Providing a bridge from homelessness

Partnership Working with thePrinces TrustLast month saw one of our properties inTunbridge Wells descended upon to bedecorated by a dozen or so young people fromthe Princes Trust. The guys worked so hardfor us – it was amazing how much theyachieved in such a short space of time.  Theyworked together as a team, learning new skillsand enjoying themselves whilst doing so, andwe got our accommodation decorated forfree.  This allows us to bring it into useearlier than we would otherwise do, with the ultimate outcome that it will benefit more homelesspeople, sooner rather than later.  This was a successful partnership between two charitableorganisations (both referring to themselves as “the Trust”, which was confusing!), and facilitatedby VAWK (Voluntary Action Within Kent).  Team work – it makes a real difference.

You cannot have missed all the publicity about therecent “Happy Tonbridge” initiative by SuzannahNiklas - the Courier’s Community Correspondent forTonbridge.

A film was made to the Pharrell Williams hit “Happy”featuring clubs, businesses and groups “moving andgrooving” at iconic locations to help showcase whatthe town has to offer. It was premiered at the EMForster Theatre in Tonbridge School and we were

delighted that merchandise (DVD, t-shirts etc) was sold in aid of The Bridge Trust - whichmade us very “Happy” indeed!

Over £500 has been raised for us so far, so a very big thank you to Suzannah and her teamfor choosing to support The Bridge Trust with this project.

If you missed buying your “keepsake” of this excellent and uplifting film, the DVD can bepurchased from our offices - just £5 including P & P. Orders and cheques (payable to TheBridge Trust) to our offices please at 17A Quarry Hill Road, Tonbridge TN9 2RN.

Our congratulations and thanks go to MariaHeslop who successfully ran for The BridgeTrust in the recent Tunbridge Wells HalfMarathon. She is pictured above with hertrophies, completing the challenging course injust 1hr 25 mins! Our thanks also go to theTunbridge Wells Harriers for kindly choosingThe Bridge Trust as one of their officialcharities again forthis very popularevent.

A great day was hadby all and BridgeTrust’s CarolineDunmall managed tograb a photoopportunity withDame Kelly Holmes,who took a shortbreak from her new venture, the 1809 cafe atHildenborough, to start the race.

We are delighted toannounce that AliceHeather-Hayes (whowon for the Ladies inthis year’s Tun-bridge Wells Half

Marathon!) will be running the London Marathonthis year on Sunday 26th April for The BridgeTrust! Alice writes:

Please support Alice and The Bridge Trust bydonating to her Just Giving page -www.justgiving.com/ALICE-HEATHER-HAYES5

Run and raise sponsorship for The BridgeTrust and join 25,000 other runners from allover the world in this extremely popularannual event. For a donation of just £15, wecan offer you a place in this exciting race, theroute of which takes you past many ofLondon’s famous landmarks, so you sightsee asyou run! It’s aterrificatmosphere, withlots of music alongthe route to spuryou on! For aRegistration Formand sponsorship details, emailcdunmall@thebridgetrust.org.uk

SUNDAY 12TH JULY

All Change for the Shops!As many of our supporters already know, our used furniture warehouse based in Cannon Lane, Tonbridgewill close due to the redevelopment of the site, and will therefore be gone by the last week in April.

The Trust has operated from that site since 2000 and having dramatically increased our capacity therein 2010, it has served us very well for both move-on furniture for our own residents and as a way tohelp fund our work with homeless people.

As no alternative site in Tonbridge has become available, the warehouse will be relocating to Eldon Wayin Paddock Wood. This move gives us a far superior quality warehouse to operate from, as well as theopportunity to serve more residents from Paddock Wood and surrounding areas. We hope that our loyaland valued customers will come and see us at our new site.

To compliment this “new era”, we will also be launching an e-commerce web site, so anyone can view ourstock from the comfort of their front room, instead of or before travelling to the warehouse to seewhat we have for sale. There will of course be the facility to “buy it now”.

As previously reported, we now have a new shop in Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells. This shop will beopen at the end of March and will sell quality clothes and accessories. Having been designed by MelodySavage of Divine Design (for free we may add), it will be well worth a visit. If you have any quality usedclothes for the shop then please drop them into our office.

