I am in my eleventh year at Impact and never felt the need to put anything into the Newsletters or Website.  However, I’ve been so impressed with the tenant participation that I wanted to say something about it.  One of the biggest problems we have in hostels is boredom.  This can lead to residents returning to drugs and/or alcohol.  They would get into the habit of sleeping all day and staying up all night.  They had no motivation to do anything positive which could lead to arguments and sometimes fights, but now in the last three or four months we’ve had the quietest spell at Lindisfarne Street I’ve ever known in eleven years. 

The hostel is buzzing at the moment and this is why… Impacts Autumn Events made it possible for the residents to watch a premiership football match and to go fishing.  This has inspired the residents and they are now raising money themselves to go to the North East for a sea fishing trip from a trawler and for stock car racing in the West.  We also have an allotment, which Nikki acquired and has set up, currently on hold due to the weather.  We also have a hostel advocate and health and safety representative who is a resident and he keeps us on our toes. 

The problem was money - how could we get money to fund our ideas? The lads came up with ideas such as washing cars and cleaning up leaves at Impact properties.  They put their proposals to Sue Little and her team who said they would support the venture. So off we all went to Impact and Lister Court to leaf sweep…. we collected 53 bin liner bags full of leaves!! Then the men held a raffle, which was well supported and raised £63.00.  We have also forged strong links with St Bedes Church and recently received a food parcel donated by the children of the church.  Other churches including Graham Wilsons’ have also been very supportive.

Although there is a long way to go the hostel is being slowly accepted more by the local community.  We are now considering holding an open day where the men will provide refreshments.  Residents living nearby can see what happens in a hostel and dispel some of the myths.  Only this morning we had a visit from our local community police officer and sergeant who commented ‘its quiet round here Dave’. Praise indeed!! So although tenant participation works for them it also works for me!!  Giving me more time to key work in a congenial atmosphere….I love it!!!     

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