Transformed pub praised as a 'blueprint' in fight against homelessness

Transformed pub praised as a 'blueprint' in fight against homelessness

A former pub transformed into sheltered accommodation for those struggling with homelessness has been described as a 'blueprint' to be replicated across the country.

Earlier this year, the former Queens Arms in Newtown was unveiled as a refurbished 14-bed sheltered accommodation, complete with kitchen and washing facilities, to give people in crisis a safe place to stay and receive further support to get back on their feet.

With homelessness in the national spotlight following Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to end rough sleeping, it is venues like the Queens Arms and the work of organisations like The Brick and Wigan Council that are being assessed to achieve these aims.

Councillor Susan Gambles, portfolio holder for housing and welfare, and chair of the homelessness and rough sleeping strategic partnership board, said: “There are some fantastic local partners that work collectively to support people at risk of homelessness, and we are so pleased to have an award-winning, nationally recognised organisation like The Brick in our borough.

“What comes across very strongly at their Queens Arms hub is that people are thriving there; they are positive, moving forward, and believing in themselves, and I think that is down to the facilities, the camaraderie, and the staff who care very deeply.

“This is the template that we should be using across the country, so we will continue championing these services and requesting more funding to be able to do even more like this.”

With the goal of ending homelessness and rough sleeping across the borough, Wigan Council unveiled its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy last year, setting out priorities to improve education and awareness, tackle the problems associated with homelessness, and increase access to affordable, safe, and secure accommodation.

Partnership working lies at the heart of this approach, with organisations like The Brick not only working to move people off the street and into safe accommodation, but also connecting those struggling with health services, training opportunities, and employment support.

Dean Paul, one of the residents at the Queens Arms sheltered accommodation, said that it is this wrap-around support and care that The Brick provides that has helped him get back on his feet.

Dean said: “I was homeless for six months and my life was in turmoil. I didn’t know where to turn other than go to The Brick, but it’s through this help that I now feel so much better.

“I can see light at the end of the tunnel and that’s because of the people here and the staff who try to help as much as they can to get me where I want to be.

“I’m just so happy to be in this place and have the opportunity to tell my story to other people who can see that this does work. I had a lot of negatives before coming here, but these negatives are turning into positives, and that’s making me change and giving me a sense of purpose.”

For decades, The Brick has been a central part of the support network in Wigan Borough, and it is this dedicated work, in addition to the feedback from people like Dean, that has made the charity an example to be followed for homelessness prevention.

Keely Dalfen, CEO of The Brick, added: “I’m really passionate about The Brick because we believe in equal life chances and for everybody to have the same opportunities.

“What we are good at is being brave and courageous, learning what works and what doesn’t, and helping people get back on their feet and achieve their personal goals.

“The supported accommodation at the Queens Arms has come from this courageousness; it has developed into not just a home for people in crisis, but a place with wraparound support, a sense of belonging, and a community, and I think that this will become a blueprint on how to deliver supported accommodation in the future."