HOT

Holloway Outreach Team

MAGPI EAST and NORTH HOT Project Report
Targeted Street Drinker Engagement
The project focused on concerns raised by Safer Neighbourhood Panels and MAGPI meetings, the project will address the problems arising in identified hot spots in North and East Islington. It will adopt a number of approaches: Targeted engagement of individuals as referred by the Police and Outreach services. Once engaged the targeted individuals will be monitored, assessed, offered services Linking in with supported housing providers and adapting care plans to address issues of ASB in the wider community Promoting the work of the partnership The H.O.T Project: Carl and Sara worked alongside the ECO Service to deal with the increased level of street drinkers and the associated Anti-Social Behaviour caused by large groups of drunk and noisy people in and around the Town Centre. The Project extended their catchment to include surrounding areas in case of displacement from the Town Centre. This included Wray Crescent, Elthorne Park, Sunnyside Gardens, Great Northern Park and Wittington Park. Sara also engaged two of her clients who were alcohol free and could volunteer to give the Project some Peer support and help in changing peoples perceptions on the effects the clients have on their local community. The MAGPI Coordinators had a list of 12 named people for the team to target as the most visible and prevalent in the areas associated to street drinking. Over the 10 week period 45 people were approached and offered support, advice and harm minimisation relating to their alcohol dependency.
8 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5 1XL Telephone: 020 7700-2498 Fax: 020 7700-2542 W: www.piliontrust.org.uk B:http://piliontrust.blogspot.com Pilion Trust provides services for vulnerable people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems
The Pilion Trust Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Company No.6043010 England & Wales, and a Registered Charity, Registration No: 1122628

12 people (26%) refused to engage or give their details when approached. Those who refused to access the project were moved on immediately and were then targeted by the local SNTs not to return to the areas. This report is based on the 45 people who the Team were able to communicate, win their trust and try to engage them within the project. MAGPI Geographical Locations: East Magpi North Magpi Boroughs of Origin Devon Camden Haringey Unknown Gender: Male Female 36 9 80% 20% 23 22

2 2 5 11

Islington Westminster Hackney City of London

17 4 3 1

Sexuality: Heterosexual Gay Lesbian Bisexual Not stated 27 0 2 4 12 60% 4% 9% 27%

Ethnicity: E10 Asian Other Asian White/Black Caribbean Accommodation: B&B Council Tenancy Housing Association Hostels Private Landlord Family/Peers Squat Hidden Homeless Rough Sleeping Not Known 0 8 1 5 1 1 0 4 3 12 18% 2% 11% 2% 2% 9% 6% 27% 1 0 1 3 Black African Black Caribbean Black Other White/Black African 3 3 0 0 White British Irish Black British White Other 20 6 0 8

Breakdown of Substances used: 1st 45 2nd 0 4 7 2 5 2 6

Alcohol Benzos Cannabis Crack Heroin Crack / Heroin Methadone (px)

100% 9% 16% 4% 11% 4% 13%

8 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5 1XL Telephone: 020 7700-2498 Fax: 020 7700-2542 W: www.piliontrust.org.uk B:http://piliontrust.blogspot.com Pilion Trust provides services for vulnerable people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems
The Pilion Trust Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Company No.6043010 England & Wales, and a Registered Charity, Registration No: 1122628

Outreach Shifts: 3 shifts per week for 4 hours (11am and 6pm) across all the identified areas: Nags Head Town Centre, Morrisons car park, Seven Sisters Road, Peacocks, Holloway Road from Waitrose to Odeon Cinema, Elthorne Park, Wittington Park, Sunnyside Gardens and Wray Crescent. Hotspots: Hot spot areas were targeted during the day and any specific times that MAPGI Targeting or referrals stated. Drop Ins: Every Tuesday from 10 to 12pm for 10 weeks the team ran a morning tea and coffee session to be able to deal with more private issues as well as chasing up services for the street drinkers. The average attendance for each session was 3 to 4 people each week.

