“The quality of the entries just takes the biscuit!” said Phil Jones, Lovell’s Head of Land and Partnerships, as he and fellow judges, TV’s George Clarke and Greggs’ CEO Roisin Currie, announced the winners of a new festive gingerbread building competition that took place at The Biscuit Factory on Tuesday (3 December): Gingerbread Street.

The Gingerbread Street competition is the first of its kind in the region, organised by Gateshead-based homelessness charity Oasis Community Housing. Local businesses, groups and schools deployed their best bakers and builders to create gingerbread houses, a school, church and even a skate park. All of the confectionary creations have been displayed alongside each other to make up Gingerbread Street, which will remain on display to visit at The Biscuit Factory until 27 December 2024.

Judges George Clarke, Greggs’ Roisin Currie and Phil Jones from Lovell, who has kindly sponsored the event alongside the Chartered Institute of Building, awarded the Community Champion Award to ‘Callerton Gingerbread Academy’, which was a group effort from Callerton Academy Year 10 Pupils, Space Architects and Morgan Sindall construction services.

Other award winners included: ‘The Courthouse’ by Ben Hoare Bell LLP (small plot); ‘Frank’s Place’ by construction group Bowmer + Kirkland (medium plot); and ‘The Evelyn Project Food Bank & Community Garden’ by Evelyn Partners financial services (large plot).

Gingerbread Street aims to raise awareness of homelessness this Christmas, and the community that is needed to make people feel they have a home. Sarah Lister, CEO of Oasis Community Housing, the charity organising the event, said:

“Ending homelessness is about more than putting a roof over someone’s head. Building community around people is at the heart of what we do, so every individual feels safe and like they belong. We wanted to bring that message to life and so, with a dusting of Christmas spirit, we have Gingerbread Street!

“We are overwhelmed by the level of creativity and commitment given by local businesses, churches and schools, as well as our incredible judges – all enabling us to continue making a life-changing difference for people facing homelessness across the region.”

The homelessness charity in partnership with George Clarke’s own charity, MOBIE (Ministry of Building, Innovation and Education), have delivered a number of school workshops across Newcastle and Gateshead encouraging young people to think about homelessness and to design the kind of shelter that may be helpful for people sleeping on the streets. Out of hundreds of entries, Sonny Abbott from Rowlands Gill Primary School was chosen as the winner for his colourful, uplifting design. Sonny’s design for a homelessness shelter has been made into a life-size model by MOBIE, which is also on display at The Biscuit Factory throughout December.

Anyone visiting Gingerbread Street can vote for their favourite biscuity building using the QR code on the miniature street signs across the exhibition. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced on Oasis Community Housing’s social media channels on 20 December.

Find out more about Oasis Community Housing’s Christmas Appeal >

A new scheme to support people experiencing homelessness has opened in Houghton-le-Spring. The Houghton project stems from a partnership between local homelessness charity Oasis Community Housing and Sunderland City Council.

Latest figures show a 46 percent rise in people sleeping rough across the North East, compared to the previous year, and the new accommodation provides flats with tailored, round-the-clock support for individuals who have experienced sleeping rough.

Over 1,300 people facing homelessness have been supported by Oasis Community Housing in the last year.

Martin Reilly, who manages the Houghton project, said: “Giving people a roof overhead doesn’t fix homelessness. This new project offers a special fit-for-purpose space where our staff work alongside residents on everything from the basics of attending doctor’s appointments to building trust and providing trauma-informed support.

“We have the privilege of helping people when they really need it, so we want to ensure we’re delivering the support people really need to live confidently and independently in their own home, when that time comes.”

Sunderland City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Safer Communities, Councillor Kelly Chequer, said: “As a City Council, we are absolutely committed to supporting the vulnerable and for those experiencing homelessness there can be other issues alongside not having their own accommodation.

“The partnership here in Houghton helps to address these matters and support people who can sometimes be among the most vulnerable members of our community.

“We can now offer a greater range of help and assistance from health and wellbeing, to general welfare and more support to help break the cycle of homelessness.”

