1. Developing opportunities that
transform young lives…
Ealing Common YMCA – a stepping
stone to independence
Presented by…
Shamil Sharshek,
Housing Project Manager
West London YMCA

2. Introduction
Overall Aim:
 To create opportunities for young people to thrive in
suitable accommodation with the right support to move
to independence
Specific Aims:
 To improve young people’s emotional wellbeing
 To improve YP life-skills to ready them for independent
living
 To enable young people to engage in positive activities
(employment, volunteering, training and education) and
maintain them

3. Housing Department Structure
Director of Housing
Personal Assistant
Area Housing Manager
Area A
Project Manager
Supported Lodgings
28 clients
Housing Manager
25 SMR – 184 units
Area Housing Manager
Roxeth Gate – 42 units
Area Housing Manager
Area B
Area Housing Manager
Jupiter House – 102 units
Area Housing Manager
(maternity leave)
Planned Preventative
Maintenance Manager
Area Housing Manager
Hillingdon Floating Support
45 clients
Area Housing Manager
Ventura House – 82 units
Housing Manager
St Christopher’s – 41 units
Housing Manager
Uxbridge – 23 units
Housing Manager
Greenford – 13 units
Housing Manager
Northolt Grange – 10 units
Housing Manager
Ealing Floating Support
20 clients
Housing Manager
Ealing Common – 26 units
06/01/14
617 clients / 422
units 3

4. EALING COMMON PROJECT
Housing Manager
Housing Support Officer
Cleaner
Housing Support Officer
Weekend Duty Officer
Weekend Duty Officer
06/01/14
4

5. Ealing Common Service Provision
 The Ealing Common hostel provides 26 self contained flats to young
people between the ages of 16-35 with low to medium support needs.
 Who the Service is for
 Men and women aged 16-35 years
 Single. (for accommodation purposes)
 Those capable of basic personal care
 Those with low-medium support needs may include: A learning difficulty
 Mental health problems (low risk)
 Physical disabilities which do not preclude access to the facilities
 A history of non-violent drug or alcohol abuse
 Criminal records and be on probation
 HIV/epilepsy or other physical illness.
 Refugees
 Pregnant. (up to 36 weeks gestation)
 Homeless

6. The service cannot accommodate people who:•Have a physical or learning difficulty, which renders them unable to use the
accommodation without assistance.
•Are identified by a referring agency or the assessing officer as having a
significant and/or recent history of violence or abusive behaviour, arson or
sexual offences.
•Need assistance with bathing or other significant assistance with personal care.
•Need staff involvement in the administration of medication.
Accessing the Service
The London Borough of Ealing’s Specialist Support Services have referral
rights to 8 bed spaces. These bed spaces are also used for internal transfers.
When a bed space becomes available a Housing Officer will notify the Specialist
Support Services or YMCA hostels by telephone and email.
The London Borough of Ealing’s Social services (Care Leavers Team –
Access to Resources Team) have referral rights to 17 bed spaces. Applicants
should make an appointment with the Housing Officer.

7. Our support workers are able to give advice on:





advice and information on budgeting
accessing appropriate health care
counselling/support groups
training and employment opportunities
assistance with benefit claims and involvement in social activities
both within the hostel and in the wider community.
Some specialist staff also assist residents by providing:
 basic skills tuition
 computer courses
 employment skills including interview techniques
 CV building and job search
 ESOL classes
 practical living skills

8. Housing Project Management
 Financial management, including budget management, rent
collection, grant management, income maximisation, void turnover
 Staff management, including personal development & training,
appraisals, supervision
 Building management, including Health & Safety, maintenance, risk
assessment, insurance
 Partnership working, joint working, contract management,
community engagement & liaison

9. Community fundraising
West London YMCA Garden Project




A bit of history
Ealing Rotaract supported West London YMCA
They raised funds and helped with a couple of small projects
However we came in with a slightly bigger proposal…

10. Ealing Common Hostel
Takes in disadvantaged young
people for anything from 2
weeks to 2 years
Helps them to find jobs and
eventually a place of their own
We had a garden, a LARGE
garden!
When Rotaract first arrived it
was a huge lawn with a tree in
the middle

11. YMCA Garden
Patio / ramp
Proposal
3.0m
1.6m
2.7
m
2.7
m
2.4m
Paving stone path through the lawn
16m
6.3
m
1.5
m
6.3
m
2.7m
1.1m
Path
Path
Flower beds – 2 circular beds & one
rectangular
Main Flower Bed
With path through
middle –
4m diameter
18.4m
17m
Small
Flower
bed
1.5m
6.5m
Existing tree
Su
m
Stone m
Ho paved
us er
circleewith
gazebo
Flower bed
11.5m
Stone paved circle with gazebo for
relaxation

12. Project Launch Party
 We decided to have a Joint Launch Party with YMCA employees,
residents and Rotaractors
 Also helped to keep hostel residents informed and involved in what
we were doing

13. Phase 1
Phase 1 of the project consisted of:
 Finding tools!
 Digging & planting the main and rectangular flower
beds
Decided to do flower beds first so they had time
to mature during the year
Used funds raised before

14. A large flower bed seemed like a good idea on the
plans….!
It was hard work, mainly as the ground was
rock hard and full of builders rubble

15. The finished main flower
bed
A tired group of Rotaractors! We were also joined by
Rotarians and hostel residents

16. Phase 2
 Commissioning the professional landscape company
to lay down the patio and path from Indian stones
 Garden Opening Party

17. What did we learn?
Gardening is VERY
hard work
Bark stinks!
Digging pick axes into
rocks can do your
back in!
We are all very unfit
HOWEVER It was a very
rewarding experience
The end result was
superb
Greatly appreciated

18. Fundraising
 Total amount raised for
the project was £3,186!
 Phase 1 cost £632.77
 Rotaract raised funds
through our their own
activities as well as joint
activities with the YMCA
 Our most successful
single event was a
“Quingo Night” held in
February 2008
 Included an auction for a
pair of VIP tickets to
“Friday Night with Jonathan
Ross”
 Evening was sponsored by
Barclays who provided our
quizmaster / bingo caller
and doubled the amount
raised on the night (a total
of £1,135!)

19. Community and business partners
and Involvement activities
Princes Trust – Team
building for young
people
BP – Green House
project
Tesco – Greenbelt
festival
Barclays – Prague
festival
Resident activities
Youth Board
Complaints review
Health & Safety &
Risk assessment
Decision making
Jack Petchey Award
Policy review

23. Further reading…
Visit
www.westlondonymca.org
www.linkedin.com/in/shamilsharshek
Thank you… any ?