So it begins…: Spring 2010
After months of anticipation, work is at last underway for the new Jimmy’s. Phase one started in April: builders are now converting the basement under the Zion Baptist Church (once our lovely quiet room, laundry and storage area) into a temporary night shelter or ‘decant’, prior to major works beginning in the existing Jimmy’s and the three floors above, currently the church hall and offices. Before work began, the team at Jimmy’s had weeks of finding homes for everything that was being stored in the basement – food, blankets, toiletries, guest belongings, cleaning materials, spare clothing – and finding alternative storage sites. Once cleared, in moved the builders. Jimmy’s manager, Bev Williams, said: ‘To see the work begin is very exciting. Many months of preparation have gone into this first phase, where we are aiming to provide a comfortable, short-term facility for our guests, and ensuring the move between the two basements goes as smoothly as possible. There’s no doubt amenities will improve for guests in the temporary shelter: a new kitchen and bathrooms, plus fewer people sharing each bedroom should make life a little easier for all.’ The main build – transforming Jimmy’s from a basic shelter into a 24-hour support centre – commences once we move into the decant later this summer. The new Jimmy’s will be open by 2012, providing accommodation and facilities over four floors. Importantly, ‘Jimmy’s 2012’ will offer a range of extended daytime activities and support, vital for giving people the best chances of moving onto a more sustainable, independent lifestyle. The building will provide far greater access to space and light, so making it a more pleasant environment in which to live and work.

Friends remembered: Spring 2010
One year after it opened, it was time for the big clean up in the Memorial Garden. A group representing the homeless and ex-homeless met on a gorgeous spring morning and set to weeding, scrubbing, polishing, planting, trimming, sweeping – and generally having lots of fun with mud and Brasso! It was all for an important reason: the garden – established by Cambridge Link-Up – is there to remember the members of the homeless community who have died in recent years. We have lost over 100 friends in the last decade, but of course, they won’t be forgotten.

Homeless Hustings: Spring 2010
By the time you read this we will know who has won the race to become Cambridge’s next MP. In the build up to the general election, six of the city’s candidates took time out from the hectic schedule to join a hustings event for the homeless community, organised by Cambridge Link-Up, Jimmy’s and WinterComfort. The lively meeting, at which there was standing room only, saw questions from the floor including drugs and crime, transition from benefits to work and the parties’ position on the war in Afghanistan. Once formal proceedings had closed, debate with individual candidates continued on a variety of subjects including the new NHS database, choices in education, support for excluded groups and public transport. One of the key messages of the meeting was about the importance of both registering to vote, and then exercising that right on May 6: whether you are homeless or not, you still have a say in how this country is governed.


Our brilliant fundraisers: Spring 2010
Frances Scott, medic and Jimmy’s volunteer, has raised almost £500 for Jimmy’s by competing in the Bath half-marathon in March. Battling it out with over 11,000 runners on a day bathed in glorious sunshine, Frances completed the run in under two hours, finishing well up the field. You can show your support for Frances by visiting www.justgiving.com/JimmysNightshelterRun. Ross Gordon is cycling for Jimmy’s: he’s undertaking the gruelling Land’s End to John O’Groats route, which he aims to complete in just ten days. He will be in the saddle for around eight hours a day and hopes to cover 100 miles daily. As if the basic challenge isn’t enough, Ross will be increasing his drag co-efficient with the use of facial hair – his current training is with various beard/moustache combinations, and he’ll select the trickiest for the actual journey. Please support Ross in his challenge by visiting www.justgiving.com/Ross-Gordon0.

Other recent fundraising ventures include: Homerton College—a quiz night raised almost £150; Netherhall School—kindly donated £700, the proceeds from their non-uniform day; a collection at Cambridge United FC raised over £300.

Refurbishment of Jimmy's: February 10
The start of building works for the new Jimmy's centre is fast approaching!
Key dates: 22nd February - foundation check, four large holes will be dug down for a final look;
31st March - building work starts to establish our temporary premises (in the other basement below the church);
29th June - building work of temporary shelter complete;
30th June - we move into our new, temporary home;
July to December 2010 - details finalised prior to commencement of the main build;
January 2011 - building work on the main centre starts;
January 2012 - the new Jimmy's centre opens.

Streetbite Sleepout: January 10
Our thanks go to the Streetbite supporters who held a sleepout in November, in order to both raise awareness of homelessness, and to raise funds for Jimmy’s and other homeless charities in Cambridge. On a very cold, wet night, 80 people slept out on Parker’s Piece, in the centre of Cambridge, for the event. To date, a magnificent £7500 has been raised. Among those ‘sleeping out’ were students, local councillors and volunteers from Jimmy’s.