A number of local and regional businesses including Amazon MME2 warehouse, Bowmer + Kirkland, Cushman & Wakefield, Komatsu UK, Lovell and Newcastle Building Society are donating funds or furniture to make the flats feel more homely, as well as volunteering to renovate the accommodation’s garden spaces.

Lynsey Watson was involved in Komatsu UK’s day of volunteering at the Houghton homeless project. She said: “Komatsu UK is really proud to lend a hand to Oasis Community Housing with their Joseph’s garden project. It was a tough day of hard work, especially with the weather, but we powered through and made it happen.

“We all really enjoyed ourselves and there has been great feedback amongst the team about getting involved in future projects. It felt great to be able to help out in our local community.”

Find out more about our work across the North East >>>

People who are sleeping rough are being given toiletry and food packs at homeless drop-ins and on morning outreach across the North-East, thanks to a partnership between two local charities Oasis Community Housing and Feeding Families.

Oasis Community Housing’s Project Team Leader, Stuart Dawson, explains, “The packs we give out at our drop-ins contain food that takes little or no preparation – such as energy bars, biscuits, peperamis, and chewing gum to let people freshen their breath.

“There’s toothpaste, shower gel and other toiletries that we give out too, for people to use in our drop-in showers or elsewhere.”

“Since starting our partnership with Feeding Families, the packs are there, ready to go; they immediately make people feel ‘seen’ and valued. On a practical level, it gets food into people’s bellies too. It’s been so beneficial to the people we support.”

Nutrition is a big challenge for people experiencing homelessness, with a third saying that on average they eat only one  meal a day.

In the past 12 months, Feeding Families has distributed over 46,000 packs to Oasis Community Housing, other charity partners and individuals across the region. This was a 100% increase on the previous year. 

Feeding Families’ CEO, Juliet Sanders, said, “We are delighted to support Oasis Community Housing – and over 300 other charities in the North East. By partnering together we can give people more of what they need.

“Food is such a basic need that we have to start there before we can put in other interventions. The rough sleeper packs came about through conversations with Oasis Community Housing where we listened to their expertise, which guided the content of the packs. While it’s so sad these are needed it’s so satisfying that we can give a little dignity and kindness to those in desperate need.”

Oasis Community Housing is also using the Feeding Families packs as ‘welcome packs’ for people moving off the street and into the charity’s Basis Beds flats.

The homeless charity always work with the people they support to source furniture, through donations or small grants, to ensure a place feels more like a home upon move-in.

The new welcome packs are helping people settle in, with groceries such as cereal, longlife milk and tinned fruit as well as cleaning products and other household essentials.

Last year, Oasis Community Housing supported more than 1,300 men, women and young families facing homelessness through their drop-ins, and supported flats and houses.

Find out how you can get involved in making a difference for someone facing homelessness >>>

Oasis Community Housing’s CEO, David Smith, has been elected Member of Parliament (MP) for North Northumberland. As a result, David will step down from his role with immediate effect and Chief Operating Officer, Sarah Lister, will become Acting CEO for homeless charity.

Making the announcement, Oasis Community Housing’s Chair of Trustees Nick Salisbury said, ‘Our congratulations go to David on his new role in Parliament.

‘We thank David for his energy and leadership over the past seven years: expanding our drop-in and emergency projects, rapidly re-mapping our support services on the announcement of COVID lockdown, launching the charity’s very important and influential Tackling Trauma campaign, and for taking us through the rebrand to become who we are today, Oasis Community Housing.

‘Now, looking forward for Oasis Community Housing, Sarah Lister has kindly agreed to become our acting CEO, whilst we seek to recruit a new permanent CEO. Sarah has been with the charity for six years and is our current Chief Operating Officer, and carries with her a wealth of skill and experience.

‘Our work continues in earnest with the more than 1,300 men, women and families who we support on their journeys out of homelessness each year.’

Find out more about our Senior Leadership Team >

There are many different reasons someone might end up facing homelessness.

Poneh’s estranged husband, Javid, controlled, manipulated and physically hurt her over 10 years. Following her from city to city, he was persistent in his abuse.

She found hope through the Empower team at Oasis Community Housing.

‘He controlled me’

Poneh’s estranged husband tormented and harassed her for over a decade, with the abuse starting when they were together. Javid’s damaging behaviour risked devastating Poneh’s life.

