HISTORY AND GENERAL OPERATIONS
The St Richard of Chichester Christian Care Association was formed in 1989 following a sermon
given by the Revd Hilary Parsons concerning the death of an ex-Graylingwell patient in a public toilet
in Chichester. The reaction amongst the congregation was very powerful. A meeting followed where
20 different churches were represented. The aims for the Association were initially identified as:
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A hostel for young homeless
A Day Centre
A Night Shelter
Low Cost Family Housing
Each project had a committee to work on the feasibility of the task. A hostel for young homeless was
opened in Hay Road in 1991, but was closed in 1993 and the property sold. The Low Cost Family
Housing project was abandoned. The Association was registered as a charity in 1991 (charity no
1000830) and was also registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee (2504171).
Following a Marketing/Rebranding process over these past 2 years the Association now operates
under the name of STONEPILLOW.
Over the years our initial aims have been built upon and varied, and new operations have been taken
on and managed by the Association. They are as follows:
St Joseph’s Night Refuge
St Joseph’s opened in December 1991 a few days before Christmas in a building belonging to the
Carmelite Nuns in Hunston, just south of Chichester – originally it had been the gardener’s cottage.
This provided the Association with six beds to offer the homeless who came to the door, with
additional facilities for office space and a small flat occupied by the first warden, Dee Brown. By
November 1993, nearly two years after opening, it had given shelter to 234 different people since it
opened – an occupancy of 2,452 man nights.
In July 1995, following a protracted planning application and an intense period of fundraising, together
with the magnificent donation of additional land to the Association by the Carmelite Nuns, St Joseph’s
was closed and refurbishment began. In February 1996, it re-opened with much enhanced facilities: a
larger kitchen, improved lounge and dining facilities, two dormitories (six and four beds), facilities for
two project workers, and improved toilet and shower facilities. The offices were also improved.
On 17 April 2001, a two-bedded room was opened at the Refuge providing facilities for single
homeless women. This is a facility which has been planned for some considerable time, and has been
made possible by the building of an extension to provide additional storage and office space, thus
releasing space within the main body of the house for the women's en-suite bedroom. The extension
work was undertaken in partnership with CRASH, the construction industry charity for the single
homeless, and with Geoffrey Osborne Limited. Funding for the project was raised through successful
applications to charitable trusts, such as The Tudor and Llankelly Trusts, and private donations.
The Refuge is open every night of the year between 7 pm and 8 am. Clients can stay for as many
nights as they can obtain entry for. Clients are regularly reviewed at staff meetings about their use of
St Joseph’s and are encouraged to link up with the Resettlement Service based at the Day Centres.
Two project workers are on duty each night, and one is awake all night to ensure client safety and
well-being. The evening meal is produced by a rota of stalwart volunteers, and the project workers
make breakfast before the clients leave in the morning. Clients also have access to a second-hand
clothing store and a basic first aid post, as well as the listening ear of the project workers on duty. As
well as television, there is a supply of books, puzzles and board games.
No charge is made for the services provided. The Association receives Housing Benefit for each
person who stays. For the remainder, we are reliant on applications to Charitable Trusts, and the
amazing generosity of supporters locally.
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The Old Glassworks Day Centre, Chichester
The Chichester day centre opened in December 1992 at the Old Swimming Pool in Chichester financed
through Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Social Services. Some
years ago, The Association, Chichester and Bognor Area Mental Health Association (AMH) had joined
forces to look at premises for a day centre in Chichester.
On 15 December 1997, The Old Glassworks opened, providing a Day Centre for mental health clients and
a drop-in centre for the homeless, and the Centre is now open 7 days a week, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Meals
are available free of charge, and there are laundry and shower facilities, as well as leisure facilities such as
a pool table. There is also a clothing store. Volunteers work alongside the staff to provide a fuller service to
both groups of clients.
Health Clinics
In August 2002, Western Sussex Primary Care Trust opened a clinic for homeless clients within the two
Day Centres, which has made a huge difference to the medical welfare of our clients. There are currently
two surgeries opened per week in both the Old Glassworks in Chichester and at St. Martin’s in Bognor
Regis.
Additionally, Needle Exchange services are also available at each centre.
Substance misuse/triage work
A Substance misuse/triage worker funded by Chichester DAAT is a very busy member of the Client
services team. This role now includes outreach to the north of Sussex and outlying areas.
Resettlement Service/Outreach Service
The Resettlement/Outreach service is based now in Bognor Regis, close to our supported move-on
accommodations; it is an essential part of the service and works closely with the local authorities and
other service providers.
Supported Accommodation
Two houses have been purchased in Littlehampton by Martlet Homes on behalf of Stonepillow. The
houses were refurbished, furnished and equipped to provide four self-contained flats and were
completed in February 2004. They are rented out to our clients on six-month tenancy agreements.
Tenants are supported by a project worker, and are linked to Life Skills training to equip them to
maintain tenancies in the private sector. This project is funded through Housing Benefit, top up rents
from the tenants and Supporting People funding for the support elements of the project. Two
additional one-bed roomed properties have been purchased in Barnham through the Jull Trust.
