental health, access to funding through military charities, or with managing chronic pain, you can find info on both hubs at [email protected]

Have you visited The Waffle Hub in Burnham-on-sea? 🧇

The Community Café is home to Citizens Advice, The Community Employment Hub, Homeless & Rough Sleeper Nursing Service, The Food Bank, Free Cooking Classes, The Clothes Bank, The Repair Café and so much more.

The Waffle Hub have kindly agreed to support our Donation Drive for our Outreach Team. Why not pop along, meet a friend and enjoy a yummy Waffle too! 😋

🙏 Nationwide Grant Transforms Lives 🙏

Earlier this year we were delighted to have been awarded a £10,000 Good Causes Grant from Nationwide.

The grant, which had to be applied to a project that is housing related with a lasting impact, has been used to install a brand-new additional kitchenette and dining area at one of our properties. With the second part of the grant being used to completely replace a kitchen in another property currently housing 15 people. 🏘

Martin Ball Head of Property Services said, “Huge thank you to Nationwide for the generous support which has enabled us to provide additional and modern kitchen spaces, which will have a lasting positive effect on many clients for years to come"

Below are some before and after photographs showing the room previously being used as a bedroom. The Property Services Team should be commended for their hard work installing the new kitchen.💙

📦 Outreach Donation Drive 📦

Starting on Monday the 12th of August we are running a two week donation drive for our Outreach Team based in Sedgemoor.

We have drop off points at the following locations:

📍 T1 Fitness - Wellington
📍 Taunton Brewhouse - Taunton
📍 The Waffle House Community Café - Burnham on Sea

You can also find us at Asda in Bridgwater on Saturday the 24th of August!

🎉👏 CONGRATULATIONS JAMES 👏🎉

Today we would like to say a huge well done to our social enterprise team leader James who has successfully passed his driving test. 🚗

Enjoy your independence James - I think you can tell by the smile on his face how pleased he is to have passed! 😀

The hot weather we have been experiencing this week is extremely dangerous for those rough sleeping as it puts them at risk of sunburn, dehydration & heatstroke. ☀️

Here are some tips on how you can help anyone you see struggling over the weekend. 👇

Today on we thought we would shout about our Buddy Scheme.🤝

Our Buddies provide guidance and support to many of our clients when they need a friend. What a wonderful way to spread kindness, whilst making a difference in your community.💙

If you would like to find out about all the volunteering opportunities currently available in Somerset, you can do so here: https://www.sparkachange.org.uk/volunteer-campaign

Last week Sam, from our Communications and Fundraising Team, was kindly invited to attend a lunch with the Senior Division of Vivary Golf Club⛳️

Here she was presented with a £700 cheque by David Beale, on behalf of the late John Fisher, who nominated us as his charity of the year.💙

Thank you so much for choosing to support Arc, the money raised will go towards providing much needed items for our clients. 🙏

If your organisation would like to arrange a fundraising event on behalf of Arc please contact Sam Parr at [email protected]

🙏⭐️ APPRECIATION POST ⭐️🙏

This morning we collected a car full of items for our Welcome Packs from the The Nook & Cranny in Wellington.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Charlotte, Maxine and all of the customers who have supported our campaign. 🙏

The Nook & Cranny have kindly agreed to continue collecting items from the list in the comments. If anyone has anything they would like to donate, please pop in and say hello. 💙

Looking for a unique volunteering opportunity right on your doorstep!

We are looking for carnival collection fundraisers to take part in local processions, meet like-minded individuals and help raise much needed funds for Arc.

You can find out full information here 👉 https://rb.gy/9kcpn1

Meet two of our residents Stuart & Jamie. 😀

Jamie has recently been sorting through our fishing gear and teaching Stuart all about how to fish, and with the help of support worker Kevin and the kind donations of our supporters, we have purchased some new reels. 🎣

We have also been provided with some licenses through the Angling Trust Get Fishing For Wellbeing Project and thanks to Kev's initiation, Arc is now an approved partner of their project.

Fishing is so beneficial for boosting the mental health and wellbeing of our clients and we can't wait to update you on the progress of the project. 💙

🎉 We're thrilled to announce our partnership with Spark Somerset for the volunteer - Your Time, Your Way initiative!

Together, we're breaking barriers to volunteering and creating opportunities for everyone to make a difference. 🤝

Stay tuned for more updates and ways you can get involved!

Volunteer in Somerset - your time, your way Welcome to the Volunteer - your time, your way campaign! Organised by Somerset voluntary organisations and led by Spark Somerset, this initiative aims to ins...

Have you met Gromit? 🦮

He is the latest resident to move into one of our properties. We can safely say that he has settled in well thanks to the help of StreetVet and is very popular with the whole team. 🐾

I'm sure he would absolutely love to receive a gift. 💙

Welcome Gromit, our newest patient of the Accredited Hostel Scheme!

Gromit is a new resident Arc formerly Taunton Association for the Homeless and has settled in very well. As Arc is a StreetVet Accredited Hostel, we are able to provide Gromit with everything he may need, from monthly food deliveries (thanks Scrumbles) to FREE veterinary care and all the important extras such as toys, beds, coats and treats!

Perhaps you might like to send Gromit or one of the other dogs in our accredited hostels a gift?
You can view our Amazon Wishlist HERE 👉 https://amzn.to/45wbtxu

💐 HAPPY RETIREMENT TERESA 💐

At the end of June the lovely Teresa left the finance office after 11 years of working for us.

Teresa who said she "loved her time here" will be massively missed by the whole team, who spoilt her with leaving gifts. 🎁

We all hope you enjoy every minute of your new endeavours and happy adventures. 🚚 💙

Thank you for your 11 years of hard work. 🙏

Today we are at raising awareness of our armed forces services in partnership with , who are just across the path from us! We also have a tombola, our hearts for the homeless and a guess the name of the turtle game! Come and visit us on the right side of the park 💚

Can YOU help support a client with a WELCOME pack?

When clients arrive at Arc they often have nothing except the clothes they are wearing, and have lost many if not all of their material possessions.

Therefore we provide all of our clients with Welcome Packs to help make the transition from homelessness to more settled accommodation easier. 💙

There are 3 ways you could support a pack:

1. Donate items listed in the comments below.
2. Make a £25.00 cash donation with the reference PACK here: https://www.arcinspire.co.uk/Support-Us/Make-a-Donation
3. Via our Amazon Wishlist 👇
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2HTGYEFUVCJQY...

This week alone we need 14 packs for people moving into our properties!

Chris became homeless just over a year ago and after a period of sleeping rough, was offered sheltered accommodation with us. 🏘

Having previously served as a soldier in the British Army, Chris was offered a room in Victory House. Suffering with his mental health and self-esteem, Victory House offered solace and support amongst fellow veterans.

Within the first six months he completed ten educational courses, engaged well with external agencies and volunteered at one of the local charity shops. 🙇

Chris also engaged well with support staff and his link worker Louis, and it wasn't long before he developed the confidence to start working towards “moving on”.

After recently being offered his own flat and moving closer to Merriott he now benefits from the support offered by our colleagues at Ark at Egwood. 🤝 Chris hopes to soon start as a volunteer at Egwood and aspires to eventually work as a veteran’s peer support worker within the NHS.

Chris’s story not only demonstrates his own strength and resolve during austerity, but also proves the importance of our recent collaboration with ARK at Egwood and NHS Somerset to ensure Veterans and their families can access help and support.