Help us save The Well
Vulnerable women under Alabaré’s care in The Well, Bristol, are facing significant risk of becoming homeless as Bristol City Council announces proposals to close The Well. The project currently receives £150,000 per annum of Supporting People money via Bristol City Council, which is now in danger of being withdrawn completely.
The Well is a five bedroomed house providing supported accommodation for women leaving the sex industry, which has been running since 2003. So far 163 women have benefitted from this provision, which is unique in Bristol. Bristol City Council has begun a 10 week consultation about Homelessness Prevention High Support Services and is proposing 3 things: the closure of The Well; a reduction in the number of women’s bed spaces; and that women’s support would be provided solely in generic hostels which are considerably larger in size.
Please help us to keep The Well open and prevent this vulnerable group of women from ending up on the streets. Linda, resident at The Well, explains the impact The Well has had on her life:
“Before I came to The Well I was living life in a local hostel where my life went downwards through drink and drugs. I had an accident and discovered I had organ failure and nearly died, this was my wake up call. I was offered a place at The Well on release from hospital and I was not sure at first. I don’t regret coming. Since I’ve been here I’ve started to look after myself a lot better where people notice. I started an adult numeracy course and gained a level 1 certificate. If it wasn’t for the staff here I wouldn’t have done anything like that. They’ve helped me so much and I’m gaining confidence…I’ve only these people to thank for getting me this far. It’s a long process but I’ll keep working with them, taking advice and my life will be happier.”
Alabaré helped 225 vulnerable women between April and September 2011 across our projects in the South West. 13 women moved on positively from The Well in 2010. Please help us to keep The Well open and continue to provide this unique service to vulnerable women in Bristol.
If you would like to help us with our campaign, please write to Bristol City Council and the local MP Stephen Williams by 23rd December 2011 at the addresses below. Or go to Crisis Centre Ministries website http://www.crisis-centre.org.uk/ and sign up to their online petition.
Bristol City Council
Tom Rhodes, Homelessness Policy Officer, Amelia Court, Pipe Lane, Bristol. Tel: 0117 9222000
Tom was one of the authors of the BCC’s draft consultation paper Homelessness Prevention High Support Services
Bristol West MP (Lib Dem)
Stephen Williams, PO Box 2500 Bristol, BS6 9AH. Tel: 0117 9423494
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Tel: 0207 2198416