In August 2006, again in partnership with Martlet Homes, a further 7 bedsits in a shared house
became available. These have been identified as move-on accommodation for clients moving from
the Sands project (see below). In August 2007, a further 10 bedsits became available in 3 shared
houses, purchased by Martlet Homes with a Housing Corporation grant. Stonepillow now have a
portfolio of 23 properties of supported accommodation for single homeless people.
Young Persons Project
In August 1999, the Association was approached by WSCC Social and Caring Service to provide a
facility with up to twelve bed spaces for young unaccompanied asylum seekers aged 16 to 18. With
the assistance of Affinity Sutton Housing Association, who have provided the capital for the purchase,
a property was identified in Whyke Lane, Chichester. This was a former WSCC children's home,
although it had been in private ownership for some twenty years. The facility provides a 9-bedded
unit, together with live-in accommodation for a project manager, and overnight accommodation for
other staff as required. It has been decorated and furnished to a high standard, and the staff offer
support and guidance to the young people from many countries whilst they learn to adapt to life in this
country and acquire skills to enable them to move on to independent living.
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March 2010
In response to a demand from WSVV Social and Caring Service a second Young Asylum Seekers
home was opened in Littlehampton in July 2004 offering ten beds. This offers the same services and
facilities as the Chichester Hostel.
All the young people are enrolled at Chichester College in the International Department, and are
encouraged to continue with all aspects of their education.
YPP Move-On Accommodation
Two five-bedroomed houses of supported accommodation were opened 2004 in Littlehampton for
Young Asylum Seekers, so that they can continue to be offered accommodation after they have been
in their initial hostel placement. They receive tapered support from a worker, again linked to the
necessary life skills to prepare them for independent living.
The service has recently been broadened to your indigenous people as well as young asylum seekers
and the project is still undergoing re-structuring to meet the need of accommodating young adults.
Sands
On 6th February 2006, the Sands project opened its doors to the first residents. The Sands Project is
a unique community based rehabilitation service for people with Drug and or Alcohol problems. This
project is an excellent example of partnership working between Stonepillow, Ravenscourt Trust,
Downland Housing Association, West Sussex Drug and Alcohol Team, and West Sussex Supporting
People Partnership. The project is divided into two units as follows:
Level 1: Specialist Direct Access Hostel- 6 bed.
Level one delivers a structured support and development model accessed by the following:
 Age 18+ substance misusers.
 Homeless/vulnerably housed substance misusers.
 Clients working towards rehabilitation places.
 Clients leaving residential detox or hospitals.
 Clients on DRR (drug rehabilitation requirements) and in need of further support.
 Clients prescribed opiate reduction programmes.
 Clients must remain abstinent within Sands.
Level 2: Therapeutic Safe House- 5 bed.
Level two offers an individual, flexible model accessed by the following:
 Age 18+ abstinent from alcohol and drugs.
 Clients who have completed a residential rehab programme and have requested a 2nd stage
programme.
 Clients needing ongoing therapeutic support post-detox.
 Clients needing access to education/employment/training.
 Clients requiring general housing support.
Outreach Support: Sands also offers outreach support for up to ten individuals, this support is
prioritised on a needs lead basis. Individuals who can access this service can be waiting to attend
Sands or who have completed Stage 1/2 of our programme and require further support working
towards recovery.
Richmond Avenue
A shared dry house based in Bognor Regis rented out to clients following a recovery programme
including abstinence from substance misuse – tenants are supported by key workers and enabled to
acquire independent living skills to sustain their accommodation.
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March 2010
Stonepillow Restore
Starting in May 2010, after a successful bid for a £486,215 grant from the Big Lottery Fund, a social
enterprise project named Restore will work with the local community, recycling donations of furniture
and white goods to individuals and families on low incomes in the area. The benefits of this project
are clear, people wanting to get rid of surplus furniture and white goods can do so easily, with
Stonepillow collecting directly from their home. Plus, people who previously struggled to furnish their
homes will now be able to access good quality furniture at reasonable prices. The project will also
provide a practical learning environment for trainees to gain valuable work experience placements.
The project will work with unemployed trainees to help them be more ‘job ready’. There is a learning
zone in the project where trainees can work on job applications, CV building and get professional job
search advice.
Collecting donations of furniture is only a small part of what Restore aims to do. Our new warehouse
in Terminus Road, Chichester will double as a workshop where trainees, recruited from our client
base, and other agencies will learn the skills to restore all donated furniture items. This is a significant
opportunity for Stonepillow to provide better prospects for people in recovery from addiction, to
develop employability for long-term unemployed and to reduce social exclusion.
The project also manages the maintenance of the other Stonepillow projects and our Project Worker
encourages trainees to learn new skills in this area. The project also has a furniture storage
warehouse in Rustington.
The project aims to promote environmental issues by encouraging recycling within the local
community. The main ethos of the project is to:
Reduce the amount of household furniture waste needlessly going to landfill.
Provide a series of practical work experience placements
Encourage the community to get involved in volunteering in the project and to promote the recycling
of furniture
Provide a retail outlet for low income households to access affordable quality furniture items.
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