Great things are happening at the house
Welcome to the House of St Barnabas in Soho - an extraordinary place in the heart of London.
This charity has a rich history of supporting people to regain their self-esteem, independence and zest for life. For 160 years, men, women and children have lived and received care in this remarkable Grade 1 listed building which includes a chapel and secluded garden in Soho.
Two years ago the charity made the bold decision to close its residential hostel and become a state-of-the-art life skills centre to benefit even more homeless people. Our web site has been re-designed to share our journey as we transform ourselves to best meet the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the 21st century.
We hope you will keep up to date with our progress by visiting this web site for the latest developments.
Pippa Bagnall, Chief Executive
Taking homelessness seriously
On 30 July 2008, Boris Johnson visited the House of St Barnabas and met with leaders in the Homelessness sector. Pippa Bagnall, Chief Executive, welcomed the mayor and led a discussion about the issues and challenges of managing homelessness across London.
Providing a roof over someone's head is just the beginning of a chain of support which people need in order to regain their self-esteem, confidence and independence. Very often the first step on the road to recovery is to feel valued.
The mayor responded by asking for more information about the charity's Life Skills Programme and said I strongly agree that we must aim to get people off the streets and in to work. I have committed to ending rough sleeping by 2012 and I will explore further how I can best support this aim. The Mayor's Fund is one opportunity but I will personally commit to offering a homeless person a work opportunity at City Hall.
The mayor was given a guided tour of the extraordinary Georgian building, chapel and garden. He met several homeless people including Robert Davidson who was responsible for the photography for the event.
Royal launch - Health Forum for homeless people
The new Health Forum at the House of St Barnabas was launched with royal fanfare by HRH Princess Alexandra.
Showing her support for the forum, which will link homeless people with essential health services, Princess Alexandra met health professionals, trustees, volunteers, staff and supporters.
Celebrated NHS leader Professor Sir George Alberti also welcomed the new initiative. The plans are absolutely phenomenal he said. You will pick up people who are in desperate need. As National Director for Emergency Access and Clinical Director for Service Reconfiguration, he praised the Health Forum's mission to start with the needs of the person and create easy access to health care.
Homeless people are so busy just surviving that health is a long way down their list of priorities, explained Pippa Bagnall, Chief Executive at the House of St Barnabas. Their life expectancy is significantly lower and they are more likely to suffer from respiratory disorders, mental health problems, skin complaints and infections.
The Health Forum will offer health assessments and personal care plans; and provide a venue for agencies working on homelessness issues to network and share their experiences. Bringing together partners across the capital, the Health Forum will ensure that services work together in the interest of London's homeless people.
The launch of the Health Forum is a landmark in our development, said Pippa Bagnall. We are grateful to those who have helped us shape our plans and we are encouraged by the wide range of people who have expressed a desire to join forces on behalf of homeless and vulnerable people.
Our new look
To celebrate our vision and roadmap for the future, the House of St Barnabas is introducing a new look. We think our fresh new appearance signals that things are changing "at the house" as we open our doors to new opportunities and initiatives to make a difference to the lives of homeless and disadvantaged people.
We chose a contemporary, but welcoming identity to pave the way for great things to happen "at the house." Our friends at Bisqit in partnership with Hill & Knowlton, pulled out all the stops, as an in-kind donation, to provide us with our new look and start us on our way in style.
Health and social care at the house
Plans to improve the health and well-being of one of London's most vulnerable groups are underway at the House of St Barnabas. Furthering its mission to help homeless people change their lives, the charity is exploring initiatives to ensure that disadvantaged and marginalised people benefit from essential health and social services.
The House aims to be the catalyst for helping homeless people to navigate these often-complicated networks. Mobilising partners across the capital, the proposed health and social care forum would seek to ensure that services work together in the interest of London's homeless people.
Using a partnership approach, we want to reduce the ill-health of homeless and marginalised people in London from our Soho address said Pippa Bagnall.
The objectives of a health and social care forum at the House are:
- To establish an integrated effort to improve and maintain the health of homeless and marginalised people
- To create initially pan-Westminster group of stakeholders involved in the provision of health care services across the public, private and voluntary services
- To reduce the ill-health of homeless and marginalised people using a partnership approach
- To determine what we provide at the House which is complimentary to other services
- As we renovate the House of St Barnabas, we aim to develop a "healing environment."
Run for the money
Teaming up with our corporate supporters Berkeley Partnership, a trio from the House of St. Barnabas raced to raise funds for the charity at the London Duathlon on 9 September in Richmond Park. Pippa Bagnall and trustees Rosemary Brown and Howard Jones joined forces as the Busy Bs team to run (5k, 9 k) and bicycle (20k). Howard, flying around track on a borrowed bike in 23 minutes, brought acclaim to the House by winning first place among all the bicyclists participating in the team section of the duathlon. Berkeley's team was Juliet Armstrong, Matt Kind and friend David Kelly. More importantly, the teams' participation in the duathlon raised an impressive £2000 for the House.
2000 visitors in two days!
We opened our doors to some 2000 visitors during the annual London Open House 2007. Trustees and volunteers shared the rich architectural and historic heritage of the house and the charity during a weekend of guided tours which saw people lining up around Soho Square. Pippa Bagnall said
It was an overwhelming success. We were thrilled by the public's interest in our past, present and future. We were able to share our exciting vision for the house with visitors from across London and beyond.
Be sure to put the dates 20-21 September 2008 in your diary, for London Open House 2008, when the House of St Barnabas plans to open its doors once again for London's greatest architectural festival.
House of St Barnabas and Beyond Boyle steal the show
The House of St Barnabas and former social enterprise partners Beyond Boyle stole the show at the Visit London Awards ceremony at London's O2 arena.
The 'Oscars' for tourism in London, the awards showcase the best of the city's leisure and tourism offerings. Beyond Boyle was selected to provide the hospitality for the 29 November event which attracted thousands.
The Beyond Boyle and House of St Barnabas team - including trainee 'volunteers' who are winning the struggle against homelessness - delighted London's glitterati with food prepared from interactive kitchen pods placed throughout the Visit London Awards party. Twelve volunteers helped to create three 'live' kitchens from which 500 guests were served.
Social enterprise success
From October 2006 to January 2008 the House of St Barnabas joined forces with catering and events company Beyond Boyle in a unique social enterprise project. An overall achievement, this pilot project brought vital life skills, professional training and job opportunities to over 26 homeless and disadvantaged people.
Working alongside the Beyond Boyle team, trainee 'volunteers' gained on-the-job experience in the kitchens and historic rooms at the House assisting with events from corporate hospitality to intimate dinners.
This experience has been tremendously inspiring said Simon Boyle, founder of Beyond Boyle. It has helped us understand what role our business can play in helping people. Due to the success of the pilot project, we will be continuing and growing this scheme to help more people who are socially excluded.
The pilot project with Beyond Boyle began as part the House of St Barnabas' mission to help homeless people change their lives during the re-launch of the charity.
We have learned a great deal from our first social enterprise project said Pippa Bagnall. Simon Boyle personally put enormous effort and commitment into the House and our purpose. We wish him and his team all the very best as his business develops further.
The House is exploring new opportunities including a health and social services forum linking homeless and vulnerable people with vital medical care.
We see a number of new prospects ahead and are confident that 2008 will see us well on track to achieve our vision for the House Pippa Bagnall said.