Sarah's Starts at Home story

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 Melanie Jackson is part of the Bernicia Care and Support Team, helping people often when their life is at its lowest ebb.

Sarah is moving on to a major new chapter in her life with her young family of three children, having just been accepted by a social housing provider for a new home.

It’s a huge step forward for the family, leaving domestic violence in their previous home to be given accommodation at Bernicia’s Ashkirk support services.

The help and support of Melanie (pictured left) and the team was massively important for Sarah, 31, (pictured right) at a traumatic time in her life.

“There was just one big pressure on everything,” said Sarah.

“I just brought our clothes, the kids’ toys, the clothes that we were stood up in. I don’t know what I was thinking at the time, my head was all over and it was mixed emotions.

“It was important for us to be in Ashkirk because I didn’t want to be where I was.

“I remember how upset I was when I first moved in, I was crying, it’s not where you want to be because you just want to be in your own place.

“The little ones didn’t really understand what was going on.”

Support worker Melanie, who has more than 30 years’ experience working in support services, was there to help Sarah and her children.

“Because we are a secure unit with 24-hour support and safety, it was the ideal place for Sarah to be safe and to feel safe,” said Melanie.

“Sarah was scared, it was a daunting situation. Sarah is pretty strong and quite resilient, in as much as the domestic violence was horrendous, she just programmed herself into continuing to be a mam, she never hummed and hawed about anything, just quite a resilient person.

“The children were a bit quiet at first but they are three good children and Sarah is a good mam, disciplined and they just seemed to get on with it.”

Sarah said: “I thought Melanie was very nice, I can’t fault her. It has made a difference, she has helped me a lot when I’ve needed clothes and extra food, she has always helped.”

Melanie worked with Sarah and her family to ensure their welfare and advised her with her finances to pay off outstanding rent arrears.

“It has worked out well, I have done all I can to try and get the best deal for her,” said Melanie.

“We work closely with charities like ‘Love, Amelia’ and they can help out with food and clothing and equipment – if she needs anything for the garden or the house it is acted on immediately, food parcels and different things.”

Melanie’s support was vital for Sarah who is keen to work but her life circumstances made that difficult and she has a limited support network to call on.

Melanie said: “It’s having someone at the end of the phone, a 24-hour service that gives that little bit of reassurance and support which helps people progress and get their lives together to where they want.

“She knows she can call any time with any problem and I’ll deal with it. But it’s because of Sarah’s progress really that she was able to move out of Ashkirk.

“She paid her rent on time, her property condition was always excellent and she never caused any anti-social behaviour.”

The Ashkirk team sat down with Sarah in August last year and arranged for her to move into a satellite property with her family – the stepping stone to helping them find a new home of their own.

And she has just been told that she can move into a new home with a social housing provider after successfully passing an interview for the property.

Sarah said: “I said to Melanie when I told the kids about getting a viewing for a new home they started dancing around!”

Melanie said: “Sarah was the ideal candidate. It suited her and she has done very well. She has just continued to progress which is really refreshing, Sarah has done it, I’ve only just guided.

“I can see a massive difference in how Sarah’s confidence has grown, she is more settled knowing that she is going to get her own property.

“Hopefully this is where Sarah’s life will change and she will continue to lead her life in the way she wants to.

“For what Sarah has endured as a woman and a mother, I just think she really deserves that chance. That wasn’t in her control, she didn’t ask for that and to be plunged into homelessness with three children is a big deal which could have gone any way.

“I feel proud of Sarah, it couldn’t happen to a better person. I’ll be emotional to see her move on but happy knowing what it means to her and her family.”