St George's House - Information

St Georges House is a 25-bed project, which accommodates young persons between the ages of 16 and 25 years. The project is staffed 24 hours however, it is not a direct Hostel and young persons are only nominated directly by Housing Officers within the Hub.

If your application is successful, you will be able to reside at St Georges House for a period of up to 6 months. Once settled at the project you will be expected to agree and sign a personal development plan. This is tailored to suit your individual needs; you may have areas of concern with such things as budgeting, cooking or poor social skills. A Support Worker will be allocated to you and he/she will work intensively to help towards conquering these obstacles.

We at St Georges House understand that up until now you may have led unsettled way of life, but we hope to provide you with a safe and secure environment in which to live. We only ask that you respect ALL furnishings and equipment within the project, are honest and willing to co-operate fully with your support program. We do not accept anti-social behaviour and there is zero tolerance on the use of illegal drugs/substances.

Click here to view the Architect site

Click here to read Press Article

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Reclaim Hospital Travel Costs

You may be able to get financial help from the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme if you're on a low income, need NHS treatment at a hospital, other NHS centre or private clinic and have been referred by an NHS hospital consultant.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Bfsl1/BenefitsAndFinancialSupport/DG_10018959

V, the independent charity set up to encourage young people to volunteer, has launched a new £1 million funding initiative called vcashpoint for young people in England who want to set up their own community project. Working in partnership with the HSBC bank, vcashpoint will provide grants of up to £2,500 to young people to help them turn their ideas into reality. To help develop fresh and innovative project ideas, youth workers across the country will be using a brand new limited edition brainstorming kit called 'Outside the Box'. Outside the Box was piloted regionally with a number of youth groups and has proven to be an effective way to engage young people and help them identify potential volunteering project ideas. There will be a total of four funding rounds and application forms will be available from Monday 26 March 2007. /www.vinspired.com/vbuzz/campaigns/38/

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Financial Help to Clear Energy Debts

Do you provide welfare & rights advice to clients? Did you know that you can get financial help to completely clear your client’s energy debts? The Bristol Debt Advice Centre (BDAC) is working with The British Gas and the EDF Energy Trust to help reduce the amount of fuel debt in the South West of England. The British Gas and EDF Energy Trust Fund have £2 million pounds each to give in grants to help clear individual’s gas and electricity arrears across the UK.  To be eligible, the client must have a domestic gas and/or electricity debt and be currently supplied by British Gas or EDF Energy (Formally known as SWEB Energy, SEEBOARD Energy, London Energy and EDF Energy).  So if you or someone you know has energy arrears with British Gas or EDF Energy, the Trust fund may be able to clear the whole debt.  The project can help individuals complete the application and give energy efficiency advice to help better manage future payments.  The Trusts also have a hardship fund for people experiencing extreme hardship needing household items such as cookers – please call the Energy Team for more information.

The project now covers the following areas: Bristol, BANES, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset and North Dorset. BDAC are committed to promoting the work of the British Gas and EDF Energy Trust as well as increasing the number of grant applications from the South West of England. If you are an individual, advice agency or community action group who would like to know more about the scheme then please contact:

Heather Allan, Energy Advice Manager, Bristol Debt Advice Centre, 2^nd Floor, 48-54 West Street, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0BL 0117 954 3544 energy@bdac.org.uk

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Dyslexia Partnerships
The Dyslexia Institute (DI) was founded to provide for the literacy needs of people of all ages and offers assessment, teaching, training, awareness training and parent support. The Youth Outreach Coordinator for the DI is responsible for the development of working partnerships with organisations interested in the provision of literacy services for young dyslexic people, especially the disadvantaged. She wishes to raise awareness of the issues faced by these young
people and network with youth providers that are interested in working with DI. Please contact Hannah MacLellan, Dyslexia Institute, Youth Outreach Coordinator hmaclellan@dyslexia-inst.org.uk 07841 672051 www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk.

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Bristol Freecycle
Check out groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleBristol an egroup for the distribution of free items! Post your free items and check out what you can pick up for free.

New free help is available for women in Bristol who are involved in violent and abusive relationships. The Freedom Programme aims to help victims of domestic abuse and violence take control of their lives by gaining a greater understanding of their experiences, developing their self-confidence and boosting their social skills.

The programme consists of twelve 90 minute sessions and is being sponsored by Safer Bristol Partnership in conjunction with Bristol Domestic Abuse Forum, Sure Start, Barnardo's Social services and Bristol Primary Care Trust.

