LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION AT ANCHOR HOUSE, HOMELESS CHARITY IN CANNING TOWN

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LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION AT ANCHOR HOUSE, HOMELESS CHARITY IN CANNING TOWN

Anchor House is pleased to announce that their Director Keith Fernett was runner up and highly commended in the Charity Times Awards for the Charity Principal of the Year Award. The Judges were mindful of the transformation and innovation of services at Anchor House under Keith’s leadership.

Anchor House’s continued pursuit of service quality through innovation and the development of new approaches to the rejuvenation of homeless people has seen them working with the 2020 Public Services Trust at the Royal Society of Arts and this week saw the launch of their ‘2020 Public Safety – Opportunities for Reform’ report, which looks at all aspects of Public safety services. This document is a vital contribution as to how services could be delivered in 2020.

The report acknowledged the role played by Anchor House by stating ‘Particular thanks go to Linda Maytum –Wilson ( Anchor House’ Criminal Justice co-ordinator), colleagues and residents at Anchor House, in Newham, twice winners of the Michael Whippman award prize for innovation in homelessness. The discussion groups that they organised with community leaders from the voluntary and community sector were valuable in informing the thinking of this project’.

Quotes

Monsignor John Armitage VG - Chair of the Anchor House Trustees

“Under Keith’s leadership Anchor House has been transformed and we are delighted that his innovative style of leadership has been recognised. At the heart of everything he does is the needs of the Community that we serve, the approach has led to hundreds of lives being turned around”

Keith Fernett - Director of Anchor House

“In the current climate we all have to be prepared to develop a new paradigm, the old ways will not be able to continue so we were particularly delighted to be able to contribute to the thinking of how Public Safety Services can be delivered in the future”

Public Safety Services are deemed to be the Police, Crown Prosecution Services, Courts, Prisons, Probation, Fire, Immigration, Citizenship functions, Community Safety Partnerships.

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Editors Note

Anchor House is a Catholic Charity that provides sanctuary and personal development programmes for nearly two hundred people a year regardless of their race, creed, religion and ethnicity.

Anchor House has won two successive Michael Whippman Awards from the national umbrella organisation Homeless Link for Service User Development and Community Involvement. Anchor House is recognised as a centre of good practice by the Government. Anchor House has featured in a documentary on Japanese TV about world homelessness.

Anchor House has won the Charity Times Award for the Best Use of Technology in the UK Charity Sector in 2009, was runner up for the best Financial Management Award in the UK charity Sector in 2009 and has been shortlisted as a Finalist for two National Training Awards from the UK Skills Council, the awards will be decided in October 2010.

Anchor House receives a Supporting People grant of about a third of other homeless organisations but has a high level of achievement by its residents.