News
December 2011
NOAH Enterprise awarded £250,000 by the Government to help reduce rough sleeping in Luton
Communities across England are to get up to £250k each to adopt No Second Night Out – an initiative that aims to ensure that anyone who ends up on the streets gets helped quickly so they don’t spend a second night out. The grants are part of an £8m pot being awarded by the Homelessness Transition Fund to just 41 projects across England that aim to help ensure that no one lives on our streets.
NOAH Enterprise was selected in Luton to work with some of the most excluded and entrenched rough sleepers in the town. The outreach team from NOAH will be going out on to the streets and encourage those sleeping on the streets to access the extensive range of services at the welfare centre including helping them into stable accommodation.
Chief Executive Jim O’Connor said “We are all thrilled to have been awarded this grant. It ensures that a vital service to individuals, the community and the town can continue. No-one wants to see people sleeping on the streets, not least those who feel they have no option. At NOAH we work to rebuild broken lives and help individuals to integrate back into our community.”
The £20m independent Fund was set up to help support the national rough sleeping strategy Vision to end rough sleeping: No Second Night Out nationwide.
December 2011
NOAH Enterprise wins Best of Luton award
NOAH Enterprise won the Community Company of the Year 2011 as the best of Luton were honored at a prestigious ceremony on the 8th December 2011. The Luton’s Best Awards 2011 recognized the unsung heroes and achievers in the town.
The awards are organized by the Luton Forum and are supported by Luton Borough Council. The evening was hosted by Buck’s Fizz singer Cheryl Baker and the guest speaker was former Olympic javelin medalist Steve Backley OBE. A total of 16 awards were handed out to people from all walks of life, age groups and cultures.
Hazel Simmons, chairman of the Luton Forum, said: “Yet again we received more than 400 nominations for the 16 categories and the judging panel, made up of our sponsors, had a difficult time to shortlist let alone choose the winners.
“2011 has been a fantastic year for Luton with so many people pulling together to put forward our bid for City Status. The quality of the nominees and winners demonstrates that Luton would be a worthy winner of this accolade.”
March 2011
Emergencey Night Shelter Comes To An End
We operated an emergency winter shelter provision from 29th November until 28 February, through some of the most atrocious weather when temperatures fell to as low as - 10º. In all 57 unique individuals used the Shelter, with an average nightly occupancy of 20 persons. 19 have been found permanent accommodation and 3 have made their way into employment.
None of this would have been possible were it not for the support of the Salvation Army who made available their premises in Armitage Street, and St John’s Ambulance Service who were in attendance every evening. We are also indebted to Luton Borough Council who financed it in full. This has been immensely helpful, particularly when we have introduced a ‘soup kitchen’ funded by voluntary donations to run in tandem with, and beyond the closure of, the shelter. To all those agencies, those who volunteered with us, and our other funders we are truly grateful. And to you, thank you for your support.
January 2011
NOAH - Luton Airport's Charity of the Year
London Luton Airport employees have selected NOAH Enterprise as its chosen Charity of the Year for 2011. The Airport has pledged an initial donation of £10,000 to the charity and employees will work closely with the team at NOAH Enterprise to involve staff and passengers in fundraising activities throughout the year.
London Luton Airport is one of the UK's largest airports, employing over 500 staff and carrying almost 9 million passengers in 2010. Siân Pearce, Community Relations Executive at London Luton Airport said "NOAH Enterprise is a very worthwhile charity and we are proud to be involved with them this year. We are looking forward to working in partnership with the team at NOAH Enterprise to help raise vital funds that will support the services the charity delivers in the community. It is an exciting opportunity for our staff to get involved with a local charity and we already have exciting plans for fundraising and volunteering activities throughout the year".
Jim O'Connor, Chief Executive of NOAH Enterprise said "NOAH Enterprise and the people we care for get so much encouragement from the goodwill and generosity of the community generally. To be chosen by London Luton Airport as their Charity of the Year for 2011 is a wonderful example of that support. The work of NOAH may not, perhaps, have the emotional appeal of some other charities, making the decision of London Luton Airport, one of the premier successful businesses in the East of England, even more heart warming. We are looking forward very much to working in partnership with the Airport s staff team and associated businesses, knowing that it will benefit those who are homeless and at risk of being so, and who are among the most in need in Luton".
October 2010
Award winning B&B styled with used furniture from NOAH
B&B owner Alison McGaw has created a stylish home-from-home at her Luton B&B with furniture from NOAH's Church Street Furniture Warehouse.
Now, just 2 months after opening it's doors for business, Bakewell House B&B has been given the Breakfast Award by the English tourist board website enjoyengland.com.
In an interview to the Luton News Alison commented "Absolutely everything in the dining room has come from the NOAH furniture shop. I spent 13 years bringing up two kids on my own so I had very little money, but it just goes to show you can do something really good on a budget. I almost called the B&B Noah s."
Click to see scan of full newspaper article or read the story on the Luton News website
June 2010
Student film focuses on NOAH
Three students from the University of Bedfordshire have produced a short film about NOAH's work.
Nick Albert, Chris Davies and Laszlo Somogyi completed the film as part of their coursework. They have already reported great feedback from people who have watched it and they look forward to receiving their grade during the summer months.
Download the 