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Cross Keys Homes celebrates projects’ successes
Cross Keys Homes celebrates projects’ successes

Cross Keys Homes is celebrating the amazing success stories from its New Horizons and Community Connections projects, which are targeted at tackling the root causes of poverty and support those needing the most help to gain employment.

Since their launch in January this year, the two projects have between them supported 166 people to access the help they need to change their lives forever. The projects connect with the most vulnerable and hard to reach members of society to encourage them to engage with the support services available.

Support provided has included helping people to switch service providers to reduce bills, support accessing courses to gain skills for work and access to specialist services for help with mental health issues, addiction, hoarding and housing issues.

And the outcomes are amazing. Robert had his life transformed by the Community Connections project. Suffering from deteriorating eyesight, Robert was unable to read his bills and letters, and was falling behind with payments. Coupled with his hoarding issues, Robert was unable to receive the care he needed. Case worker Sally set to work sourcing equipment to help him read. With the equipment costing £4000 new, Sally was able to source the equipment second hand, which has completely changed his life now he can read again. Sally is also supporting him to declutter to enable care workers to come into his home. Robert now feels far more positive and in control of his life.

Meanwhile the New Horizons project has help many people to secure Discretionary Housing Payments, make sure they are claiming the right benefits as well as getting the support they need to get into work.

Doris was struggling with high bills, but with Case Worker Erul’s help, her utility and insurance bills were reduced by nearly £300 per year – a huge saving that has taken a huge amount of pressure off Doris.

Kate Newbolt, Service Manager – Customer, Community and Stakeholder Engagement at CKH, says, “These projects are really amazing, allowing us to get support to the most vulnerable people, who need it most, but are often the hardest to reach. Because the projects allow clients dedicated attention our case workers are able to take in the bigger picture of our clients lives and seek multi-faceted support to address their often very complex issues.

“Because these projects have the wider support of CKH, we are able to use our skills and rources, as well as the fantastic agencies working across Peterborough, to give our clients the best chance of success for the future.”

Both projects have been supported through the Building Better Opportunities programme, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund (ESF).