Bernicia is proud to support the National Housing Federation’s Starts at Home campaign, celebrating the value of care and support services and how essential it is for people to have a place to call home.
Our Ashirk facility offers a range of services through our specialist team to support families facing homelessness and other crises. They help them get back on their feet, providing a temporary property until they have the skills and confidence to move into their own home.
Families can self-refer to Ashkirk or be referred by agencies such as health services, social care, police, probation or education – with referrals processed by Sunderland City Council.
Homeless Service Support Worker Lily Renney is part of the Bernicia Care and Support Team, helping people often when their life is at its lowest ebb.
Natalie, 31, mother of five children, had to leave private accommodation because of domestic violence in a previous relationship.
The Ashkirk team offered her a house at its homeless support unit in June 2022 and she now lives in a Bernicia satellite property while she looks for a permanent social housing home.
It’s been a long journey for Natalie and her family to get to a place where they can look ahead to a positive future.
“I was terrified when we had to leave, I had nowhere to go or anything, but when I came here I thought ‘I’m alright, it’s safe in here,’” said Natalie.
“I just felt I was failing my kids. They were going through a hard time as well as me. It was really hard.
“I fell into depression after I came here and Gavin (Homeless Service Senior Support Worker) was always looking after me. Then Lily came and I wouldn’t talk to her at first.
“She is lovely though, she comes to check on me at least once a week, she is honestly mint.
“It is someone to talk to as well, to talk about what we’re going to do next.”
Lily is now Natalie’s support worker.
“We went through a needs assessment to identify all Natalie’s needs then implemented support plans to meet them with regular review,” said Lily.
“Natalie when she first moved in struggled with money, struggled with her finances quite a lot, so we’ve worked to maximise benefits so she’s a lot better off now and manages really well.
“We’ve done a lot of work with the children who have had behavioural issues so we’ve worked with schools and social workers.
“With housing, rent arrears was an issue with £3,000 in arrears which is a massive barrier to moving onto social housing.
“However, due to the benefits we’ve managed to get in place for Natalie and the back dated payments, she has managed to clear those and is now able to bid for a social home.
“We’ve also put in place support networks to help her with relationships.”
Natalie said: “I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do if I’d had to do it all for myself. Lily always helps me with stuff like that, I literally couldn’t do it without her.
“I’m much better now compared to when I first moved here. My mental health is much better, I still have my off days but I’ve come such a long way.
“I know I’ve always got the support around me.”
Natalie is living in one of Ashkirk’s satellite homes which helps people make the transition from its care and support into a new property of their own.
“My kids are in a much better place than when they first came here,” she said. “Their behaviour is better because they are getting the support they need and they are mentally in a much better place now.”
Lily said: “I’ve seen a big change in Natalie, she has a lot more confidence, and now she is in satellite accommodation she is thriving.
“We do have conversations at least weekly and it’s nice to have that relationship so sometimes I can sense if she’s having a bad day, we can speak about it and put something in place to solve that.”
Natalie said: “They give you all the support you need and help you out, even emotionally, to help you move on. I’m not used to having people on my side, I was just cabined up in the house listening to orders.
“They are the best people ever. Lily used to come round and have a word with the kids and sit and talk to them.
“My kids love her. When Lily first met them my youngest wouldn’t talk to anybody. Now he says ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ to Lily and talks with her now.”
Natalie wants to be a paramedic. She dreams of going to college, starting a course and getting her own family home.
“It’s really inspiring, I’d be laughing at life, wouldn’t I?!” she said. “I’m buzzing, I’m going to get a house and get the kids settled.”
Bernicia is proud to support the National Housing Federation’s ‘Starts at Home’ campaign, celebrating the value of care and support services and how essential it is for people to have a place to call home. Our Ashirk facility offers a range of services through…
Bernicia is proud to support the National Housing Federation’s Starts at Home campaign, celebrating the value of care and support services and how essential it is for people to have a place to call home. Our Ashirk facility offers a range of services through our specialist team to support families…
A sneak peek inside our new homes in Guidepost – some of the most energy efficient we’ve ever built! The six properties are amongst a total of 65 high quality new homes Bernicia is building to help tackle affordable housing need within a square mile of south east Northumberland. Pics…
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