Partnership In Action
Partnership In Action
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How Common Ground Against Homelessness and VMH Solicitors built nine homes-for-life for homeless people
How Common Ground Against Homelessness and VMH Solicitors built nine homes-for-life for homeless people
“Apparently, there’s 18 holes on a golf course”, said Helen Carlin, in the run up to Rowan Alba’s first annual golf tournament. Keen golfer and Director of VMH Solicitors Kevin McLuskey knew it wasn’t Helen’s knowledge of golf that made her an innovator in the Homelessness sector.
“Apparently, there’s 18 holes on a golf course”, said Helen Carlin, in the run up to Rowan Alba’s first annual golf tournament. Keen golfer and Director of VMH Solicitors Kevin McLuskey knew it wasn’t Helen’s knowledge of golf that made her an innovator in the Homelessness sector.
Kevin McLuskey
VMH Director
Kevin had seen Helen open several services that were able to take people from the streets and settle them into a stable new way of life, safe from harm and with the right support.
Kevin had seen Helen open several services that were able to take people from the streets and settle them into a stable new way of life, safe from harm and with the right support.
As a company which also puts people first, Kevin could see the connections between VMH and Rowan Alba. VMH provided Rowan Alba with support through services in-kind and many donations. In time, Helen was to stand down from her role at Rowan Alba.
After 25 years of running the charity she had founded, the decision didn’t come easily but another innovation in solving homelessness was on the horizon. Common Ground Against Homelessness (CGAH) had been created by Helen, while still CEO of Rowan Alba, along with Tom Muir and Jenny Gutry (both working professionals in housing and public health) with the purpose of buying and renovating properties for charities to use to deliver homelessness services with full tenancy rights. Rowan Alba had been the first charity to benefit from this, opening their Thorntree Mill service in the Peffermill property in the autumn of 2021. Kevin’s relationship with Helen continued to flourish, and VMH went on to play a key supporting role in CGAH’s complex purchase of the site at Peffermill. This development was viewed by Kevin and the VMH Directors as a natural evolution of their partnership. Individuals in the property market face many challenges alongside difficult life events such as bereavement and divorce. These events can often lead to homelessness without the right help and support.
Rowan Alba's groundbreaking service, Peffermill Edinburgh
Declan McKiernan
Peffermill, Registered Manager
“Without a doubt the deepest understanding comes from the homeless people themselves – their knowledge is crucial to making any service provision a success.”
“Without a doubt the deepest understanding comes from the homeless people themselves – their knowledge is crucial to making any service provision a success.”
VMH’s Support and Impact
VMH’s Support and Impact
Without VMH the conveyancing of Peffermill Road simply wouldn’t have been possible. The funds for the purchase were raised partly through a Community Share Offer. This took some months to conclude and, in the meantime, a sizeable, non-refundable, deposit had to be paid to the seller so that it was taken off the market. VMH’s patience and calming advice gave CGAH the time and space to make this unique and tricky arrangement work for all parties.
After completing the purchase of Peffermill VMH’s support didn’t end. They decided to create a donation scheme, where £5 of each of their property purchases would go directly to CGAH. This resulted in over £6000 being raised for CGAH in the coming years. The 9 people in homes-for-life at Thorntree Mill, have been supported through VMH’s generosity and the incredible ongoing work of Rowan Alba staff.
“Like our investors, who may never meet the end recipient of this generosity, on their behalf, I just want to thank everyone at VMH for their stalwart support.’
“Like our investors, who may never meet the end recipient of this generosity, on their behalf, I just want to thank everyone at VMH for their stalwart support.’
Helen Carlin
Founder and Secretary
Common Ground Against Homelessness
Why this partnership matters
Why this partnership matters
Partnerships like this example with VMH are vital in allowing us to continue our work of getting more vulnerable people off the streets for good. If you are able to be a part of our story by working in partnership with Common Ground Against Homelessness, please contact Helen Carlin by writing an email to helen@commongroundagainsthomelessness.org
For more information about Common Ground Against Homelessness, please visit:
https://www.commongroundagainsthomelessness.org/
Find out more about VMH Solicitors at:
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