News

Our Holman House service welcomed The Mayor of Bedford – known to all as ‘Mayor Dave’ – and Laura Church, Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council, to the service in October.

Mayor Dave and Laura were received by Emmeline Irvine, HoS, and Alex Sinclair, Bedfordshire Residential Service Manager. After introductions, the guests were offered a tour of the project. Both Mayor Dave and Laura were really interested to hear about Penrose and the Social Interest Group and the work that we do in Bedford, as well as further afield.  There was an opportunity to discuss some of the challenges faced with the increasing needs of people referred to the service, the current Housing and Homeless Pathway in Bedford, and other initiatives that Penrose want to become involved in to support the local authority.

The highlight of the visit was the activity that Azizun Runi, Activities Coordinator planned, making samosas and curry tasting. Runi did an amazing job preparing the session and Mayor Dave and Laura got stuck in making (and eating) their own samosas, under the watchful eye of Steve and Adam, two Holman House residents.

This visit was a great opportunity for the two new Holman House Housing & Resettlement Workers (HRSW), Shabnam and Dorcas, to get to know the wider team and experience life at Holman House.  It was also a lovely way to send off HRSW Dani, who is due to go on maternity leave.

It was a thoroughly brilliant and warming afternoon, and not just because of the curry! To see the engagement and hear the laughter and conversation echoing around the project, was an amazing way to start another week.