THE BRIDGES PROJECT

Organisation Aims and Activities

1. Type of organisation

Voluntary Sector - Service provider

2. Client Group

Young people aged 16-21

3. Secondary advice?

Yes

4. Aims

To provide advice for young people which will allow them to become self-reliant in the community.

5. Activities

1. Direct service provision, principally via the 'phone and e-mail
2. Secondary advice to all agencies on all issues relating to 16-21 yr-olds
3. Housing Education
4. Training in individual living skills

6. Information and Advice services

Please see document Information and Advice Services in documents box at RHS of this page (or attached if printed version)

Contacts and delivery methods

7. Contact details

The Bridges Project, Bog Park Road, Musselburgh, EH21 6RT Tel: 0131 665 1621                     Fax:  0131 665 3179          e-mail: mail@bridgeproject.org.uk

8. Service delivery methods

Telephone Advice: Ye
Appointments: If appropriate
Outreach: No
Home Visits: No
Out of Hours: No
Via e-mail: Yes jboyle@bridgesproject.org.uk

9. Opening Hours

Monday-Friday 9-1; 2-5

Staffing, Funding and Training

10. Staffing

(Housing Information) 1 Part Time

11. Funding

Own activities; Private donations; Community Fund and other funders

12. Quality Assurance

Working to CS National Advice 'HomePoint' Standards; SQMS, Investors in People

Referrals

13. Formal referral policy - receiving?

No

14. Formal referral policy - making?

No

15. Informal reciprocal referral arrangements?

Yes

16. Referral procedure

Clients can refer themselves, or the Bridges will take referrals from other agencies. A phone call is preferred to forms in the first instance, even from agencies. However, consent forms may be required depending on the circumstances of the referral. Will accept clients referred through forms that other agencies might wish to use. When referring to other agencies the Bridges Project uses its own form, which is filed.

17. Requirements

Information requirements include age, marital and current housing status and details of the issue. Other circumstantial details - such as whether the client is a lone parent - can also be important.
There is a need to be clear about what responsibilities the referring agency still has for the client. With housing referrals the Bridges would like to know what plans have been put in place for the client.