A new lease of life for an old barracks supporting homeless people and the wider community.
Homelessness
North Bedfordshire
Sep 2014
Vital Resource for Young Homeless in Middlewich
Recent figures show that more than half of teenagers leaving local authority care are being placed in unsafe and unsuitable accommodation for long periods. To experience first-hand what these youngsters face, Barnardo’s Chief Executive spent a night in one of the B&Bs.
“I’m a grown woman and I was scared. I can’t begin to imagine how a 16-year-old would cope in that situation.”
at Barnado’s
The need
These startling statistics show just how vital charities such as MoCoCo House really are. Based in Middlewich, Cheshire CRASH is currently working with this homelessness project to transform a former bus garage into eight self-contained bedsits for young homeless adults as well as a warden flat and retail unit.
The solution
CRASH first visited the project at the beginning of year, with the main concern to ensure the building was watertight.
How patrons helped
CRASH called upon Patron companies Bauder and Galliford Try to undertake a roofing survey and awarded the project a cash grant of £10,000 towards the vital roof repairs.
First port of call was to CRASH Patrons British Gypsum, Knauf and Siniat for the internal insulation and plasterboard and Dulux Trade for their paint. Galliford Try sourced 11 high quality kitchens including one specially adapted for disabled use and one in a communicable area for teaching life skills at a significantly discounted rate and also undertook an extensive utilities survey which led to CRASH awarding a further £10,000 grant for electricity and water upgrades.
The social impact
Seven of the bedsits are currently nearing completion. It is hoped that they will all be ready for furnishing in plenty of time for Christmas.
In addition to creating the accommodation provision for young people, CRASH will continue to help develop the retail unit for the charity to incorporate a first point of contact for anyone in the community who requires practical / financial assistance in times of need.
“This is a wonderful example of our Patron companies working together to provide their expertise and materials to create a lasting impact for a community, MoCoCo House will provide a safe refuge for young people and support when they need it most. CRASH would like to sincerely thank everyone involved for their generosity.”
CRASH Projects and Resources Manager
“Our aim has always been that this facility should continue to be used for the benefit of the young people of Middlewich. For many years we have helped a small number of young people as they transition into adult life by supporting their housing needs. Out of this desire to help vulnerable young adults we are now in a position to launch a new project that will make a real difference.”
Chair of Trustees at MoCoCo House
