In November 2006, ownership of the Wishart Day Centre was transferred to Dundee Cyrenians. Possession of this wonderful, state-of-the-art building has presented the organisation with exciting opportunities as well as many funding challenges.
The centre has begun to play a key role in the lives of people affected by homelessness. Many people, including rough sleepers make use of the shower and laundry facilities, café, crisis intervention and signposting services available. All of which have been instrumental in helping the organisation to engage with and offer assistance to a wider group of vulnerable people.
Funding from the Community Regeneration Fund and Tayside Health Trust enabled a limited series of pre-employability workshops and a Wellness & Wellbeing Programme to be delivered at the centre. These provided opportunities for people to develop and learn life skills through taking part in various activities such as art, drama, alternative therapy, and cookery etc. Informal and structured approaches were followed and individuals were helped to develop communication and social skills as well as learning new techniques to deal effectively with stressful situations.
The organisation’s ambition is that the Wishart Centre will be more than a day centre. It aims to provide capacity building programmes to help address a wide range of client’s needs, from basic life skills through to employment. The programmes will encourage clients to actively take control of their own personal development, promoting confidence and self determination. They will also provide opportunities for partnership agencies to assist each another to achieve individual and collective objectives. However, a key challenge facing the Wishart Centre in 2007 is securing consistent and long-term funding to enable sustainable services to be provided to homeless and vulnerable people.
The centre has begun to play a key role in the lives of people affected by homelessness. Many people, including rough sleepers make use of the shower and laundry facilities, café, crisis intervention and signposting services available. All of which have been instrumental in helping the organisation to engage with and offer assistance to a wider group of vulnerable people.
Funding from the Community Regeneration Fund and Tayside Health Trust enabled a limited series of pre-employability workshops and a Wellness & Wellbeing Programme to be delivered at the centre. These provided opportunities for people to develop and learn life skills through taking part in various activities such as art, drama, alternative therapy, and cookery etc. Informal and structured approaches were followed and individuals were helped to develop communication and social skills as well as learning new techniques to deal effectively with stressful situations.
The organisation’s ambition is that the Wishart Centre will be more than a day centre. It aims to provide capacity building programmes to help address a wide range of client’s needs, from basic life skills through to employment. The programmes will encourage clients to actively take control of their own personal development, promoting confidence and self determination. They will also provide opportunities for partnership agencies to assist each another to achieve individual and collective objectives. However, a key challenge facing the Wishart Centre in 2007 is securing consistent and long-term funding to enable sustainable services to be provided to homeless and vulnerable people.
Residential Units:
Registered with Communities Scotland, Reg. No. HEP 224 and having Charitable Status SC 01 49 61 : Registered as an Industrial and Provident Society, Reg. No. 2343 R(S)