Nine women have benefitted from specialist counselling and secure accommodation thanks to a homelessness project supported by Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts.
The Derbyshire PCC contributed £5k from the first round of her Safer and Stronger Communities Fund to the Canaan Trust to safeguard nine women experiencing homelessness in the Erewash area who may have also experienced serious violence including violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The women have received ongoing holistic support over the past 12 months including professional counselling to empower them to address and cope with their experiences and the impact these continue to have on their lives.
Alongside secure accommodation, the women have been supported to produce a plan aimed at rebuilding their lives and eventually achieving independent living including securing their own tenancies back in the community.
The Trust has also engaged with 31 women throughout the year who have been supported to establish independent living and secure and maintain tenancies as well as rebuild their lives in a safe and secure environment.
One of the service users to receive support said she could not believe that she was ‘smiling’ again and felt more like her ‘old self’.
Another has been supported in obtaining a re-conditioned laptop which has enabled her to enhance her formal education, allowing her to sign up to volunteer in a youth club. She has now set her sights on undertaking the necessary qualifications to become a social worker and has linked up with a trainee social worker for guidance and advice to explore and further her ambitions.
The Commissioner has set aside significant funding from her budget to support local projects that positively address the priority areas outlined in her new Police and Crime Plan and aim to make the county safer and stronger.
Her Safer and Stronger Communities Fund supports community-based projects that aim to deliver against the commitments of her Police and Crime Plan. These key priority areas incorporate the issues that local people have told her are important to their safety. They comprise serious violence including violence against women and girls (VAWG); anti-social behaviour and community safety; neighbourhood policing; bringing offenders to justice; drugs and substance misuse; and supporting victims and safeguarding.
Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said: “This project is truly changing lives, and it is clear from the testimonials how highly valued and transformative the support is.
“Each small step forward is bringing these women back to a place where they feel happy, confident and excited about the future. In many cases, it’s also unlocking their talents and potential and setting them on the path of a new career or learning journey.
“Many of these women have already reached crisis point and have had to rebuild their lives from scratch. Through timely and consistent support, their trust has grown and flourished which is testament to the commitment and professionalism of Trust staff.
“By implementing effective support systems, we help local people to develop resilience and manage their own lives effectively – these are the building blocks of strong and thriving communities and this project is a shining example of this approach.”
Notes to editors:
The Canaan Trust is an independent Christian homeless and poverty-relief charity based in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
It operates 24/7, 365 days a year, providing secure supported accommodation, emergency food aid, and critical advocacy to homeless individuals, vulnerable families, and those at risk of eviction.
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Picture Shows: PCC Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts with Kevin Curtis, Project Manager at the Canaan Trust