Onward Referrals: Advice and support around new DPPO and harm minimisation Housing Aid Centre CASA ISIS City Rds Detox Street Rescue (Haringey) Aerial technicians Gas and Electricity support Reconnection to Westminster Advice and advocacy on rent arrears 25 4 2 2 2 1 1 3 2 5 Shelter from the storm Wittington Hospital ETE Volunteering Birth Certificates Benefits Pensions DLA Debt Advice 2 1 1 1 2 4 1 1 4

8 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5 1XL Telephone: 020 7700-2498 Fax: 020 7700-2542 W: www.piliontrust.org.uk B:http://piliontrust.blogspot.com Pilion Trust provides services for vulnerable people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems
The Pilion Trust Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Company No.6043010 England & Wales, and a Registered Charity, Registration No: 1122628

The team found the following challenges: Literacy: 90% of those engaged had very low levels of literacy and/or schooling. This has impacted on their ability to read documents and to respond to them in an appropriate manner. The clients tend to deal with all matters verbally, in face to face contact which ends in confrontation. 3 generations of a benefit dependent culture: 100% of those engaged had either never worked or worked in menial low paid cash in hand jobs. There is no work ethic and no aspirations to help themselves. Any extra money earned (illegally) would be spent on alcohol or buying alcohol for other street drinkers. The groups were also co-dependent on the other members of the group for their drinking. They would share all their benefit amongst the group to buy alcohol. Learning difficulties: 60% of the clients demonstrated a lack of capacity and ability to cope with simple day to day tasks. They all presented with either low level (global learning difficulty) to medium level (autism). This meant they were easy targets and suggestible about doing low level crime for others. Boredom, Lack of aspiration, lack of motivation and hope: 100% of those who engaged identified boredom as their main issue as to why they came out of their homes and met with the group socially. They all shared that they had no aspirations in life, lacked motivation and felt they were in a rut and couldnt get themselves out of it and therefore had no hope for the future. Growing up in care, criminal backgrounds no stable family life: 76% of those clients who engaged with the project identified during their assessments that they had grown up in care, no stable family, criminal backgrounds, had been in prison and had lost all trust with the system. Dont feel part of any community: 100% of the clients commented on the fact that whether they were living in a Council flat or a hostel that they did not feel welcomed and/or included in the wider community.

8 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5 1XL Telephone: 020 7700-2498 Fax: 020 7700-2542 W: www.piliontrust.org.uk B:http://piliontrust.blogspot.com Pilion Trust provides services for vulnerable people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems
The Pilion Trust Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Company No.6043010 England & Wales, and a Registered Charity, Registration No: 1122628

No-one spoke to them. Their neighbours isolated and avoided them. They were also frightened if the neighbours knew they were rough sleepers or street drinkers they would try to get them evicted. So social isolation was a large factor for why they met up together and did not integrate with the local community. Statutory and Voluntary Sector Services: The Housing Providers struggle to engage clients effectively within the supported projects. The Housing providers seem to have many activities but the clients are either not aware or are not encouraged to attend these activities due to their behaviour issues. Statutory Housing providers seem to be more distant from their tenants. None of the clients seem to know who their housing workers were or even how to understand their rent statements. All they seem to receive is rent statements and warning but very little understanding about their issues and needs. Repairs and dilapidation of properties due to the fact the clients are unable to report or complain about outstanding repairs. Therefore, they seem to live in sub stand housing provision. With funding cuts, mergers and takeovers of departments and organisations have caused the sector to have undergone a lot of staff changes in both Voluntary and Statutory Services has left clients feeling isolated and unhappy. There does not seem to have much consultation or consideration that these vulnerable people may have only ever seen or known of one key worker. They have not coped with the changes within the sector and the Council. Utility companies make their billing very difficult for this group to cope with and will not negotiate improved plans. Leaving them without electricity and/or gas for months on end. Drug and Alcohol Services waiting time for first appointments have increased and the motivation and willingness of this client group to wait 3 weeks for an assessment is not viable.

8 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5 1XL Telephone: 020 7700-2498 Fax: 020 7700-2542 W: www.piliontrust.org.uk B:http://piliontrust.blogspot.com Pilion Trust provides services for vulnerable people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems
The Pilion Trust Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Company No.6043010 England & Wales, and a Registered Charity, Registration No: 1122628

Clients need to be able to access services quickly in the first instance and build a rapport with workers. Another issue is a lack of understanding of the full range of services available and how they can be accessed in statutory provision. Difficulty in accessing detox: With the funding cuts to crisis and emergency detoxing the clients are even more reluctant to access community services. This group need to be caught and supported when they show the motivation to change. We saw 4 people die during the 10 weeks from either alcohol or drug related issues. Another 3 people accessed the hospitals for detox due to the health effects of their use. Reluctant to engage with DWP and Job Centre Plus due to over complicated phone systems and lack of face to face contact when having concerns. Decision making has been devolved away from Job Centres and sent to Scotland. Clients would rather live without benefits and commit low level crime than fight for their rights. Lost ID and important documents due to chaotic lifestyle has prevented them from accessing services.

