The Future
We have ambitious plans to transform both our building and services. By 2012, at a cost of £16m, Anchor House will be providing top quality accommodation, first-class training and personal development to help people to find both a job and a home. We have already raised £6m of this total towards the redevelopment.
Take a look at our vision of the future:
We don’t want to be a revolving door outfit – we want people to move out of homelessness for good, equipped with the life-skills and abilities to sustain independent living.
In order to continue its transformation and to meet the aspirations of homeless people and the long term unemployed in Canning Town, Anchor House is planning a major development to improve and expand its accommodation and communal spaces as well as the range of services it can offer.
Model for the redevelopment
The renovated accommodation will create 115 Individual Learning Zones, equipped with multi-media facilities and furniture suitable as both bedroom and study; and 25 new flats for high support, first stage move-on accommodation. The redevelopment of the ground floor area has been designed to inspire contemplation, communication, learning and work-based training and will comprise:
- ICT infrastructure and telephone systems for multi-media training initiatives
- flexible training and activity suites, easily adapted into three large rooms
- a central reception ‘hub’ for information, advice, interaction and communication between staff, residents and visitors
- additional outdoor space and a domed atrium to create much-needed natural light source
- ambient/quiet spaces for multi-faith activities and alternative therapies
- larger, better equipped self-catering kitchen and laundry areas
- open-plan lounge and dining areas
- restaurant and training area for commercial catering
- new workspace for staff including mezzanine office and social areas
- a health/first aid suite for use by staff and Primary Care Trust outreach services
Health and safety improvements underpin the entire development with CCTV, fire/smoke alarms, fire corridors, emergency exits and secure ‘resident only’ areas.
