Registered as a Charity & Company limited by guarantee in 1989 originally under the name of The Vine Project. We have planning permission to convert Ushers old offices in Fore Street to a 10 bedded accommodation facility with a crisis pregnancy drop in centre where teenagers can obtain a pregnancy test and consultation on what all their options are should they need to decide on whether to terminate a pregnancy or keep the baby. The accommodation will be on offer to pregnant, abused (sexually’ physically or mentally) homeless or potentially homeless female teenagers. Trowbridge hospital teenage pregnancy unit is currently dealing with 200 cases per month. Most of these are in need of the facility we are preparing to offer. • Respite accommodation, whilst parents and the young women come to terms with the situation. • Life skills training, not only for the young women but for any future offspring. (We have run an N.V.Q. in birthing course, with 6 pregnant teenagers during which they covered subjects such as birthing, housekeeping, cookery, budgeting and making an item for their baby. Most chose to make blankets of varying designs. • Character building, our beneficiaries are generally of low esteem we inspire them to look to improving their future prospects. • Helping the young people to improve their community. The Refurbishment of the properties To this end we have had a costing Surveyors report prepared by Davis Langdon, courtesy of CRASH, an organisation that helps homeless charities. The report covered all the costs required to change the properties from offices to accommodation, the cost of the prepared works being £282,399. 82p. Based on the payment of all skilled personnel and all high spec materials. With the aid of local companies like Virgin, Nutricia, The Consortum, Lafarge, Chantry T.V.’s and Trusts like St. Mary’s, Wiltshire Community Fund, The Cooperative not forgetting smaller Town Trusts and CRASH. We have through the assistance of skilled Volunteers’, almost completed all the rearrangements of the rooms, having had to replace all the fibre board and stud walls with various plaster boards and new stud. Our Surveyor Mr Jerry Thornton, Architect Mr. Dale Roberts, Accountants Monohans and Solicitors Pinnegar-Finch have all given of their time and skills, free of charge, whilst producing first class service. The Trustee’s of the Charity took a risk when agreeing to do all the internal refurbishment, as a concession for a lower rent on the properties. The risk also included the Communities continued support for what we believe is a vital service for the young people. The initiative provides help at a crucial stage in their lives, following decisions made in the heat of the moment; without a safety net (generally in the middle of the night) decisions which can have a lasting effect on a young woman’s life. We are finding it difficult however to find skilled personnel who are willing to volunteer their skills or time for the utility side of the works; in particular, electrician’s, plumbers & plasterer’s. Our Chairman who is a qualified part P electrician has obtained further registration in order to install new energy efficient heating boilers freely supplied by Heatrae Sadia via CRASH. However being a volunteer he will require assistance to tackle the rather large job. To help reach our target of opening the facility in 2008, without losing our hard earned lower rent status at this late a stage in proceedings we urgently need the following finances:- • 70 k To cover outstanding works. • 20 k To cover rent for 2008. • 10 k To cover training costs of Volunteers. It really must be said that time is of the essence if we are not to capitulate on our hard earned lower rent deal, to the new owners scheme. We thank one and all who have taken the time to read this request for help.