Innovation and Awards

Innovation

We pride ourselves on constantly reviewing and adapting our services to meet our clients' aspirations, drawing on their experiences to make improvements and refinements.

Sometimes this means doing the unexpected or trying something completely new. We take on challenges and find different ways of doing things to make sure our clients' needs are being met. Here are just some of our innovations: 

• LifeWorks programme - tackling social exclusion through the provision of psychotherapy. In 2012-13, 204 clients were referred to the LifeWorks service, which held 1,860 individual sessions. Read the LifeWorks briefing.
• Palliative Care Service - our joint palliative care service, established in partnership with Marie Curie Cancer Care, for homeless people approaching the end of their lives. Download our end of life care resource pack here.
• ReVive - a social enterprise company that bids for contracts to refurbish our projects, and offers people who complete our programmes the to work on real jobs in a work based environment.

Awards

2013-14

• The Learning Awards - our apprenticeship scheme won a silver award in recognition of outstanding examples of high standards, best practice, innovation and excellence in Learning and Development
• Inspirational Team Member - London Probation Trust - our housing advice worker Richard Kilmartin was awarded for his commitment to providing housing, helping people rebuild their lives and desist from offending
• Howard League for Penal Reform Awards 2013 - Floating Support Service for High Risk Offenders team (adult category) - this Bristol-based team of four worked with 150 people during 2012-13, with a non- reoffending rate of 83%.
• NHS Team Up award - A project developed with to improve the oral health of homeless people won 'Best Overall Project' at the Olympic legacy inspired NHS Team Up awards.
• Gardening Against the Odds - gardening training project Putting Down Roots was runner-up at the national awards ceremony, which recognised the work transforming gardens in Southwark.
• City of London Growing Localities - winner in the City of London's Gardening and Growing Food category, which commended Putting Down Roots' work helping to boost employment prospects among homeless people in the horticultural sector.
• Two awards for Where from? Where now? - a multimedia project highlighting women's homelessness.

Ongoing recognition