Residents at The Springs in Cambridge, a scheme that helps homeless people into training and employment, were able to make use of funding from Church Housing Trust on a warm sunny day at the end of April with an outdoor event.

The weather was kinder than it has been for previous BBQs at the scheme. A support worker told us about it in their own words…

“We held the BBQ on the evening of 30 April, straight after our monthly Resident’s Meeting, which all of the residents at The Springs are invited to.

“The BBQ was intended as a way of winding down the meeting, and more importantly as a way of helping the residents to socialise. It provides a more informal atmosphere that establishes and maintains relationships between the staff and residents.

“Prior to the BBQ, we put posters up around The Springs, and invited all residents to attend if and when we saw them. We also informed residents that the BBQ was primarily intended for those who attended the Resident Meeting.

“This turned out to be a success as we had higher number of residents attend the meeting, and then subsequently the BBQ, than on previous occasions!

“The money that we were provided enabled us purchase enough food for all who attended and we were able to offer variety of different BBQ snacks. We were also able to cater for different dietary requirements, such as vegetarian options.

“Aggie, one of our staff members here at Riverside, did a great job of preparing the food and generally took the lead in cooking too!

“I feel that it definitely enabled staff and residents to relax and get to know each other in a less formal situation than we are sometimes be used to. It was especially useful in helping some of the newer, and perhaps arguably more isolated residents, to instigate relationships with fellow residents.

“I also feel that these kind of events especially help to improve staff relationships with residents, as it is a chance to build working relationships away from ‘the office’, get to know each other a little more, and to turn the focus away from issues that would normally be dealt with on a day-to-day basis. In my opinion, this can only help with working with residents in the future, as it can create an element of trust between both sides, and also a more solid base to work from.”

To fund more important, socialising activities for homeless people, please donate today.