Food for thought: December 09
The Foodshare Network – set up by Jimmy’s volunteer Mark Desvaux – is an innovative scheme that is encouraging anyone who grows fruit and veggies to donate their surplus to a local cause. Allotment owners, home gardeners and schools have joined the scheme, already donating hundreds of kilograms of fresh produce. Jimmy’s and the East Anglian Children’s Hospice have already benefited from this initiative, and many other causes are set to receive support: the Network has recently set up a group in New Zealand! There are many benefits to be derived from the scheme: the provision of seasonal, healthy food; a huge saving on food bills for the charity; reduction of air miles; and less wastage from the garden or allotment. To find out how you can support the scheme, visit www.foodsharenetwork.org


Not at home with Alice and Kev: December 09
It’s been called a ‘social experiment’, am ‘intelligent piece of commentary’, and a work that has ‘given a face to the homeless’: this is Alice and Kev, the on-line homeless father and daughter, created by games designer Robin Burkinshaw. The game has helped raise awareness of urban homelessness, and Cambridge-based Robin has generously allowed the blog to publicise the work of Jimmy’s, and other organisations working for the homeless. We’ll feature an interview with Robin in the next issue of Jottings, but in the meantime you can find out more about Alice and Kev at www.aliceandkev.wordpress.com.


Sweet music: December 09
Volunteer Gill Lancaster – part of trio Renaissance Fayre – held a benefit gig for Jimmy’s, at the Red House in Longstowe. Renaissance Fayre, play a huge variety of music, embracing sounds from the 12th century, all the way to the 21st! The trio are now hoping to raise more funds at the open mic sessions held at the Red House on the first Sunday of every month (7.30 – 10.30pm). Jimmy’s supporters are warmly invited to join in, tap a toe or two, or just listen – skill on the mandolin is not obligatory! Find out more at www.renaissancefayre.com


Our friends on Facebook: December 09
If you’re on Facebook, why not join the ‘Jimmy’s Night Shelter Friends’ group, set up by Michael – who’s a good friend of Jimmy’s! Get your friends to join too, and read latest snippets from Jimmy’s, thoughts of volunteers and supporters, and find out about up and coming events. Log on to www.facebook.com and search for Jimmy’s Night Shelter Friends Group.


After dark: December 09
Nightjar, a series of artworks about Cambridge between dusk and dawn, took place at the end of October. Part of the series was ‘Conversations after dark’, a walking tour that took in areas of the city, where people are at work, and play, in the wee hours. Included in the walk was Jimmy’s, and we worked with artists Townley and Bradby to give a feel of the rhythms and patterns of the nightshelter. Other locations included market square and the Corpus Clock.


Secret to shout about!: December 09
If you’re a holder of the Cambridge Local Secrets card then you can now donate points to Jimmy’s. With the Cambridge Card you collect loyalty points at retailers and restaurants – these points are then translated into cash (1p for every point earned) and this is given to Jimmy’s. Cards are available for free in outlets across the city, or on-line (£1.95 handling fee) at www.localsecrets.com


Sawston Sleep-out: July 09
A big thank you to the 1st Sawston Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades.

The brigade members slept out in the cold and wet to help raise funds for, and awareness of, Jimmy’s. The older boys and girls built a ‘cardboard city’ and spent the night under the stars – and rain!
They raised a very welcome £300, presented to Jimmy’s at the Brigades’ summer barbecue.


Winning ways in Cambridge: July 09
Congratulations to our colleagues at Wintercomfort for the Homeless, and the Street Outreach Team, for their recent national success and recognition

A developing social enterprise at Wintercomfort – Winter Willow – has won £65,000 from the Spark Challenge, the competition to fund innovative projects that help prevent homelessness.

The Winter Willow programme is open to all those who attend Wintercomfort – including many of Jimmy’s guests.Twice weekly, those who take part in the project are learning the techniques to design and make willow products, including bicycle baskets, garden sculptures and eco-coffins. The Spark Investment will enable Wintercomfort to deliver a full time training program in willow weaving eco-coffins with the aim of offering employment opportunities to the homeless from 2011. For further information visit www.wintercomfort.org.uk

The Street Outreach Team (SOT) has been named as one of 15 ‘ending rough sleeping champions’ across England. The award, made by the Communities and Local Government department, recognised the contribution that effective partnership working with the specialist street life police officers, has made to reducing street homelessness in Cambridge. This ‘Cambridge model’ will now be rolled out nationally, and SOT has been awarded £5,000 to fund a good practice conference, host visits by professionals from across the country and provide information packs for homeless organisations nationwide.


