Fred Winter Centre opens in Stratford to help rebuild lives
AT times 2022 must have felt hopeless for Martin Hodgkins who is a resident at the Fred Winter Centre but now he’s turning his life around thanks to the support and help the centre has given him over the last six months.
By profession, Martin, aged 32, was a landscape gardener but suffered a severe back injury while lifting a heavy weight made up of paving slabs.
He enjoyed his work until his injury left him jobless. He endured personal challenges on a daily basis but now there’s light at the end of the tunnel and Martin has re-newed hope.
“It all went wrong for me this year. It’s a long story and it started when I did my back in. I’m now at the Fred Winter Centre and the staff here are very friendly and this a nice place to be,” Martin told the Herald at the official opening of the centre in Guild Street on Tuesday.
Now new doors have opened up to him and he’s becoming involved with the wider community because of the help – a lot of which is voluntary – he receives at the at the Fred Winter Centre. He has a self-contained apartment which he shares with his partner, Naomi Gilbert.
“There will be a Christmas Day meal at the centre which Naomi is helping with and we also helped decorate the Christmas tree. I’ve designed posters and flyers for a musical event next year and posters for Lifeways in Stratford so I am trying to get my name out there. If I was talking to someone going through the same things I went through I'd say come and have a look at the Fred Winter Centre there’s a friendly atmosphere and support here,” Martin Said.
The Mayor of Stratford, Cllr Gill Cleeve, cut the ribbon and declared the Fred Winter Centre officially open.
“I voted to have this centre as a town councillor, district councillor and town trust trustee and it's an important facility within the town centre. I think the community café being run by Spring Housing makes everyone feel welcome and I’m delighted the centre is officially open,” the mayor said.
Paul Spooner, chairman of Fred Winter Centre Partnership in Stratford said: “This centre will help people get their lives organised and support their needs with budgeting and money advice, their job search and training in new skills. All 15 apartments on site are occupied and clients have their own front door key they also have ensuite facilities. This is a place open to everybody and we worked with homeless people to design the building. About 20 supporters attended the official opening which was sponsored by Vaughan Reynolds Estate Agents.”
Dominic Bradley, group chief executive of Spring Housing Association, said in his welcome speech: “The Fred Winter Centre has made an impact in such a short time with homeless people and this is more than just a roof over someone's head. We want clients to have their own homes one day and we’ve had two successful move-ons so far due to a safe and welcoming environment at the centre. There is hope for your future.”
Over 120 guests – key partners, supporters and members of the community – attended Tuesday’s opening and were welcomed at the door by Santa Claus.
