Transform Lives; Cul�vate Talent; Release Poten�al
Friends First offers a “hand-up” by encouraging people to take
posi�ve steps forward with their lives; enabling progression
from despera�on: homelessness, isola�on and
unemployment to aspira�on: a home, belonging to a
community and employment.
Despera�on to Aspira�on: A Life-Transforming Journey
We are o en front-line support to
those who have been orphaned as
children and remain ‘adult
orphans’. One such person is Billy
who recently joined Friends First. He
was 12 years old when his father
died. On return from his father’s
funeral his mother was tragically killed in a car accident. Billy
went onto live with his mother’s sister which was not a happy
or a successful period of �me, followed by turbulent teenage
years in care. A er living at many different hostels Billy found
himself homeless at 22 years old; living on the streets. We
managed to provide a room for Billy at our community house
and he began a+ending our work-readiness ini�a�ve in
carpentry. Over the weeks he began to find a sense of joy and
achievement in working with wood and he enrolled at City
College to complete a weekly course in carpentry and joinery.
He is doing extremely well and recently received three
dis�nc�ons following his prac�cal examina�ons. He refines his
newly acquired skills at our workshop and is thankful for the
underlying support structure that Friends First offers during
this �me. Billy is showing reflec�ve maturity towards his past
issues; looking forward to the future, with genuine hope and
purpose!
Serena Crisp of Friends First met with the Head of Curriculum
for Business and Commercial at City College, Brighton to
ascertain how we can work more closely together going
forward. Partnership with City College will offer our
beneficiaries the opportunity to gain a formal qualifica�on
in-line with our work-readiness training.
Cooking up a Storm
Our team of beneficiaries have been tes�ng their culinary
skills over the past few months by preparing daily
community lunches alongside team leader Pat Wilby; who
is an excellent support worker and cook! We were recently
offered the opportunity to work in associa�on with the
Clarendon Centre, Brighton to prepare food for a large
event over a 6 week term. This enabled Pat to take some of
our beneficiaries a step further on their culinary journey.
This week they set to work to prepare dinner for 200
people! Each person worked �relessly to prepare the most
delicious Thai Curry which also included a vegetarian op�on.
Brighton MP visits Friends First
We welcomed MP Caroline Lucas to
meet our wonderful team, see our
newly renovated office and visit our
basement workshop. She was
delighted to meet some of our
beneficiaries; gaining first hand
insight into their journey so far
whilst they presented some of their
fantas�c handiwork.
Going forward we are looking to
create bespoke furniture out of
discarded scaffolding planks and
crates to sell; infusing an element
of enterprise into this area of our
work. Caroline was thrilled by the
possibility of being our first
customer (and so were we!)
Summer 2013
TRANSFORMING LIVES TOGETHER
Please Note: Names of beneficiaries featured in this newsle+er are changed to protect their iden�ty
Contact us: For more informa�on on Friends First or anything featured in this newsle+er contact
Serena Crisp (Communica�ons Manager) on [email protected] or 01273 840880
Autumn 2014
The Amphibious Car Fundraiser
Two local engineering geniuses,
Barclay Hamer and Dan Boot-
Handford, set the challenge to
modify a standard road car into an
amphibious car that not only drives
on land but also powers across water
to raise funds for Friends First! The
lads successfully launched their
amphibious car, into the Adur at Ropetackle slipway and
travelled down the river half a mile to Emerald quay. The
tension rose to see if the car would make it back up the slip
way at Emerald Quay onto dry land: which it did!! It was such
an incredible achievement and a fun-filled event where people
of all ages joined in the excitement! Barclay and Dan chose
Friends First to raise funds for as it is par�cularly close to
Dan's heart following his family playing an instrumental role in
mentoring and suppor�ng past and present beneficiaries of
Friends First. There is s�ll �me to sponsor them via:
h+p://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanielBootHandford
Awareness of Friends First
The Amphibious Car a+racted a flurry of media a+en�on. This
included a full page ar�cle in The Argus and various interviews
by Brighton’s Latest TV. This gave us the opportunity to invite
James Dunham, from Latest TV, to visit our base and work-
shop at Clarendon Villas. James
enjoyed mee�ng and filming team
leader Danny Cassidy and some of
our amazing beneficiaries taking
part in our Carpentry Ini�a�ve. Visit
this link to view James’ footage of
life at Friends First:
h+p://t.co/15Dt8f7G0P
Barista Training
Our base, at the Clarendon
Villas, has a Coffee Shop on
site with a barista coffee
sta�on. This has enabled our
beneficiaries to learn
valuable skills in barista.
An Opportunity to Give Back
In November we will see the launch of
our fourth Winter Night Shelter in
associa�on with local churches. It is
such a privilege to be able to provide
warmth, shelter and community to those who are homeless.
We are so encouraged that two of our beneficiaries who were
helped on last year’s night shelter have volunteered their �me
this year; offering inspira�on and hope to others.
A Homeless View of Brighton
We organised a trip around Brighton
for our beneficiaries who were
keen to prac�ce their photographic
skills. They, like no-one else, know
this city like the back of their hand
and can show us a side of life that
we may not see.
For some, it brought back memories
of their hide-outs at night.
For Pete, this was a shelter on the
seafront at the end of Grand Avenue.
For Jake, it was steps in the lanes
where he spent most of his nights on
the street.
One beneficiary simply took a picture
of a wall, behind the Thistle Hotel,
where he and others gathered at night
for warmth and shelter.
A Beneficiary’s Story
“I found myself needing the help of the Rough Sleepers team.
Un�l then I had never heard of Friends First and the work they
do with the homeless. My first day (at Friends First) was
nerve-wracking and I felt fear clouding over me like so many
�mes before, though as soon as I was there, I felt all fear fall
away. The people were so welcoming and friendly and I
instantly felt relaxed and at ease. The worries I had about
certain things felt like they no longer ma(ered and it seemed
like all my ques�ons were answered without even having
asked them. I was slightly worried about what work I would be
doing, but I was soon put at ease. Friends First provide training
that includes gardening to computer skills; which is where my
skills lie. Woodwork and furniture-making is something quite
common at Friends First. I have never done this type of thing
before but found myself asking to have a go and I did some
sanding and surprisingly enjoyed it immensely. I am wan�ng to
learn new skills and feel that being at Friends First will help me
to do this. Life brings more security each day, and I am making
new friends as well. I am keeping all my op�ons open and all
my paths in view. Hopefully I will take the right one which
leads me to where I want to be in life. Yet for now I am happy
where I am heading!”
A Christmas Tree that will make a
Life-Transforming Difference!
Friends First will be raising money
this year by selling real Christmas
Trees to order! Orders will need to be
completed online by 24th November
2014, details to order will follow
via our website:
www.friendsfrist.org.uk
Make a Dona�on Any dona�on, however large or small, is really appreciated. It's great to know we've got such
wonderful individuals suppor�ng FF to transform many more lives. Please visit www.friendsfirst.org.uk to donate.
Alterna�vely you can contact Serena Crisp on 01273 840880.