How did WCHP come to be involved in the West Sussex LAA?

Tony Chasteauneuf, General Manager of Worthing Churches Homeless Project (WCHP) had been a member of the Worthing Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), so had been aware of the early stages of development of the LAA.

How was WCHP involved in the development of the LAA?

Despite a general feeling that there was a need for joined up thinking between statutory agencies and voluntary sector agencies in the initial stages of the development of the LAA, in the following months, the timescales were such that the voluntary sector was not meaningfully involved in the design. However, through previous attendance of the LSP and in discussion with one of the officers of Worthing Borough Council, Tony Chasteauneuf identified a way to get homelessness on to a health-oriented agenda.

He learned that Worthing LSP was to be involved in leading on the delivery in Worthing of Outcome 22 of the West Sussex LAA. Outcome 22 focuses on "Improving quality of life in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods". A series of reward targets formed part of this outcome, they set out to

• Increase the number of women breastfeeding at birth
• Reduce premature mortality (Age-standardised years of life lost under 75)
• Reduce theft of and from vehicles
• Number of vulnerable children participating in positive activity through Activities Access Voucher Scheme

How does this relate to homelessness?

It does not relate directly, but WCHP were able to get homelessness on to the agenda via the stretch target of reducing premature mortality.

How did WCHP get homelessness on to the LAA agenda?

Tony Chasteauneuf managed to secure a place in the working group that was tasked to draft and propose a series of interventions in the space of approximately three months that would deliver on these targets. As part of the working group and in liaison with the Borough Council's senior housing lead, he was able to share a range of statistics relating to the nature and scale of the health issues and needs of homeless adults, which included statistics relating directly to premature mortality.

Against this backdrop he was able to propose, and get funding for, an intervention that would positively contribute towards a range of initiatives tackling premature mortality in Worthing's most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The intervention focused on delivering holistic support to those particularly at risk of homelessness due to the level and/or complexity of their unmet needs living in social housing and individuals being resettled into that social housing. A particular focus was on early identification of health issues (including mental health and substance misuse) and related motivational work and onward referral.

How much funding was allocated

£45,000 over three years out of a total pot of £200,000.

What lessons can be learnt from WCHP and Worthing LAA?

The fact that, as a voluntary sector agency - and a local one with good local knowledge - WCHP could quickly identify, justify and implement this intervention was a real advantage in getting the intervention agreed.

Contact details

Worthing Churches Homeless Projects, 6-8 Marine Place, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 3DN

Telephone: 01903 832 920

Email: info@wchp.org.uk

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