Places of Change
In 2008, Leatherhead Night Hostel, in partnership with Mole Valley District Council was awarded a government grant from the Places of Change Programme to commence the refurbishment of 3 Church Road, ensuring a long-
What is the Places of Change Programme?
In 1997 with a vision for change, the newly elected Labour government moved the issue of homelessness to the top of its policy agenda. Their aim of improving the quality of hostel accommodation and encouraging homelessness services to provide the best opportunities for their clients to move forward into work and a settled home.
There followed the Hostels Capital Improvement Programme (HIPC) 2005 and the Places of Change Programme (PCP) 2008. These programmes brought about innovative, redeveloped buildings and encouraged improved employment, health, personal development and housing outcomes for service users, increasing the possibilities for moving on successfully into training, further education, employment or independent living as a result of new services available.
Working in partnership with local authorities and the voluntary sector, the government’s PCP agenda, administered by the Communities and Local Government (CLG), aims to encourage homelessness services to focus not just on the development of better physical accommodation but also on moving service users forward by focusing on their individual needs and creating opportunities; an aspiration to become centres of excellence and choice.
“I want to see homelessness organisations across the country taking up the challenge and unlocking the skills and talents of people to the benefit of all.” (Ex-
Click here for more information about Places of Change
Click here for more information about the current government programme to improve hostel accomodation: Homelessness Change Programme
