Thankful for a home

A service is being held at Southwell Minster to mark the work of homeless charity Framework, whose projects include a Newark hostel that is proving to be a lifeline for its residents.

The service of witness and thanksgiving will be at the minster at 11am a week tomorrow.

Some of the homeless who are staying at the hostel, Russell House just off Cartergate, say it is giving them a second chance.

It offers access to a bed and a place where they can stay until they are ready to move on.

The shelter, in the former Peel and Bowler factory, was opened just over a year ago by the woman whose name it has taken, Christine Russell of Greet Park Close, Southwell, a leading campaigner for the homeless.

She was was chief executive of Macedon Trust — one of several organisations that merged to become Framework.

Among those who have benefited is an alcoholic, Mr Aidan Bargh (37) who said he served in Iraq about five years ago with the Royal Anglian Regiment.

But after seeing his friends dying in the conflict, Mr Bargh turned to drink and ended up homeless.

Mr Bargh said he was still drinking but received support to deal with the problem and had friends around him at Russell House.

He said: “It’s a lifeline helping me to move forward just one step at a time.”

A former heroin addict, Mr Stan Bamber (32) who stays at the hostel, was sentenced to four years in gaol for allowing his Newark home to be used for the supply of heroin.

He said he wrote to Russell House at the end of his time in gaol and had an interview at the hostel when he was released.

Mr Bamber said there were a lot of homeless people in Newark and they often had other problems such as alcohol or drug addictions.

He said he had been clean from heroin since being gaoled, and his time serving the sentence gave him a chance to reflect on life.

He said: “There is the stability of having somewhere to live.”

Another resident, Mr David Crighton (35) who kicked his habit with various drugs before moving into Russell House, said he used to sleep on couches at friends’ homes, and also spent time living on a narrowboat and on the streets.

Mr Crighton said his friends at Russell House all supported each other.

He said: “It’s helped me enormously and has kept me on the straight and narrow.

“If someone has got a problem we help each other out.”

Sean Kidby (19) had a gambling addiction and was told to leave his mother and stepfather’s home when he stole a large amount of money from them.

Sean was staying with a friend before he moved into Russell House. He has learnt how to fend for himself and has even stopped gambling.

He said: “You don’t realise what you have got at home, until you haven’t got it.”

One of the managers at the hostel, Mr Gordon Sloan, said they always had a long waiting list.

Mr Sloan said the residents gave them £183 in housing benefit and a further £15.40 from their own benefit money, which helped to pay towards running the hostel.

There are 15 rooms. These are currently occupied by 13 men and two women.

Mr Sloan said eight people had already moved into properties after staying at Russell House.

He said the residents worked with supported housing workers at the hostel to help them deal with their problems and learn independent living skills.

He said they were looking to provide further training such as IT skills.

Mr Sloan said they wanted these people to get appropriate employment along with their own accommodation.