Chair's statement The theme of this report is positive change and growth and we are immensely proud of our achievements this year. During this report we will share a number of customer stories to illustrate the impact of our work.

Our new support model is now fully aligned to our vision and values.

This year, we set up a working group of customers and staff to co-produce a new model of support for our customers - focussing more on customers’ assets and strengths and their relationship with the wider community.

In my younger years I used to be really involved in training. It was great to be able to use my skills and expertise to help with the training plan for the new support model. One of the best parts about the new model of support is that it was created alongside customers. We were able to give our ideas about how to improve it and I am really pleased with the results.

Stephen

92%of customers gained more choice, control and involvement

Stephen, who lives in Palmer House, one of our adult services in Croydon, was part of the working group.

‘In my younger years I used to be really involved in training. It was great to be able to use my skills and expertise to help with the training plan for the new support model. One of the best parts about the new model of support is that it was created with customers. We were able to give our ideas about how to improve it and I am really pleased with the results.’

The new support approach focuses on a customers’ wellbeing, their satisfaction with where they live, their community connections and their aspirations. Following a successful pilot within two services, we are now rolling the new model of support out across the whole organisation.

Section photo: Stephen outside the ‘Saffron Square’ building near to our services in Croydon

Customers’ support plans now focus on their assets, strengths and their relationship with the wider community.

Our partnerships with corporate supporters enhances our support offer

One highlight was our partnership with COMO, who are a specialist retail and commercial office fit out contractor, part of Mace.

We were approached by Richard McPherson, COMO’s project manager for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs building in Ruskin Square, Croydon, earlier this year, who wanted to support a project in the local community.

Through the generous donations from COMO and its trade partners, we have created an urban gardening project at Alexandra and Palmer House that enables customers to develop their life skills, improves their health and wellbeing and provides greater ownership of where they live. The programme also gives customers the opportunity to gain qualifications in gardening skills and food hygiene.

We are so grateful for Richard’s support and commitment to raising the money needed to deliver this project.

We welcomed this experience of working with Evolve during our time in Croydon. We have remained passionate about being able to give something back to the Croydon community.’

We are delighted to be part of this partnership with COMO. We would like to thank them and the Mace Foundation, as well as their trade partners who donated including: Style, Howard Bros, Optima, Bancroft, Celtic, Smartcomm, Loughton Contracts, Nelsam, and Wingate.

We would like to thank all our corporate partners that have supported our work in 2017- a full list can be found at the end of this report. Next year we hope to develop more exciting collaborations that will make a lasting difference to lives and communities.

Section photo: COMO presenting Evolve with a cheque for a gardening project at Alexandra and Palmer Hoe

We have expanded our Work + Learning service to support members of the local community

Supported by The Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund, Peer Circles is a peer support project helping severely disadvantaged people to overcome multiple barriers to access training, volunteering and employment opportunities.

Peer Circles offers practical and emotional help to reduce social isolation, build skills and confidence, and work towards employment with over 500 participants over the three years.

The project is specifically aimed at people who are highly marginalised and need help to address multiple and complex issues. These could include homelessness, a history of offending, substance misuse issues and difficulties engaging with mainstream services.

A key strength of Peer Circles is using specially trained individuals known as Peer Advisors to offer support. They have first-hand experience of overcoming disadvantages themselves and offer a unique perspective to support clients with what they are going through.

Ricky, a participant (and former Evolve customer), shares how he has benefited from becoming involved with the project.

This is a partnership project involving leading organisations in their fields – St Giles Trust, Evolve Housing + Support, Look Ahead Care, Support and Housing, Shelter, Change Grow Live and Warrior Programme. Each organisation brings its own key strengths to the project for the benefit of the people it helps.

This year we have offered the Peer Circles service in Bromley, Croydon and Merton. Our aim is to expand the service to Bexley, Richmond, Sutton and the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. Participants in the service have already achieved outcomes in employment and training, seen improvements in their housing situations and increased engagement with their mental health and substance misuse services.

The Peer Circles project has been very helpful; it’s helped me plan ahead and shown me what the best options for my future are. I would definitely recommend Peer Circles as they really do help you to find the best choices for your life.

Ricky, a former customer and participant of Peer Circles