Earlier this month, Ferry Project officially opened their new emergency accommodation block and management offices.
 

The celebration, which took place on Friday the 14th of July, included over a hundred guests from the local community, partnership services and the many organisations who contributed to the project. The building, named Destiny Haven, was officially opened by Steve Barclay, Minister for Health and local MP for North East Cambridgeshire.

Destiny Haven which was completed in May, consists of nine rooms, each with its own bed and en-suite facilities. One is disability accessible. Designed by local architects Swann Edwards and built by local firm NBConstruction Ltd, the Haven provides an emergency place to stay for anyone experiencing homelessness. The rooms are compact providing all that is needed for a stay of a few weeks, whilst the qualified and experienced support team work with clients to understand their individual needs.

Ferry Project’s ethos of moving forward with love and support helps clients re-build their self-esteem as well gain access to vital support services to start their journey back to independent living. Some clients will find a place within Ferry Project’s main hostel others will move directly to other accommodation in the region. Many representatives from local partnership support services enjoyed the celebration and welcomed the provision of such emergency support.

The support team will run Destiny Haven from newly refurbished offices. Kier Construction and many of their suppliers very generously donated the refurbishment in support of the local community. Kier staff who had worked on the project came to the opening and were incredibly proud to see how much the project will benefit the community.

Destiny Haven sits beside a beautiful peaceful garden, designed by Ginny Wallman which Kier and Marshall Groundworks built as part of the project.

John Heathorn, Destiny Haven’s manager, explained the positive impacts of the accommodation on the Wisbech community, which is one of the most impoverished towns in the region, and why the project is so unique. Each room is fitted with circadian lighting which mimics natural sunlight and is proven to help maintain normal sleeping patterns. This project will be one of the first in the UK to use the technology in this setting and there are hopes that it can be used for research into the benefits of circadian lighting for those that have experienced trauma and can be living chaotic lives.

The building’s name, Destiny Haven, also hints at why it will be unique. As part of a longer term project, The Ferry Project are hoping to open six other ‘Havens’ within their site, each specifically designed to care for certain needs. This model is one Ferry Project believe could be replicated across the UK, as a way to care for individuals with different needs all under one roof. 

Throughout the event, guests were able to look around several rooms in Destiny Haven. In keeping with their objective of providing more than just a roof over their clients’ heads, Ferry Project has personalised each room to create a welcoming environment for those coming straight off the streets. 

This is a fantastic example of business and community working together to build an innovative project that will bring much needed accommodation to the region for those experiencing homelessness.

Within the first week of opening, Destiny Haven had already filled five of the nine rooms available.

Keith Smith, CEO of the Ferry Project says, “This project has been achieved through partnership with central and local government and with the valued help of key local businesses such as Kier Group and Anglian Water”.

The building project took seven months to complete and cost £600,000.

If you, or anyone you know is street homeless, or is in danger of becoming homeless please contact our Support Hub, either by coming to Octavia View (situated along South Brink in Wisbech) or by phoning 01945 754080. We will offer help and advice to try to prevent you from becoming homeless, or we may be able to offer you accommodation.