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The Y Advice and Support Centre (YASC) is a direct access day centre based in Leicester City Centre for the homeless, rough sleepers, hostel dwellers and the vulnerably housed. YASC is now based within the new purpose built Dawn Centre on Conduit Street and is open between the hours of 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. (7.30 a.m. opening from December to March). No appointment or referrals are necessary and we see all kinds of people with all kinds of pressing needs. We seek to help everyone who comes through our doors and ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all. To this end we enforce a few simple rules:
- No drugs
- No Alcohol
- No Pets (except guide and hearing dogs)
- No Weapons
- No bicycles
- No Abusive behaviour
Practical Help
For the homeless and particularly those sleeping rough we can
assist in meeting the most fundamental of needs. We provide:
- Free food and drink
- Free Showers and Washing facilities
- Free laundry facilities
- Emergency food parcels for people in self-catering accommodation
- Free toiletries
- Access to toilets
- A Change of clothes
- A safe and comfortable space
- Access to a telephone
Advice and Information
There are a wide variety of problems and difficulties
which homeless people may face. Accordingly the Project staff team
must have a broad knowledge of resources available and work closely
with other agencies. Staff Will Provide:
- Help in finding emergency and other
appropriate hostel accommodation.
- Help finding ‘move-on’
accommodation
- Help establishing identification
- Welfare Benefits advice
- Advice on managing debt
- Assisting with claims for social security
benefits and maximising entitlement
- Help applying for council and housing
association accommodation
- Advice in seeking help with drugs and
alcohol problems
- Referrals to resettlement programmes
- Information on services available for
people with mental health problems
- A year-round health promotion programme
- A Mental Health Access Worker is available
daily in the day centre to access appropriate services for anyone
suffering with mental health difficulties.
Medical Services
Although independent within the Dawn Centre, the clinical base for the Homeless Healthcare Service is accessible via YASC. The GP and Consultant Nurse led practice facilitates surgeries Monday to Friday. Services available include GPs, Consultant Nurse, Practice Nurse a team of Community Psychiatric Nurses, Clinical Psychologist, Drugs Counsellor and complementary therapy.
Meaningful Occupation/Low Threshold Education/Activities
The day centre delivers a wide range of activities and Meaningful Occupation sessions. These sessions are based on identifying interests and capabilities, focusing on personal development, building on self-esteem and working with service users on personal achievements. Session include: home economics; I.T.; photography and digital imaging; crafts and diversity; jewellery making; traditional cookery; a jobs club; confidence building and a service user forum.
Most sessions incorporate basic skills in the form of numeracy and literacy, whilst focusing greatly on social skills.
Volunteers/Donations
We rely on monetary and other donations to enable us to continue to provide a high level of service. We need help with:
- Volunteers to help with refreshments and fundraising for as little as two hours a week
- Cash, cheque and voucher donations
- Donations of non-perishable food and toiletries
If you feel you can help in any of the above ways please contact
the Day Centre Manager. Your help is always appreciated.
The
Y Advice and Support Centre
Conduit Street,
Leicester LE2 0JN
Tel: 0116 2212787
Fax: 0116 2212785
Email: yasc@leicesterymca.co.uk
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