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Dear Headteacher,

St Martins Housing Trust:  Schools' Representative                                        

I am writing to you with the consent of our Chairman about single homelessness on Norfolk, and particularly in Norwich, and the part played by schools over the years in making young people aware of what is a local as well as a national problem.   We also ask for whatever support could be given to ameliorate conditions and to present life from the single homeless point of view.

I have been representing the Trustee body for several years, and have written to schools every year, usually about December time, sending out a  News Bulletin Calling all Schools.   We have also arranged competitions for students involving poetry and short stories, and on one occasion, posters.   I have made the occasional visit to schools and talked to students, but this is now usually done by Trust staff.

I was in hospital in October 2000, and subsequently for health reasons and with considerable regret resigned my position as a Trustee and Schools' Representative.

I now feel it necessary to ask if you would kindly communicate with members of your staff to see if there could be anyone who would like to devote him or herself to this slight but important task in my place.   Aware as I am of the the pressure upon teachers in schools these days (I was a teacher myself), I know it might be a hard thing to ask, but it may not be a heavy burden, and the slight involvement is both interesting and rewarding.   I would list the possible involvements as being:

        a)  A concern for the plight of single homeless people in our society.

b) A preparedness to come to an Executive Committee meeting occasionally.These meetings are friendly though necessarily formal.  

Occasional attendance would enable the Representative to meet staff and to keep in touch with what is going on.

        c)  A willingess to write a News Bulletin to all schools in Norfolk once a year.

        d)  A preparedness to launch the occasional competition for school students so as to inform and arouse interest.

        e)  A visit to Bishopsbridge House, the new Direct Access Hostel which replaced the old Norwich Night Shelter in April this year, or to one of

             our Registered Care Homes, in the first year would be helpful for the Representative, who would be welcomed by the staff in charge.

These 'involvements' are really only suggestions. The Representative would be free to structure his or her own involvement and course of action,

this being as much or as little as they felt able to do. The object is to try and maintain whatever link we can between the Trust and the single

homeless they care for, and the younger generation of the County.

Although I am sending this letter to all secondary school Headteachers in Norfolk to explain that I am relinquishing my position after years of correspondence with them and much response from some of them for which I am most grateful, I should add that we are looking primarily for someone who is resident in or near Norwich, for that is where most of our single homeless accommodation is situated, and our headquarters office at 34 Exchange Street.

If it should be that no teacher can be found to take on this task, might I please ask whether you could pass on the need to retired or retiring teachers

one of whom might in the course of time like to put his or her talents to use in this way?

I should of course be glad to talk whether by telephone or diectly, or to exchange a letter, with any person who is interested and would like to know more.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Yours sincerely,

J. Wills

Tel:  01603 427299

24 Players Way NR6 7AU

Formerly Schools' Representative and Trustee,

St Martin's Housing Trust.