Good evening and welcome to the show.0:03
Joining us today we have Virginia Bell, the founder of Rockjoy Shelter.0:05
It's great to have you here, Virginia.0:12
It's a pleasure to be on the show.0:14
So, tell us a bit about the shelter.0:16
Well, the organisation was established in 1963 by members of the community working together with the local council.0:19
At that time, we weren't a shelter, but a small soup kitchen that offered hot meals to homeless people.0:26
And you were based in the town hall, is that right?0:34
Yes, that was the building we used initially.0:37
Then the local council moved us to an abandoned warehouse, which was ideal since it was larger and allowed us to take in more people.0:40
Eventually, we raised enough money to purchase our own building.0:48
Which was previously a hotel.0:52
Sounds like an expensive project.0:54
How did you raise the money for this work?0:56
Well, in order to launch our campaign, the local council gave us a small grant, but since then we have had to rely on the generosity of local people.0:59
We also have a charity shop on the high street that generates a small amount of income.1:08
And is the shelter open to all people?1:14
Our shelter does not exclude anyone.1:16
Although one area is reserved for women only.1:19
Most of our residents are parents with children, so there is a children's centre as well.1:22
What does the children's centre do?1:28
Well, it's open to children of all ages and offers classes in maths and English.1:30
It's much like a conventional school, however instead of having the same curriculum for all students, each child decides on their own study plan and works to achieve individual goals.1:35
What other services does the shelter offer?1:48
Well, we are unable to offer financial assistance to our residents and instead concentrate on providing them with the skills to live independently.1:51
To do this, we offer a variety of courses.2:00
These are designed to develop essential skills for the workplace.2:03
And finally, how can local people get involved with this great project?2:07
Well, we are always looking for volunteers.2:12
A mandatory training session is provided for all volunteers, and those under 18 must seek consent from a parent or guardian before training begins.2:15
I'm sure plenty of our listeners would love to get involved.2:25
Thank you for coming on the show today, Virginia.2:29
I wish you the best of luck in the future.2:32
Thanks for having me.2:35
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