How you can help How to find us Sponsored Events As well as running, walking or cycling, people have set themselves more adventurous challenges. If you have an idea and would like to raise money for SIFA Fireside please get in touch. SIFA Fireside works with those who are homeless, affected by alcohol or otherwise socially disadvantaged Volunteering We have a team of around 50 volunteers who help with sorting donations, making and serving food, helping in the office and fundraising. Please see our separate volunteering leaflet for more information. ‘Supporting independence from alcohol and tackling homelessness’ SIFA Fireside empowers and supports people to meet their short and long term goals Donations We appreciate donations of long-life food, toiletries, clean adult clothes, sleeping bags and blankets. All food must be within date and not damaged. Donations should be dropped off Monday-Friday between 10:00am and 1pm. Please visit our website for more information: www.sifafireside.co.uk/ supp_donate.php 48-52 Allcock Street Digbeth Birmingham B9 4DY Tel: 0121 766 1700 Fax: 0121 771 4666 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sifafireside.co.uk SIFA Fireside is a company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 3094905 Charity No. 1049728 Call us on: 0121 766 1700 Visit our website: www.sifafireside.co.uk Our Service Users In Birmingham the official statistics indicated that in 2009/10 4,193 people presented as homeless, although this does not include the ‘hidden homeless’ such as those who are staying with friends. The main causes of homelessness are relationship breakdown, a violent partner or substance misuse, although there are many other factors that contribute to homelessness, such as social exclusion, unemployment, poor education and poor mental health. Each year SIFA Fireside helps over 2,000 people in Birmingham, with a variety of problems including homelessness and alcohol misuse. Around 80-100 people attend each of our drop-in sessions every week day. How we can help Drop-in On weekdays we have two drop-in sessions per day. One runs from 9:00am to 10:30am which provides breakfast and a range of other services including accommodation advice and help with phone calls. Showers and laundry are also available for rough sleepers. Our lunchtime drop-in runs from midday-1:00pm. Subject to availability during this time we can provide food parcels as long as the recipient has a referral Alcohol Service Keyworking SIFA Fireside works with people who are concerned by their use of alcohol. After an initial assessment the client is assigned a keyworker who will help them to monitor their alcohol use and then gradually reduce it to a level they are comfortable with. Our outreach service and Hospital Liaison workers can also carry out assessments. Alternative therapies We offer Auricular Acupuncture, Hypnotherapy and Electric Stimulation Therapy to any of our clients where we and the client feel it is beneficial. These treatments can help people with alcohol problems, sleep problems and anxiety. Social Inclusion To promote physical, social and mental well being, we run a range of social activities on weekdays including gardening, art courses, music workshops, discussion groups, a book club, a health forum, performance arts, football training, interior design, basic IT, an English club, photography and film groups. Some of these activities are provided in partnership with Crisis Skylight. Mental Health support SIFA Fireside has a Mental Health Link Worker who provides information and advice as well as sign posting to other more specialist agencies and we work closely with Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust’s Homeless Mental Health Team. Resettlement Service The Resettlement Team can help people in receipt of benefits find independent accommodation as well as providing on-going support. They can also help anyone with a pin number from Birmingham City Council, Midland Heart or Family Housing to bid online for Council let housing through the Home Choice letting scheme. A drop-in for this service is provided from 11:00am to 1:00pm every weekday (except Wednesday). Employment & Training Once a person feels able to make a regular commitment they can access education and training including practical experience through our Volunteer Development Programme. Please see the VDP leaflet for more information. We also run a weekly Job Club which offers help with CVs, job applications and interview skills Accessing our services Individuals can self refer through our drop-in sessions or over the phone. Agencies must fill in a referral form available from our website. Please visit our website for full details: www.sifafireside.co.uk/serv_referral.php
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