Document Actions
Day centres
These pages contain resources and information about developing day centre services. Day centres have often been seen as Cinderella services - lacking secure access to funding and not recognised for the work they perform in supporting homeless and vulnerably housed people. Day centres have been accused of being part of the problem: supporting people in maintaining street based lifestyles. However the best day centres are places of empowerment and change, assisting homeless people by making referrals into accommodation and support services, advocating on their behalf and offering activity programmes to build self esteem and develop skills.
Homeless Link's Day Centres Handbook has been revised and updated thanks to funding from the Housing Corporation and is now AVAILABLE FREE on our Good Practice Handbooks microsite.
What's New?
- Congratulations to the winners and runners-up of the John Laing Charitable Trust Day Centre of the Year Awards.
Funding For Day Centres
Homeless Link is launching a new project to help day centres build their fundraising capacity so they can fulfil their potential and be recognised as the key community resource. The support day centres will be receiving from Homeless Link includes help with monitoring and evaluation procedures, assistance with finding sources of funding and making applications. If you think your day centre could use some help in this area, contact Janis Ridsdel, or visit our new online web resource.
John Laing Charitable Trust Training Bursary Scheme
Homeless Link is running a bursary programme for the staff of small day centre to attend our training courses. The aim of the programme is to enable day centre staff from under-resourced organisations to develop their skills and provide better services. So, if you would work for a day centre with a turnover of less than £100,000 p.a. and would like to go on a Homeless Link training course, download an application form for the John Laing Charitable Trust Bursary Scheme. To see details of what training courses are available, click here. Please note that the application process is ongoing and there is a limited number of places for this programme.
Other Issues
- In April 2005 Crisis published research on daytime activities.
- In 2003, the Kings Fund published a report and manual on Wet Day Centres, along with a summary.
Resources
- The Resource Information Service (RIS) has published a complete directory of Day Centres in the UK. For further information and to order a copy call 020 7939 0641.
- The Resource Information Service has published an analysis of day centre provision in the UK that is available to download.
- Leading Places of Change is a leadership programme for service managers in the homelessness sector. It has been developed jointly by the Chartered Institute of Housing, Homeless Link and Broadway and is funded by Communities and Local Government.
Links
- New Horizon Youth Centre London
- Connection at St Martin's London
- The Passage in London
- St Giles Trust in London
- The Manna Centre in London
- The Dellow Centre in London
- Hackney 180 in London
- The Whitechapel Centre in Liverpool
- The Booth Centre in Manchester.
- Wintercomfort in Cambridge
- The Fireside in Birmingham
Read the latest on day centres from the Homeless Link website.