For further details about the Freedom Programme contact:

Medina, Bristol domestic abuse forum coordinator on

0117 925 0680 or

Debbie on 0117 377 2614

Ruth on 0117 916 2200

Kate on 07821 633 785

The Bristol Domestic Abuse free helpline is 0800 06949 999

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Family Mediation: helpline
The Family Mediation Helpline was launched on 11th May 2006.
Family mediation is used to solve various family problems, including:
· Disputes between parents and older children.
· Disagreements over care for elderly or seriously ill relatives.
· Disputes over grandparents' contact with grandchildren.
· Homelessness caused by family disputes.
The Family Mediation Helpline is operated by trained staff that are able to put couples in touch with family mediators in their local area. The Helpline is available by calling 0845 60 26 627 or visiting www.familymediationhelpline.co.uk

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Hopeline
A new telephone helpline for suicidal young people las been launched. HOPEline UK has been set up by charity Papyrus. Call 0870 170 4000

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Minimum Wage
On 1 October the minimum wage will increase from £4.85 to £5.05 per hour for over 21s, and from £4.10 to £4.25 for 18 to 21 year olds. The rate for 16 and 17 year olds who are above school-leaving age and are not apprentices remains at £3 per hour.

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Anti-Social Behaviour Helpline
Need to report anti-social behaviour? There is a dedicated 24 hour line: "Its your call" Tel. 0845 605 2222

Calls are charged at a local rate and voice and postcode recognition connects people to a real person in a customer call centre between 8.00am and 8.00pm and after hours to the emergency control centre.

This number is only available for residents living within the Bristol area at present - its a national home office initiative.

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Alcohol Misuse Service

Ara Alcohol Misuse Service (formerly ACAD)
ARA Alcohol Misuse Service is a harm minimisation service providing advice, information and support to people whose lives are affected by drinking.
The service consists of:
· Information and advice
· Drop ins
· 1-1 counselling
· Workshops
· Relapse prevention
· Life skills
· Group work
1-1 drop ins take place on Monday and Friday from 11.a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
Group drop ins take place on Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. (access to groups can be made up to 11.30 a.m.)
Individuals may refer themselves.
The service is based at:
2 Kings Court, Little King Street, Bristol, BS1 4HW

Board of Management

An Opportunity for Personal Development

The Board of Management is made up of voluntary members, elected annually.  The Board has a wide range of skills and experience and we are eager to attract new people who can bring their own life and professional experiences to the mix.

The Board meets four times a year, quarterly, in the early evening (6.15 pm) for about two hours each time.   It has 3 Committees which also meet quarterly. 

·                    Personnel

·                    Finance & Business Development

·                    Housing and Support Services

Joining the Board of Priority Youth Housing is a hugely rewarding opportunity. We are looking for a committed and interested person or persons to join us.  This is a wonderful opportunity for hands-on experience, a chance to really make a contribution and a difference.   You will be working alongside other Board members who will support and encourage your endeavours and appreciate  and welcome your experience, ideas and willingness to help steer our organisation through this time of exciting development.

Call Dom Wood on 0117 953 0404 if you would like to discuss this further – no obligation and in complete confidence.

Priority Youth Housing’s Mission is:  

“To improve the housing and support services for vulnerable young people in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area and to raise awareness of their needs, including delivering high quality and strategically relevant services in these areas”

Priority Youth Housing’s Aims are:

To provide excellent advice, housing and support services to 16 to 25 year olds in, or at risk of being in, housing need.

• To enable young people to access and maintain accommodation
• To provide excellent housing for young people for whom little or no provision exists
• To raise awareness of the housing and support needs of young people
• To provide excellent services aimed at prevention of youth homelessness
• To help young people to develop their own potential and independence skills
• To encourage participation of young people in the organisation
• To advocate for young people both at a frontline and strategic level
• To work with others to continually improve our services and delivery methods and respond to needs
• To maintain and develop a committed and skilled staff team and Board
• To promote Priority Youth Housing

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Fone Aid

Click here for more details

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Web Shop

Would you like to help us to support vulnerable young people? Please check out our web shop at www.buy.at/priorityyouth (it has links to over 90 major retailers). Your purchases will earn commission that raises funds for Priority Youth Housing.

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StreetSmart

Every year, during November and December, customers at participating restaurants can support homeless people in thier local area by contributing an additional £1 to the cost of their meal. Last year, Priority received a donation of £3,000. Click here for a list of participating restaurants or here to visit the home page.

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You can now make an online donation to Priority Youth Housing via Justgiving.com

Priority Youth Housing has teamed up with justgiving.com so all our runners & events participants can raise money quickly and easily online with their own personalised webpages.

Friends and family will be able to donate online with a credit or debit card – so no more running around with paper sponsorship forms, or chasing cheques and cash after your event. To set up your page today visit www.justgiving.com/priorityyouth/raisemoney or call 0800 028 6183 for more details.