www.scah.org.uk

Currently, the bulk of SCAH's work consists of the assembling and distribution of 'starter packs' in liaison with our partners, including Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), Solihull Community Housing (SCH), Age UK, Solihull Integrated Addiction Services (SIAS), Green Square Accord, Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid, Probation Service, St. Basil's, Refugee Action, Sir Josiah Mason Trust etc. 

A 'starter pack', generally consists of new, value-for-money, non-food, household items such as bedding, crockery, cutlery, kitchen and cleaning items etc. The 'starter pack' helps those people of limited resources, those leaving homelessness, those leaving prison etc. to set up home in a new tenancy. A starter pack pro-forma is shown below, as is a photo of a typical starter pack. The shopper, in conjunction with the partner organisation (which works directly with the client(s)) tailors the starter pack to the specific requirements of the client
Starter Pack template Oct 2022.pdf

The photos below (from left to right) show: a full starter pack, then starter packs tailored to specific clients; a mother and baby; a mother and children and for a client of St. Basil's
In addition to starter packs, SCAH will fund debt relief orders (DROs) which can prevent a tenant caught by rent arrears and with limited resources from being evicted, thus avoiding homelessness. DROs  are a simplified, quicker and cheaper alternative to bankruptcy as an insolvency measure in the United Kingdom, which came into effect in England and Wales on 6 April 2009. DROs are suitable for debtors who have relatively low liabilities, little surplus income and few assets; can (depending on eligibility) be a viable alternative to other insolvency measures, such as Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), and when bankruptcy would be disproportionate; and allow vulnerable people trapped in debt to have a fresh start. Solihull Community Housing (SCH) is our main partner with regard to DROs. The  fee is £90 which can be funded by SCAH.

Sometimes, SCAH receives 'extraordinary' requests which might relate to the general relief of poverty. In these circumstances SCAH has an email form which may be found on the 'Request for support form' tab above.


Some responses from recipients of our support:

'Your generosity goes beyond the donations I was expecting. It has taken unbelievable pressure off me. It will make such a difference to me and my children - enabling us to 'move on' quicker'.

'Thank you very much for the food parcel which is very much appreciated and very much needed'.

'We have been able to make a fresh start and build our home again. Things are starting to look up for us now'.

Solihull Supported Lodging Scheme - Home2Home;

This scheme is seeking people willing to provide short term accommodation in their own home for vulnerable , young people.
We are looking for caring people who have the skills and a strong commitment to be able to provide accommodation and support to a young person aged 16/17 (but may be up to 21). Accommodation can be from on night up to twelve weeks. If you live in the Solihull area, have a spare room and feel you have the necessary skills and commitment we would like to hear from you. You will receive a fee of no less than £150 a week plus training and support. For an application pack ring St. Basil's on 0121 772 2483 or email admin.home2home@stbasils.org.uk. For informal enquiries and to find out more about this scheme, ring Yvette John on 0121 772 2483. 

(This scheme is working in partnership with SMBC and SCH).
www.scah.org.uk                       registered charity number : 1058279