This webpage is no longer being maintained. Click here for the official SHAN website www.shan.org.uk
The following is an archive of SHAN activities up to 03/02/23
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SHAN MEETINGS
Agendas are sent to SHAN members by email prior to meeting.
We try to finish within the time allocate although we usually use the full time
It helps when you confirm whether or not you can attend and/or suggest matters to be raised.
Please bring copy of agenda and related papers to the meeting.
We thank Southend Christian Fellowship for freely hosting our meetings.
Meetings typically take place on the second Tuesday of every other month.
Meetings are scheduled to take place at the Plaza Centre, 11-1; tea, coffee available from 10.45.
There is no parking at the centre but there is nearby free street parking and a paid car park 100 yards west toward the Tesco garage.
If you are not on our e-distribution list, please let us know so we can add you (we typically send out SHAN related information once a month).
We represent a broad range of views and treat all members equally. We request those attending our meetings treat others respectfully and be relevant when making points.
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HOW TO PREPARE AND THINGS TO NOTE
- There is free car parking in the nearby streets and meter parking in car park by Tescos.
- Those with an interest in homelessness in Southend (including sanctuary seekers) are welcome to attend.
- We encourage all attending to participate but please keep your comments succinct, relevant and respectful, aimed toward helping the homeless in Southend.
- Because many attend our meetings, many with a lot they can share, we have to ration the time people get to speak, so when you speak – keep to the point and try and make it count!
- We do not discuss named specific individuals or specific cases.
- Unless strictly relevant to the business in hand, we do not discuss named specific organisations.
- Do use the opportunity to share your news and ask questions, and network with others – before, during and after the meeting.
- We are grateful to the members of Southend Christian Fellowship for allowing us free use of their premises.
- Because we have limited admin support, those attending meetings are advised to bring their own copies of relevant papers e.g. agenda.
- We are keen to keep members updated on what is happening that might affect Southend’s homeless, so please make known anything you know that might pertain to this.
- We realise there is a lot we cannot do to help the homeless but there are some things we can do, and it is this we try to focus on.
- Check below how to contact us and, if you wish to be kept informed, do request to be added to our regular (typically once a month) emailings.
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DATES OF FUTURE SHAN MEETINGS
March (14th), May (9th), July (11th), September (12th), November (14th) 2023, all 1100 – 1300 and all to be held at the Plaza Centre: 600 Southchurch Road, Southend, Essex, SS1 2PT.
We normally meet the second Tuesday every other month
IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Unless otherwise specified, all meetings will be held at The Plaza Centre (600 Southchurch Road, SS1 2PT) and will be between 11am and 1pm, normally Tuesday – changes will be notified well in advance. We appreciate the hospitality and support of Southend Christian Fellowship for allowing us use of their facilities for free. Their centre operates a cafe, where food and drink may be purchased at a reasonable cost. These meetings are open to any with an interest in helping the homeless in Southend, and many of the key players that are involved with helping Southend’s homeless population and related matters do attend. It would be helpful if you could let us know if you plan to attend and also to raise anything you feel we could/should discuss. Those attending are invited to contribute but given the breadth and depth of topics discussed we request points be made succinctly and respectfully. We invite “experts” in the field to attend our meetings when discussion relates to their area.
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 08/09/15
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 17/11/15
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 12/01/16
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 08/03/16
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 10/05/16
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 12/07/16
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 13/09/16
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 16/11/16
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 10/01/17
Click here for the minutes if the meeting held 14/03/17
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 00/05/17
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 17/09/17
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 14/11/17
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 09/01/18
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 13/03/18
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 08/05/18
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 10/07/18
Click here for the minutes to the meeting held 13/11/18
Click here for the minutes to the meeting held 09/01/19
Click here for the minutes to the meeting held 12/03/19
Click here for the minutes to the meeting held 14/05/19
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 09/07/19
Click here for the minutes if the meeting held 10/09/19
Click here for the minutes if the meeting held 12/11/19
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 14/01/20
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 10/03/20
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 12/05/20
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 26/05/20
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 23/06/20
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 14/07/20
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 08/09/20
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 10/11/20
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 12/01/21
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 09/03/21
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 11/05/21
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 13/07/21
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 14/09/21
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 09/11/21
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 11/01/22
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 08/03/22
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 10/05/22
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 12/07/22
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 13/09/22
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 08/11/22
Click here for the minutes of the meeting held 10/01/23
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SOUTHEND ROUGH SLEEPER LEAFLET
Something we have produced since our early days is “the Southend where to go if your are homeless” leaflet, which attempts to do just that. The idea is to fit as much information as we can on a double sided A4 page, with it being presented in an A5 book form and handed to any who might find the information helpful.
We try to update this regularly as we find changes are continually occurring. Click on the link below to get your own copy. The latest available version is V5.3. Please notify us if you spot changes that may be needed.
There has been a large number of major changes since the previous public version of the Leaflet. Please do NOT use old versions.