Case Study: Jason 41 years old. He was born and spent most of his life in Kent. Jason had come from a working class family who have strong work ethics. At the age of 16 he was sent to Borstal for 3 months for stealing cars. On his return from Borstal, Jason found it difficult to readjust and become part of this family again, so he decided to leave the family home and moved in with friends who dabbled in alcohol and drugs. This began a life time of substance abuse. In early 2000 Jason met his partner and the following year his son was born. Jason found it difficult to take responsibility for the family often falling into huge financial debts. This led Jason to begin a career in selling drugs. In Dec 2004 Jason was sentenced to 6 years in jail for supplying cocaine. During his sentence his relationship broke up and he was sent to HMP
8 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5 1XL Telephone: 020 7700-2498 Fax: 020 7700-2542 W: www.piliontrust.org.uk B:http://piliontrust.blogspot.com Pilion Trust provides services for vulnerable people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems
The Pilion Trust Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Company No.6043010 England & Wales, and a Registered Charity, Registration No: 1122628

Pentonville for the remainder of his time. On release he was place into private accommodation in Holloway by the probation service. Jason first came to our attention in Dec 2010, he had started to become a familiar face among the street drinkers outside Peacocks in Seven Sisters Rd. Although housed, Jason felt isolated and lonely in Islington. He found friendship with the street drinkers and became a regular face in the crowd. Jason was picked up numerous times on outreach and asked to engage with services to which he always refused. The HOT project started in April 2012 and almost immediately Jason started to engaged, he was referred to detox and completed a 21 day detox City Roads. On his return Jason has stayed in contact with the project and the Trust for support and has turned his life around. He has been clean of both alcohol and heroin for almost 3 months. He regularly volunteers for The Pilion and has made steps to be reunited with his estranged family. Jason has praised the HOT Project for its support at this time in his life. He has not returned to the streets and avoids contact with other street drinkers in the area. He has plans to return to college and eventually get a job. Jason feels that without the HOT project he would have struggled to keep clean for this amount of time. He has committed himself to work voluntary for The Pilion and we have promised to continue to support him in his new life. Conclusion: Over the 10 weeks of the H.O.T Project many changes and events took place. They included the closure of the Whitaker Centre, the decommissioning of ARC Mental Health Service and NHS Homeless GP Practise at ISIS. The street drinkers and the staff had 4 deaths to deal with and the grief of the street drinking community of their loss. Illegal animal tranquilisers were on the streets at Nags Head and this also caused concern for the safety of both the community and the streets drinkers. Sara and Carl worked creatively to deal with the issues on the streets and to rehouse and move people away from the area for their own good. They supported clients not to lose their tenancies as well as getting their repairs done, utilities reconnected and their TVs reconfigured. The numbers have reduced considerably and the impact on the wider community has been minimised. The calls and complaints have also ceased.
8 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5 1XL Telephone: 020 7700-2498 Fax: 020 7700-2542 W: www.piliontrust.org.uk B:http://piliontrust.blogspot.com Pilion Trust provides services for vulnerable people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems
The Pilion Trust Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Company No.6043010 England & Wales, and a Registered Charity, Registration No: 1122628

All in all the project was a success for the clients and the wider community as all have seen a benefit and an improvement in their quality of life. Special Thanks to: Sara, Carl, Joyce Polaya (Nags Head Town Centre Manager), the 3 local SNTs, PCSO George Tsandis, the local businesses, the Enkle Pub, Green Space and the park keepers, Park Guards, Betul and Sarah from the two MAGPIs, The Old Fire Station, ISIS Drug Service, CASA, City Roads, and all our volunteers whom without all the support and joint working the project would not have been a success.

Written by: Savvas Panas Pilion Trust CEO Sara Handley HOT Project Coordinator. 09.07.2012

8 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5 1XL Telephone: 020 7700-2498 Fax: 020 7700-2542 W: www.piliontrust.org.uk B:http://piliontrust.blogspot.com Pilion Trust provides services for vulnerable people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems
The Pilion Trust Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Company No.6043010 England & Wales, and a Registered Charity, Registration No: 1122628