“When I first came to CARIS I had no money, no food and no clothes. With their help I am able to know what to do and more about my rights. CARIS encourages me to think about my future, I want to go to college and work with children, I’m very happy. . .”
So wrote a grateful client who had been helped by CARIS (Christian Action and Response in Society). CARIS Haringey’s primary objective is to assist those who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation. Its mission is to reduce the isolation of homeless families in Haringey; to improve policies and practices affecting homelessness; and to improve the well-being of homeless families. It is much needed. Haringey is the 4th most deprived borough in London and the 13th most deprived in the country. 29% of Haringey is amongst the 10% most deprived in the country and 55% amongst the 20% most deprived. There are 3,000 households accepted as homeless by the London Borough of Haringey and 18,940 households on council housing waiting lists.
Like other charities helping vulnerable people, CARIS is badly affected as austerity measures take effect and the full price of reducing voluntary sector funding is yet to come. A survey of advice charities by Justice for All conducted in February 2012, asking what impact changes in funding were having, found that of the charities responding, 73% had seen funding decrease, with 32% seeing it decrease by at least one-fifth and 8% by over half. Added to that, CARIS is based at St. Ann’s church and community hall, Tottenham. In 2011 the Tottenham riots impacted many families directly and indirectly. CARIS offered support and stability and a place of community when community around seemed to be disintegrating.
Speaking at its annual general meeting this September, the Rt. Hon. David Lammy, MP, said that burning down the properties of innocent people could not be excused, but that 97% of the poor had stayed at home and not participated in the riots. He also drew attention to the tough times coming and the tough decisions which had to be made. He said that, with new benefit cuts, storms were coming for poor families, some of whom would have to move somewhere cheaper. Fortunately, CARIS’ s voluntary income held up reasonably well in 2011-2012, despite the austerity, and the reserve carried forward to next year is not far short of the Trustees’ aim of being enough to cover 6 months’ expenses. However, on the downside, the Trustees continue to be frustrated in their attempts to raise the funds needed to advance their Starfish Project for temporary accommodation for homeless families.
In this situation advice and advocacy is one of the more important aspects of services provided by CARIS. Professional advice is given on subjects relating to health, education, housing, women, welfare benefit and refugee and asylum seeker status including specialist immigration advice. Many referrals were made from health professionals, children’s services, housing and other organisations.
The CARIS Drop In Centre has become increasingly popular over the last year As well as enabling families to benefit from peer support and the opportunity for children to play with toys provided and receive stimulation in a safe environment, the Drop In is also used to give parents information and health promotion sessions. The mobile toy library, with toys and a wide range of books in a variety of languages, not only aids child development but also enables the Family Support Worker to visit and listen to families and reduces isolation. When difficulties such as housing, immigration and welfare rights are identified by the FSW, they are discussed with the Advice Workers to help the family. This enables a holistic service to be provided. In addition the FSW was able to deliver 120 food and toiletry parcels. (The food and toiletry gifts from members of this congregation are a welcome source of help to CARIS.) CARIS also hold a large Christmas Party. Last year they were able to distribute over 250 presents to children and young people living in deprived areas.
Another valuable service offered by CARIS is the annual Summer Playscheme. When attending the AGM this year, I picked up a full and careful evaluation report on the 2012 Summer Playscheme, containing much illuminating information. This ran for 3 weeks and was attended by over 250 children and young people. A variety of professional staff with expertise on arts, drama, music, dancing, drumming and other activities were employed, with assistance also from volunteers. Trips were organised to Southend, Margate and Paradise Park for children and their families, experiences which some would not otherwise have been able to afford.
As well as these activities, the period included a visit with advice by the London Fire Brigade and other educational sessions on matters such as personal health and oral hygiene, and initiatives to boost parents’ confidence in supporting their children’s literacy development. In addition to all this there were initiatives for parents. In week 1 these covered various aspects of health; week 2 covered how to parent/manage challenging behaviour in children with disabilities; and in week 3 a mental health-qualified psychotherapist was available to talk to individuals who felt that they would benefit from help or treatment for stress or depression.
Feedback at the end indicated how valuable parents had found the playscheme and there were calls for it to be longer. The overall evaluation was that the provisions provided are invaluable for many of the parents, as well as a stimulating and educating experience for the children.
This article is little more than a thumbnail sketch of many of CARIS activities. To see more, do look at one of the copies of CARIS annual report, including photographs, on the table at the back of the church.
A final quotation from a client letter:
“CARIS is a great place to be. When I was introduced to CARIS I thought what are they going to help me with and how am I going to feel about them? On getting to the office, the first person that spoke with me changed my perspective and gave me more confidence. She listened, shared my pain and loss with me. I felt better and more confident in myself on my way home. CARIS brings a lot of different people together. It is a place where it does not matter who you are, where you are from, what your situation is, everyone is treated personally and fairly.”