CORONAVIRUS News Update on 21 Dec 2020

The Welcome Centre is open

Even though Ilford is in a Tier 4 lockdown we are happy to announce that the Welcome Project is OPEN with a far more targeted service and obeying the latest Government social distancing and hygiene regulations.

We want to operate a safe service that best meets the needs of the clients, so we have adapted our service offer to take into account the Government/NHS guidelines to become Covid-19 Secure.  For now we will only be able to allow 10 clients in the building at a time.

Rough Sleepers: Rough Sleepers remain our priority and we will continue to do Streeklink referrals for verification, offer showers and refreshments and IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance). 

Once people are verified we will offer a full Registration and Assessment including a Health Assessment with the Homeless Nursing Service.

Existing Clients:  We will also continue to work with existing clients but this will be through an appointment system.  The IAG and casework for these clients can either be by Telephone, Online or face to face if deemed necessary.

If you would like to refer a new person to the service please call and arrange an appointment first.

In due course we will be introducing other aspects of our service and we look forward to letting you know when that will be.

June 2020 - The Recorder reports on lford’s Welcome Centre keeping the homeless fed with help from regular donors and volunteers

August 2019
Inter-generational Fun Run 2019

For the Mayor of Redbridge's Appeal 2019/2020,  Imagine and HLP are bringing an Inter-generational Fun run to Ilford on 26th Aug from 11am to 1pm.

Click below for full details:

February 2017
Visit of H.R.H Duke of Kent to the Welcome Centre 

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent dropped into the Welcome Centre, Ilford, this morning.Prince Edward praised the hardworking staff, volunteers and clients at the “excellent” day centre.  

November 2016
HLP's charity video has been entered for an award - please vote!

Our film has been entered into the 2017 charity film awards – this is the first time this has been run and it’s been created to celebrate the success of film in fundraising and to increase the exposure of charity films and to encourage further donations.  

April 2016
Big Yellow to the rescue!

Our thanks and gratitude to Big Yellow, Gants Hill, Ilford, who have been a real answer to our storage needs...

November 2015
Mayespark Primary School donates to The Welcome Centre

August 2015

City Bridge Fund - Hope For Tomorrow. 

We received funding from the City of London Corporation’s Charity, City Bridge Trust and we are coming to the end of our first year. It has been a positive and beneficial year in which we have been able to directly support 153 clients! The purpose of the funding is to improve access to services for those experiencing mental health illness, anxiety or depression. The work is led through our Nurse led clinic and runs alongside a range of activities such as; formal and informal counselling, massage therapy and health assessments.

28th May 2015

Ursula Standen, our Volunteer Co-ordinator talks to The Recorder about the benefits of volunteering

March 2015

Check out this photogallery from out Take Five Cooks Fundraiser

CORONAVIRUS News Update on 8 June 2020

The Welcome Centre is open!

As we are moving towards coming out of lockdown we are happy to announce that the Welcome Project RE-OPENED with a far more targeted service on Monday 8th June 2020.

We want to operate a safe service that best meets the needs of the clients, so we have adapted our service offer to take into account the Government/NHS guidelines to become Covid-19 Secure.  For now we will only be able to allow 10 clients in the building at a time.

March 2020

COVID-19 Update on 25 March

We want to be able to provide some reassurance about the service you can expect from us during the current Covid-19 emergency.

The Welcome Centre will remain open until further notice but will be limited to Rough Sleepers only.  We would ask that people who have accommodation should follow Government instructions to stay at home. 

We will continue to observe and follow the guidance from Public Health England, The Government and Homeless Link to ensure that we reduce risks as much as possible whilst operating our limited service.

August 2018
Press Release: Rough Sleeper Death outside Lynton House, Redbridge 

 HLP are saddened and distressed by another client death and are calling for something to be done to prevent further deaths of rough sleepers in Redbridge. 

Please click here to read the Press Release (in PDF format).

December 2016
M&S Ilford donates £1000 to The Welcome Project 

Employees at Marks & Spencer (M&S) Ilford were awarded £1000 from the Essex Regional Management team to donate to their charity of the year 'The Welcome Project', a local charity that supports the homeless in the community, after winning "Best Fundraiser" at the M&S Pride Awards.  

June 2016
You can now donate to HLP via your mobile phone!

You can now send us a donation on your mobile phone via the JustTextGiving service in conjunction with Vodafone. 

To Donate simply text WELL26£1 / £2 / £5 / £10 to 70070

December 2015
Client story -Kerstin

This story has been written by Kirsten and she read it out to other clients in a group session to encourage them.

October 2015

Volunteer Carlene Grant gets certificate from Mayor of London

Carlene Grant (affectionately known by all as ‘Aunty’ Carlene) has been with the Welcome Project since October 2003 and during that time has fulfilled a number of volunteering roles. In September 2015 Carlene was shortlisted in the Team London Awards for the ‘My Community Category’ for exemplary contribution to Volunteering.  She went up to City Hall where she was presented with a certificate signed by the Mayor of London.

June 2015

Guest blog by Tina about why she volunteers at The Welcome Project

21st May 2015
HLP talks to The Ilford Recorder about housing availiable in Redbridge

12th Mar 2015
HLP invites Laura Burnip from the Ilford Recorder to the Welcome Centre