Andrew Selous MP

Andrew Selous MP for South West Bedfordshire and Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions worked at Watford New Hope Trust in September 2008.

Andrew volunteered at a day care centre and nightshelter for the homeless on Monday 23 - Tuesday 24 September 2008. 

Watford New Hope Trust provides for homeless people in and around Watford through a range of welfare and accommodation services to rebuild damaged lives, and includes a recycled furniture workshop and a large town centre charity shop. They work in professional partnership with relevant voluntary and statutory agencies whilst striving to provide the maximum opportunity for local volunteers to serve in all their activities.

For more information visit www.watfordnewhope.org.uk

For pictures of Andrew Selous MP in action visit Our Work in Pictures: Watford New Hope Trust

Watford New Hope Trust

Visit by Andrew Selous MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Minister

September 2008

I spent two days and an evening working with this inspirational Christian homeless charity in Watford in September.  It was a humbling experience to work alongside staff and volunteers who were universally gracious, wise, compassionate, humourous and firm where necessary.

During my time in Watford I worked in the trust’s day centre where homeless people come for companionship, food, clothing and purposeful activity.  I also helped cook the evening meal for homeless people at the night shelter and spent time in the shelter with residents and staff.  The night shelter was full to capacity with all beds taken which is a usual nightly occurrence..

The next morning I went to a furniture restoration workshop run by the Trust where homeless people learn skills to gain jobs and gain confidence in moving back to the world of work.  From there I visited a house run by the Trust for recovering alcoholics and worked on their fresh produce project in which produce grown by the residents is sold in the Trust’s magnificent charity shop, “the Harrods of Watford”, I was assured by proud volunteers.  My final call, after some hard fought games of ping pong with the residents, was to the charity shop which also houses the Trust’s administrative staff for discussions about the interaction of the benefits system with the housing and employment needs of those the Trust serves.

I have taken away many reflections from my time with the Trust which I continue to think through now I have returned to Parliament.  One of the most shocking facts I learnt was that the average life expectancy of people living on the streets of Watford is 40 to 45 years.  The suits the Trust keeps for client job interviews are often worn to attend the funerals of fellow rough sleepers.  Nothing convinced me more of the importance of the Trust’s work.

I had not spent long talking to staff, before benefit trap issues, which hold back clients from returning to a normal life, were mentioned.  The Trust is currently helping three generations of one family who are all life-long benefit dependent.  It is stories like this which convince me of the need for the welfare system to aim higher for the people it serves, providing the personalised support along the way to get them there.

My time at the Trust enabled me to spend extended time with people with complex needs and the dual diagnoses of mental health and substance abuse.  This part of the out of work population need very personal and often long term help to get back into work.  Welfare reform proposals must meet the needs of these people as well as those nearer the labour market.

My experience in Watford and the conclusions of the Salvation Army’s excellent “Seeds of Exclusion” pamphlet produced this year are that those with dual diagnosis often fall between the stools of current service provision.  There is much good work being done in this area by non-government organisations, such as Watford New Hope Trust.  A partnership approach between the state, the not for dividend and the private sectors, needs to be developed.

I believe that a greater personalisation of current budgets is necessary to better serve those with the most complex needs.  This will entail some radical restructuring of current responsibilities and reporting lines within central and local government.  I believe this approach will get more people out of poverty and be a more effective use of taxpayer’s money.

My final thought relates to the reasons people become homeless.  For many, alcohol and drugs lead the way, alongside increasing periods of worklessness.  For some however, it is the breakdown of the relationship with their partner (less commonly spouse) that leads to immediate homelessness when they are kicked out or when depression, drugs and alcohol take hold after their relationship has failed.  I met several homeless people who told me they were homeless because of the breakdown of the relationship with their partner.  I believe that in many cases these relationship breakdowns could have been avoided and that strengthening and supporting healthy relationships needs to be part of our policy response to helping the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens avoid becoming homeless in the first place.