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| Ron Eager House |
I volunteer for Trading Places at Ron Eager House on a Sunday, which runs fortnightly in the Spring and Summer, and then every week in the Autumn and winter months.
A team of volunteers from the NUCF start around 9.15am and we prepare hot and cold drinks and cook breakfast for service users in the Newcastle area. We open the doors about 10am and provide a warm, comfortable friendly place where everyone can relax and socialise in a safe environment. There is TV, showers and laundry facilities and we play games like Bingo where prizes are won like a box of chocolates. Everyone seems to really enjoy being there and the atmosphere, which is always relaxed, friendly and good fun. I really enjoy my time there, engaging with people and getting to know them, and generally having a good laugh.
What is Trading Places?
The Trading Places project is where service users trade places with staff of Ron Eager House on a Sunday to become experienced in service delivery, and eventually deliver services themselves. Ron Eager House provides assertive outreach to make contact and support with rough sleepers and those facing chronic exclusion from society.
The Trading Places programme is an excellent example of how service users are involved in service delivery in such a way as to make it more responsive to the needs of the community, and also as meaningful occupation and a route to employment. Twenty two people have gained employment through the programme so far, and out of the sixteen permanent staff at Ron Eager House, twelve are ex-service users.