Memorial Garden: July 09
The Memorial Garden – set up to help us remember the homeless people of Cambridge who have died in recent years – was opened in July.

At the moving ceremony, the garden was officially opened by Pam Durrant, who made the first donation in memory of her son Grant, a regular guest at Jimmy’s.

As well as landscaping with planted and paved features, and railway sleepers bearing individual nameplates commemorating those who have died, the garden features Sanctuary Tower (detail pictured above), the sculpture created by artist Emma Fenelon with members of Wintercomfort and Cambridge Link-Up.


Action!: July 09
Recently a team from the Cambridge University Television Society visited Jimmy’s to make a documentary about homelessness, its causes and lifestyle, and what students can do to help. They filmed throughout the shelter, and are now producing the final cut.


Green shoots at Jimmy’s: July 09
Thanks to GE Energy of Cambridge, Jimmy’s ‘Shakey Beans’ allotment project got off to a great start.
Volunteers from GE, together with Jimmy’s ex-guests and support worker Peter Smith, transformed the allotment site from an overgrown weed patch, to a veritable haven for all things fruit and veg. They also made a double compost bin out of old pallets.

For the next stage, we plan to build raised beds, and install fruit cages and a polytunnel. The longer-term plan is to grow enough produce to supply the night shelter and move-on houses, as well as provide opportunities for guests and volunteers to get involved in a very worthwhile project.


How does our garden grow?: July 09
We may not have silver bells and cockle shells in our courtyard garden at Jimmy’s (although the occasional pretty maid has been spotted), but nevertheless, everything’s coming up lovely thanks to the ladies of C3’s Breathe group.

They raised funds to supply our summer floral colour for the courtyard, and weekly breakfast volunteer Judy has been regularly attending to our gardening needs . A big thank you to Breathe, for breathing life back into our somewhat neglected courtyard, and also thanks for providing our cooked breakfasts on Fridays. (As if this wasn’t enough, a further thanks to Tracey for helping with the design and production of Jottings).

Stags Come to Jimmy’s: May 09
Amsterdam, Prague, Dublin, Tallinn, Berlin. These are just a few of the current stag night hot spots. Now we can add Jimmy’s to the list of ‘must go’ pre-nuptial venues. That’s where soon-to-be hubbie Chris and six of his friends were bound, under the direction of best man Will.

The magnificent seven spent a morning at Jimmy’s, helping out with those essential, but not very appealing, tasks: oiling the courtyard benches, sorting out storage rooms, tidying the clothes store, cleaning the basement, amongst other messy jobs. Will said, ‘We wanted to do something a bit different and useful. We enjoyed being with you and it was a privilege to help out in a little way.’

The guys are too modest: they have helped out enormously and made life more comfortable for all at Jimmy’s. Many thanks to them and we hope the wedding was as enjoyable (if less messy!).


Pastors Head for the Streets: May 09
With the top safety priority in Cambridge being alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour, it’s timely that the Cambridge Street Pastors have begun their late-night city patrols.

Although people out in the wee hours aren’t necessarily part of the ‘ASBO’ culture, many are in need of help - to get home, find their friends, be safe, recover from over-indulgence, use a pastoral ear.

Supported by the Ascension Trust, Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church initiative engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and help. Barrie Woodman, facilities manager at Jimmy’s, is on the scheme’s management committee that recruited the first volunteers for the project, in March.

The initiative is also supported by Cambridge and District Youth for Christ, which gave thanks to Tom Donaldson and Hamish Findlay, both volunteers at Jimmy’s and Street Pastors, for helping to bring them together.
For more information, visit www.streetpastors.org.uk


Memorial Garden: May 09
In the last year more than 20 people from Cambridge’s homeless community have died. Shockingly, that’s equivalent to around ten per cent of the people who live in Jimmy’s and the City’s hostels. Over the last decade or so, more than 80 of the same community – many of whom had stayed at Jimmy’s - have died.

It was these awful statistics that prompted Cambridge Link-Up, the group set up and run by homeless, ex-homeless and vulnerably-housed people, to establish a memorial garden as a lasting tribute to those we have lost.

With land donated by ECHG at its hostel on Victoria Road, a dedicated team of homeless and ex-homeless volunteers have worked tirelessly to create a landscaped garden including a water feature, lighting, paving, fencing and six railway sleepers that bear individual nameplates commemorating the lives of Cambridge’s homeless people who have died.

Link-Up’s Caz Perkins said, ‘The garden is about remembering the dead but also celebrating the living. People have been so committed to this project – it’s been brilliant.’
Visit www.cambridgelinkup.org.uk for more information