Award for local team helping turn around the lives of homeless people in Wrexham

A multi-agency team who are helping turn around the lives of homeless people in Wrexham have been given a top health award.

The Community Care Hub brings together a range of organisations under one roof to provide support to Wrexham’s homeless community, including those suffering the effects of the synthetic cannabinoid drug Spice.

Wrexham’s team were named the winners of the Working in Partnership award at the Centerprise International sponsored Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Achievement Awards, which celebrate the outstanding achievements of NHS staff from across North Wales.

Founded in June 2016 by Wrexham GP Dr Karen Sankey, BCUHB Mental Health Manager Dewi Richards, and Tanya Jones from homeless charity The Wallich, the initiative aims to provide better support to homeless people in crisis.

The weekly sessions soon proved so popular that the Hub was relocated to the larger Salvation Army building on Garden Road.

It now supports more than 100 people who are homeless, rough sleepers or have mental health or substance misuse problems.

The drop in sessions see organisations and charities including BCUHB, the Department of Work and Pensions and Wrexham County Borough Council come together to provide bespoke, co-ordinated and timely support for homeless and rough sleepers on a range of issues including health, benefits and housing.

Amongst those who have benefitted from the service is Craig Nikolic, who had been homeless for more than 15 years before the Community Care Hub was established.

The 43-year-old is one of a number of people who have been successfully supported by the Community Care Hub to manage their addiction to Spice, also known as Black Mamba, which has become popular amongst the homeless community because it’s cheap and can act as a suppressant to cope with life on the streets.

“If you would have seen me a year ago I was a completely different person,” explained Craig.

“They have helped me find temporary accommodation and helped me with my mental health and new medication. It’s really helped me out.

“There’s been nothing like this before and not being able to access support just makes you want to give up. Before the hub came along a lot of us didn’t have doctors and you might get funny looks when you tried to access support because of the way you were dressed. Here everyone is accepted.”

Craig says he turned to smoking the drug following a violent street attack which left him hospitalised and requiring major surgery.

He said: “The attack knocked me for six and I’ve since being diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). My confidence still hasn’t come back and I still have flash backs.

“I was smoking a lot of mamba just to get my head out of the situation I was in, but it ended up knocking me out and I ended up in hospital several times.

“Since the hub came along I’ve seen a massive change and I know others have too. I’ve now got a roof over my head, I’m dressed clean and I get a shower every day.”

Wrexham GP and Cluster Lead Dr Karen Sankey said it was a great honour for all of the organisations involved in the Community Care Hub to have received recognition for their work.

She said: “I think what’s wonderful about this project is watching people blossom.

“Some of the people that we met on the streets and living in crisis are now in temporary accommodation and are engaging with services to improve their physical and mental health and manage their substance misuse.

“Success stories already include one ex-service user who now volunteers as a facilitator every Friday.

“The success of the project is ultimately down to the people delivering their services each week who share a passion and a vision to make a different for this group of individuals.

“The support of the Salvation Army and AVOW (the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham) has been absolutely invaluable in enabling us to support so many individuals.”