Places of Change in London

There are a larger number of projects in London currently going through the Places of Change Programme than in any other region in England. Many of these projects are supported by Homeless Link's London Regional Manager Caitriona Carney.

Places of Change projects currently being developed In London

See Places of Change for more details about the national programme.

1) The Lodge (City of London) This cutting edge idea is to provide a solution for some of the more acute rough sleepers in central London. It is a low threshold scheme offering a light touch of key working from a "landlady" and "hotel staff" team. It aims to overcome the resistance from some rough sleepers to going to a hostel. Many of the "rules" of hostels will be dropped and replaced by a hotel environment with keyworking in a client-led way. For more information contact Davina Lilley.

2) The Employment Academy (Lambeth and Southwark) ThamesReach (who will be running this project) have a reputation for both working at the front line of homelessness and also being innovative in finding solutions for their clients. This centre will be home to several social enterprises, a job brokerage service and a restaurant run by Beyond Boyle. For more information contact Jeremy Swain.

3)  Dennis Handfield House (Camden) - An inspirational, modernising redesign of an institutional King Cross hostel. Will include a café/training kitchen and small cinema. Contact Caroline Lamont.

4) Nightshelter and Welcome Centre (Redbridge) -  replacing a house that has six people to a room, and a delapidated day centre, with a new facility for this outer London borough. For more information contact Lara Crombie.

5) Passage House (Westminster) - This funding will replace some of the last remaining dormitories in London with single rooms. It will include an "adult foyer" that will have the same sort of training/work contract as foyers (supported accommodation) but for older homeless people. It will have a roof garden and other features to engage clients in work and training. For more information contact Richard Williams.

6) Westway Business Centre (Westminster) - A workshop making furniture for hostels and other organisations. For more information contact Richard Williams.

7) Berwick St Hostel (Westminster) - This high profile young persons' hostel will replace shared rooms with modern-day accommodation. There will be a Learning Zone in the basement as part of the Foundations for Life partnership between Centrepoint and LandAid. For more information contact Richard Williams.

8) King Georges Hostel (Westminster) - Improving the medical room in a prize-winning Westminster hostel.

9) Pound Lane Hostel (Brent) - 84 bed first stage hostel. This may be the most striking design for a hostel ever planned. Churchill-Hui architects have aimed to match the high aspirations of the Places of Change programme with an inspirational transformation of a very institutional building. It includes flying walkways, open activity space, atriums for music and arts, and a community centre. For more information contact Cliff Dymond.

10) The Beef Kitchen (Hammersmith and Fulham) - Single homeless ex-servicemen living beside Chelsea football club came up with an idea to sell food to passing football fans on match days. This will buy them a mobile unit to go to other games and also provide a permanent café in a park in Putney so they can offer permanent employment contracts and training. For more information contact Rachel Soni.

11) Young Old Scheme (Lambeth) - Innovative new scheme to work with people aged between 40-55 who have needs more commonly associated with people post retirement age, such as dementia, Korsakoffs Syndrome, poor mobility and incontinence. For more information contact Aly Bingham.

12) Graham House (Lambeth) - Updating a vital Central London resource, which is the destination for older, entrenched street drinkers. The project feels institutional and tired, and needs upgrading.

13) Anchor House (Newham) - The hostel is creating a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) testing/Construction training shop. It will establish a  traineeship in 'facilities management' (cleaning, concierge) and 'contracts management' (maintenance etc) through a partnership with Toynbee Housing Association. There will also be a social enterprise catering business. For more information contact Peter Williams.

14) Branches Nightshelter (Waltham Forest) - Co-funding with Tenant Services Authority to replace an old style night shelter with single room accomodation and pro-active services. For more information contact Reggie Glover.

More examples of Good Practice in London.

Back to the main London page.