He controlled Poneh’s bank cards and prevented her from working.

‘He used to lie to me all the time. When I would say “what you said is not right,” he would say “I’m joking.” He hurt me. He hurt me physically and emotionally.

‘A few times he pushed me against the wall. My head hit the wall and I felt dizzy.’

Poneh ended the relationship and tried to free herself by calling the police, moving cities, changing jobs, but he just kept coming back. He would try and infiltrate her life again by finding out where she worked.

Poneh said Javid felt entitled to her home, and that he would manipulate their son using the guise of child contact to enter and use Poneh’s house.

Despite being separated for years, Javid would enter Poneh’s home while she worked. ‘He took a shower in my home, he asked me for money and sometimes he would take vegetables. He then started to hurt me again and use me, and lie.’

Poneh ended the violent and controlling relationship and worked hard to build up her life again however, in Poneh’s words: ‘He didn’t live with me but he controlled me.’

Support from the Empower team

Poneh was eventually referred to Oasis Community Housing’s Empower Domestic Abuse support team to get the help she needed.

The team were able to fund and install a ring doorbell, which meant Poneh had evidence of Javid’s harassment. They supported her to report all of the abuser’s actions to the police and worked with her to apply for a divorce.

Javid breached the terms of his non-molestation order after Empower installed a camera capturing him entering her home. This resulted in his non-molestation order being upgraded to a restraining order after a short court case.

‘I went to court, and Holly (from the Empower team) was there, all the time she was there supporting me with everything. From 8 o’clock to 4 or 5 o’clock.’

The stress of the necessary court case took a toll on Poneh’s health.

‘I remember after the court I had some sort of heart attack, because of a lot of pressure.’

Poneh spent three days recovering in hospital.

Empower sourced counselling sessions through the North East Counselling Service thanks to support from the transition fund, helping Poneh work through her trauma. Poneh also had support from our financial capability team who helped her apply for Universal Credit and deal with Council tax debts.

‘It has changed my life.’

Looking to the future

‘I think about myself more. Sometimes I go out with my friend, going shopping. It’s much, much better my life… I’m much happier now, I’m very happy now.

‘All the time he was coming to say something, he was coming to have an argument, he was coming to do something to me, but now I can relax because he’s not coming anymore.’

The Empower team wouldn’t be able to do the work they do without your support. Thanks to your donations Poneh is now enjoying her life after abuse.

Find out how you can support women like Poneh by making a donation or visiting our Get involved pages >>>

A new piece of legislation, which could criminalise rough sleepers, is hitting the headlines this week as more than 40 Conservative MPs are expected to rebel against it.

The Criminal Justice Bill, which is being considered as a replacement for the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act, proposes new powers to move people on who are sleeping rough, and criminalise them if they don’t comply, with a fine of up to £2,500 or even a prison sentence. This would apply in England and Wales.

“Rough sleepers are already at the sharp end of homelessness. We know 3 out of 4 people facing homelessness have difficulties developing trusting relationships, because of their past experiences, and these proposals would only shatter trust further between those forced to sleep on the streets and the organisations that can provide them with support,” says David Smith, CEO of Oasis Community Housing.

The Bill says someone can be considered a ‘nuisance’ if they are sleeping in a doorway, creating ‘excessive smell’ or are someone who is ‘looking like they are intending to sleep on the streets’.

David Smith continues: “Homelessness has been getting worse over the last several years, and should be considered a national crisis. Fining vulnerable people and moving them on as a ‘nuisance’ from where they are sleeping is not going to solve homelessness. This Bill simply puts more people at risk of being dehumanised and criminalised.

“To ensure people aren’t trapped in a cycle of being criminalised for rough sleeping, the UK Government must commit to implementing trauma-informed support across all homelessness services, so people can rebuild their lives.”

An amendment to the Criminal Justic Bill has been lodged by Tory MP and long-time homelessness campaigner Bob Blackman to remove the replacement powers and finally repeal the Vagrancy Act. 

Find out more about our Parliamentary work on our Tackling Trauma, Ending Homelessness campaigns page >