Another change is with our long-established Camden Road shop. Based at No. 104 it was a long way outof the town and also suffered from being quite small, with no sorting or storage area. We have nowacquired a new shop at 43-45 Camden Road, which is double the size and is much nearer the shoppingcentre. We hope to be open in June.

Lastly, these changes mean that we have to invest in new signage for all our outlets and we havedecided to take the opportunity to refresh the branding for our retail business.

Keep an eye on social media and the press for more news on all of these initiatives.

Snapshot StatsThis is a new, regular item in our Bulletin which shows a brief snapshot of our work so far this year(from 1st April to date). This gives a high level indication of the demand for our service and what wehave achieved.

No. homeless people coming to us for help and advice 226No. who applied for accommodation with us 91No. applicants interviewed 37No. accepted into our service 17No. in throughoutNo. who have moved-The successful outcome for our residents shown above, is to move-on from us and to sustain fulfilledand independent lives. However, much more is achieved on a daily basis for each individual client asthey journey through our service towards that goal; perhaps addressing any issues they have hadwhich have either led them to become homeless or are a barrier towards them achieving independence.We provide a full and comprehensive breakdown of these underlying outcomes and achievements in ourend of year Annual Report.

No. of homeless people coming to us for help and advice 226No. who applied for accommodation with us 91No. of applicants interviewed 37No. accepted into our service 17No. in our accommodation throughout the year* 42No. who have moved-on from us 14

CONTACT USHEAD OFFICE: 17A Quarry Hill Road, Tonbridge. TN9 2RN 01732 368363

RETAIL OUTLETS:

Furniture WarehouseUnit 1A, 9 Cannon LaneTonbridge TN9 1PP01732 365988

Charity Shop104 Camden RoadTunbridge Wells TN1 2QX01892 526308

Furniture Shop118 London RoadSouthborough TN4 OPN

Info@thebridgetrust.org.uk www.thebridgetrust.org.uk Reg. Charity No. 1050291

Like us facebook.com/thebridgetrust Follow us @bridgetrust1

THANK YOU to all our donors who haverecently supported our work.These include:Rotary/Lions Tonbridge 1/2 Marathon - £5,375AXA PPP Healthcare - £2,600Rock Choir, Tonbridge - £196Tonbridge Philharmonic Society - £260Paddock Wood Lioness Club - £100Tonbridge School - £100Tonbridge Grammar School - £689Tonbridge Baptist Church - £1,043All Saints Church, Brenchley - £1,000Spa International Oil Services - £100Selby Design - £150Waitrose, Tonbridge - £366Churches Together Wadhurst - £400St Mary’s Church, Kippington - £400

Coming Soon54 Grosvenor RoadTunbridge Wells TN1 2PT

QUIZ NIGHT SUCCESS!A huge thank you to Tina and Joe of ThePrimrose Inn, Pembury Road, Tonbridge forputting on such a successful and enjoyableQuiz Night for us, which included a buffet- most unexpected and very welcome!

“Dave” the Quizmaster gave us lots ofinteresting and challenging questions totest our “grey matter” and the eveningraised the excellent sum of £247.

The winning table went home triumphant,each clutching a bottle of Prosecco, kindlydonated by Waitrose, Tonbridge.

TONBRIDGE LIONSCHARITY WALK

SUNDAY 17th MAYCome and enjoy a lovely walk(five or ten mile) through some ofKent’s loveliest countryside,“recruit” some sponsors and raisemoney for The Bridge Trust! Thewalk starts at 9 a.m. fromShipbourne Village Hall withregistration from 8.30 a.m. Please contact usfor a Sponsorship Form.

LOCAL ARTISTS COMEUP TRUMPS!A fantastic evening was held at thePortelli Room Gallery (above“Gorgeous George” in The Pavilion,

Tonbridge) with artists kindly donating variouspieces of work for a Silent Art Auction. Oursincere thanks go to the artists and to Teresa,Gabrielle and their team for organising such a

brilliantevent whichincludedwinetastings, anexcellentband calledThePARKAS,

and delicious canapes kindly provided by the“Campervan Chef - George”. Over £700 wasraised from the event which is excellent!