Beacon House provides primary healthcare services to people who are homeless, in insecure accommodation or at risk of homelessness in Colchester, Essex. Services on site include showers, laundry facilities and hairdressing for our Guests.
We run a café which is open from 10am – 2pm offering hot food and drinks. In addition, we offer life skills support including CV writing, support around cooking and budgeting, counselling, an IT suite, art and crafts room, games and drop-in support from other agencies. All our services are provided free of charge.
The objects of the Charity are:
‘Beacon House Ministries exists to provide Christ-centred love, hope and acceptance to those who are homeless or without permanent accommodation. By engaging with them, and working together, we aim to positively impact and transform their lives, enabling them to realise their full potential – bringing hope to the lost through the love of Jesus’.
Our Primary Healthcare Centre (two clinics, two nurses) diagnoses and treats illness, provides various ancillary health services, such as needle exchange and sexual health advice, and links Guests to GPs and external health services as required. In recent months we have extended our services and are now vaccinating both the homeless, and those at risk of homelessness, for Covid-19 and other important diseases. We have also employed the services of a locum GP for 2-3 hours per week to mentor the nurses and ensure we are fully compliant with all medical procedures.
We have a full Occupational Therapy programme, using both structured and informal activities, to help people identify their assets and to develop resilience and self-esteem. Our Occupational Therapy team operate within Beacon House, but also with those who have been accommodated.
We employ three specialist Housing and Tenancy Sustainment Officers who work with local statutory housing providers and private landlords to find appropriate accommodation for our Guests so that they can obtain, and more importantly, maintain their tenancies.
We help people to access various benefits and also support them in finding work. We have a suite of computers which Guests can use for applications (with assistance if required) or to link up with friends and wider family members through social media. We provide telephones and a postal address to overcome any communication barriers to accessing mainstream support.
