Our mission is to enable disadvantaged people to live independent and fulfilled lives.
We support individuals to overcome the immediate challenges of homelessness, addiction, food poverty and isolation; then we empower them to make positive life choices.
Our approach is to accompany service users in their journey, providing supportive relationships where they can feel safe, be inspired, and rebuild their self-confidence and life.
We do this through the delivery of services which include homeless accommodations, multiple foodbanks, a rehab and a day centre (soon to be opened). We are also currently exploring other opportunities to help more people.
Encompass runs multiple services in North Northamptonshire to reach those facing poverty, homelessness and addiction.
Homeless Accommodation
We operate two homeless accommodations currently, one in Rushden and one in Corby.
The aim of the project is to identify why someone is homeless and to help them overcome any barriers they face to accessing and sustaining accommodation, and to support them back into their own, permanent accommodation. Residents are supported to learn to cook and clean if needed; access relevant benefits; learn to budget; access training, education, or employment, or become ‘work ready’; access other agencies such as health agencies, drug and alcohol addiction agencies and maintain contact with existing support such as the job centre.
Food Banks
We operate and provide administrative support to four foodbanks; Rushden, Raunds, Higham Ferrers and Thrapston. The foodbanks all receive, sort, store and distribute food to those in need. Where possible, we also aim to help people overcome their financial challenges, such as arranging debt and benefit advice, or to signpost to other services. The food banks also provide 'Fuel vouchers' to those who are on pre-payment meters to help through times of crisis.
Addiction Services
We run an 8 bed rehabilitation programme for men with drug and alcohol addictions, called Recovery House.
The initial phase runs for 6 months in the primary facility and follows the Narcotics Anonymous ’12 steps’ programme alongside other recovery techniques, accessed both inside and outside the project. The facility is free to the client and is funded by their benefits which are paid directly to the charity. Following the initial phase, the clients access one of two follow-on houses where they have a 3-month aftercare plan to allow a phased transition to living independently. Following this they must engage in some form of volunteering, education, training, or employment whilst they reside with us, until they obtain their own accommodation.
The overall programme addresses the addiction and its impact on others and the community, such as health and wellbeing, personal relationships, financial challenges, and criminal behaviour. The objective is to return the client to an addiction free life, in permanent accommodation with a positive impact on society.
Day Centre
We are currently undertaking some fundraising and building work to open a day centre in Rushden, aimed at providing a holistic place of support for those in poverty, homelessness or addiction, and those who are marginalised.
The aim of the day centre will also be to bring other agencies together to support clients in the local area where a service is not easily accessible or local. The vision is to create a holistic environment for clients and enable volunteers to build positive working relationships with clients
