Garden House
The Garden House offers information, advice and support to those that sleep rough in Peterborough seven days a week. Our guests can receive much needed support with:
- Accommodation – support with finding a temporary accommodation via Peterborough City Council Rough Sleeper Outreach Team.
- Access to health services - GPs and nurses from Boroughbury Medical Centre and Greater Peterborough Network on board our Health Outreach Bus.
- Support with drug and alcohol misuse – specialist advice from CGL Aspire and AA.
- Help with mental health – counsellors from Greater Peterborough Network and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust’s Dual Diagnosis Outreach Team.
- Support with exercise - Fitness Rush bring their mobile gym unit every week to provide guests with fitness equipment and support.
- Opticians - First Vision provide eye tests to guests and orders a pair of glasses if required.
- Dentists – emergency provision with Peterborough Dental Access Centre.
- Physiotherapists.
- Hairdressers
The doors to The Garden House, at the heart of Peterborough city centre opened on 8th October 2018 when it was felt that there was a real need to offer additional support to those we were able to help through the Peterborough Winter Night Shelter. At least one new person sleeping on the streets comes through our doors per day for information, advice, support and love to help them create the future they dreamed of, but in recent months felt was never possible.
Peer Advocacy
Our Homeless Heath Peer Advocate Service is a training programme for people with lived experience of homelessness to harness their own knowledge and understanding, whilst developing new skills and experience to support others in their journey out of homelessness.
Peer Advocates will be trained to provide practical and emotional support to those experiencing homelessness. This includes helping to navigate services such as healthcare, mental health support, substance misuse, benefits, housing and being there when things get tough.
Peer Advocates commit to participate in the programme for six months. By the end of this period, many will have gained practical skills and valuable experience, having achieved personal goals positioning them well to move into long-term employment opportunities.
If you would like to ask a question about the service or to refer someone who would benefit from our support, please email graham.fairbairn@lightprojectpeterborough.org.uk