News

People supported by St Martins have contributed to an art installation at St Peter Mancroft church in Norwich. Tim Edwards from Eastern Region Media ran a workshop to demonstrate how to make an origami envelope and hide a secret message inside it. The envelopes, are on display in the church alongside sculptor Peter Walker's powerful installation 'Hidden'.

If ever there was a time for positive thinking, it’s now. Finding yourself in a negative spin could happen to any of us after switching on the news. The world is a volatile and dangerous place. Many people, through no fault of their own, have absolutely nothing except the clothes they stand in and every day children are dying of malnutrition.

You might think a job as an antique furniture restorer would be a dream role. However, one of our team members has swapped the gold leaf and furniture wax for daily welfare checks and support meetings as she has retrained to become a support worker for St Martins.

St Martins celebrated the tenth anniversary of Webster Court, a residential service in the Lakenham area of the city for people aged over 50 who have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives.

Jan Sheldon, St Martins CEO said, "The scrapping of a 200-year-old law criminalising rough sleeping is indeed a landmark moment and quite frankly should have been scrapped at least 100 years ago. Rough sleeping is not a crime but an act of desperation.

Kevin’s story shows how important the bond with an animal can be. It was vital for Kevin to stay with his dog in order for him to access support to address his homelessness, which is why some of St Martins services accommodates pets.

One of our services, Highwater House, was recently inspected by PAMMS and highlighted some of the positive ways the team at Highwater House support people who have experienced homelessness as well as mental health and longstanding substance abuse issues.

Professor Aso Yasukp, a former nurse in Japan and now an academic specialising in the study of hoarding, was aware of the good work taking place in Norwich to support people affected by hoarding.

Bishopbridge House and Community Housing, two services St Martins have been endorsed as dog-friendly by the Dogs Trust Together Through Homelessness scheme.

Every year we ask the people we support about the service they receive at St Martins. It takes the form of an anonymous survey and it gives us valuable feedback about what we are doing well and how we can support people better.