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Update Tuesday 19 May 2009
Another round of trials and another step closer to Milan. Our two talented service users are in the final 12.
There are still some trials to go before the final England Squad is chosen but we have our fingers crossed!
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Update Monday 11 May 2009
Further trials at Manchester United on Friday 8 May saw our two hopefuls through to the next round.
With one more trial to go next week before 12 are chosen for intensive training, the dream of Milan is within touching distance!
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After further trials for the Homeless World Cup, this time held at Manchester United, two of our service users have made it through to the next round.
The young hopefuls are rightfully excited at the possibility of representing their country in Milan later this year.
Richard Barnard, young person’s activity worker, who coaches the young hopefuls says, “It is very exciting for everyone involved. I think there is a real chance that someone from Porchlight will be part of an England squad. That can be a life changing achievement.”
“The tournament is an amazing chance to raise awareness around homelessness and everyone who takes part gains important skills in commitment and maintaining a positive mental attitude. Sport can be a useful tool to open doors in people’s lives.”
Further trials at Manchester United will take place in a few weeks time.
Keep an eye on the website for future updates. We will be keeping close watch on our star talent over the coming weeks!
Don’t forget to visit the Media Centre to read previous press releases about our journey to World Cup so far…
For more information on the tournament visit the Homeless World Cup website.
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Notes to the Editor:
1. The Homeless World cup trials in England are organised by Big Issue North in conjunction with a number of Premiership and Championship football clubs. For more information email hwc@bigissueinthenorth.com
2. The Homeless World Cup requires players to have been:
• Homeless or vulnerably accommodated at some point after the 1st December 2008
• Or are in rehabilitation and have been homeless at some point since 1st October 2008
• Or are asylum seekers currently without positive asylum status or who were ?previously asylum seekers but obtained residency status after 1st December 2007.
3. Porchlight is a Kent wide independent local charity that works to support single, vulnerable homeless people or those at risk of homelessness. It was established in 1974 as Canterbury Cyrenians and works throughout Kent.
4. Porchlight has accommodation based projects in Canterbury, Dover, Ashford and Ramsgate. The outreach team works with street homeless people as well as supporting former homeless people in their own homes, to prevent them returning to street life. Other services support people in their own homes who are at risk of becoming homeless.
5. In 2007-78 Porchlight helped over 1,400 vulnerable people. Porchlight projects include:
Kent Outreach: Our street outreach team work across Kent including working within prisons to help offenders who will be released from prison homeless.
Young Persons Services: This includes a direct access hostel, longer stay hostel and shared house, providing support for a number years, until each individual is ready to live independently.
Mental Health: We run a housing project in Dover specifically for people with enduring mental ill-health. We also provide support to 7 clients in another purpose built accommodation project in Margate. In addition we also have a young persons’ mental health service that enables young homeless people with mental health problems to better access the health services they need.
General Accommodation: We have hostels in Canterbury, Dover, Ashford and Ramsgate. They range in the levels of support provided from high support needs with staff available 24hrs a day, to medium support with staff available on a 9-5pm basis.
Floating Support: This is a preventative service that provides support to vulnerable people in their own home who are at risk of becoming homeless. Many of these clients have been through the hostel system and are almost ready to live independently but just need a little support every now and again.
Training and Service User Involvement: We have a team that works with people accessing any of our services and helps them develop their skills and education. We provide tailored training and encourage people to get involved in the running and improvement of their project, or volunteer on a more formal level in the organisation. Porchlight is committed to involving our service users throughout all the activities of the charity. They are actively encouraged to become involved in education, employment, volunteering and service user involvement opportunities.
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