*** DOWNLOAD HERE FOR COPIES OF THE SOUTHEND ROUGH SLEEPER LEAFLET V5.3 ***
Despite some progress being made, the needs around homelessness in Southend remain significant and especially so given this period of economic austerity. While this remains the case SHAN will seek to help and encourage members to serve the homeless and other needy folk who live in our beloved city of Southend-on-Sea, in particular identifying where the gaps are and doing our bit in helping fill them.
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SHAN TERMS OF REFERENCE
- meet from time to time, but a minimum of four times a year, to discuss homeless issues with a view to finding and implementing solutions and do so in a spirit of partnership.
- provide a compassionate network, based on trust and understanding, that will support members in the work they do concerning homeless and other vulnerable persons.
- understand the issues around homeless people, including how needs are being met or not being met in Southend, and propose, support and help implement practical and enduring solutions, including the identification and promotion of good practice.
- understand government (central and local) policies with respect to homeless people and specifically to engage and partner with Southend Borough Council in the implementation of its Homelessness Prevention Strategy and whenever needs are identified or opportunities arise.
- share and disseminate information regarding homelessness and issues affecting those who are homeless, within SHAN and to those who are in contact with SHAN members.
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WHAT SHAN HAS DONE SO FAR
SHAN began in 2008 when a number of us found there were a number of homeless people, typically single folk, who we got to meet that were not getting the help they needed. Often such folk would turn up at the Council and be signposted to non-existent services and because of a lack of resource and money the Council did little more, focusing their efforts on those they had a statutory duty to house. The local homeless hostel run by HARP did provide some help but it was limited and often overnight accommodation was full. Some of the homeless people did not engage with the services that were available and this was not helped given the mental health and addiction issues many were experiencing.
At that time the Council were looking to close their own homeless hostels as well as produce a homeless prevention strategy working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector (VCS). SHAN was born out of this paradigm and the words of the acronym: Southend, Homeless, Action and Network describe precisely what we set out to achieve. SHAN has never become formally constituted and the best it has come up with to date and that governs what it does is our terms of reference (click here or see above).
We recognise that homelessness is a huge subject with many views being offered as to how to deal with it. While we do what our TOR says, we recognise our members are of all faiths and none and from different political and ideological persuasions. As such we tend not to get involve in campaigning and try not to be divisive. When it comes to initiating projects, this is normally undertaken by partner organisations, with members helping where they can.
SHAN has, however, been successful in bringing together a wide range of disparate partners with an interest in homelessness in order to make a difference, starting with the biggies: such as Southend Borough Council, HARP and Southend Citizens Advice Bureau, and includes many voluntary organisations and faith groups. While it is for others to blow our trumpet, we have done what we set out to do and some of the improvements and facilities seen since that time has been part down to us. One of our main successes comes out of the networking ethos: bringing together parties that might otherwise not meet has an effect!
We have organised two successful conferences, one on immigration and one on homelessness and this has sparked of more action. We meet every other month with full agendas on important topics of concern, with speakers and lively discussion. Our meetings are generally well attended by a wide cross section of those representing statutory, voluntary, community, church groups and individuals. We aim to inform and inspire and make a difference for our homeless friends Those who do attend invariably find sharing information and the networking that goes on to be of immense value.
SHAN continues to meet every other month and our meetings continue to be well attended, with each meeting seeing new members. We still address matters of general concern to our members and everyone is welcome to contribute. SHAN meetings remain a useful means where we cam inform one and another as to what is going on regarding homeless related matters. We recognise differences and encourage joint working. The end we are working toward is dealing with what remains a serious issue in the town, that of homelessness, and helping bring our town’s rough sleepers to a better place where some if not all of their needs are met.
Despite some progress being made, the needs around homelessness in Southend remain significant and especially so given this period of economic austerity. While this remains the case SHAN will seek to help and encourage members to serve the homeless and other needy folk who live in our beloved town of Southend-on-Sea, in particular identifying where the gaps are and doing our bit in helping fill them. Our meetings continue to be well attended and given the wide ranging support and interest we are confident we will continue to play a part in addressing some of the homeless issues in Southend.
At the beginning of 2023, John Barber, who had been chair of SHAN from the beginning, stepped down from that post and handed the reigns to Peter Courtenay with the help of SAVS. The work of SHAN continues, doing what we say “on the tin” …
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CONTACT US
Email John Barber (SHAN ex-Chair) at jjandm.barber@blueyonder.co.uk if you would like to be added to the SHAN distribution and receive notifications about our meetings and other items that may be of interest relating to homelessness, or you simply wish to comment, inquire, engage. His telephone contact is: 01702-616302.
Please note John is no longer SHAN chair but, until a new website and information is available, he will be willing to respond to and channel inquiries.
One helpful resource that considers many of the homeless issues relevant to Southend is an e-book titled Homeless Reflections
The following is an old shan presentation
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Last updated 03/02/23
JRB Publications 