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Exciting update on the two Bristol charities who are merging to combine innovative and ground breaking holistic services, which empower disadvantaged people across Bristol to address the underlying causes of their crisis situation and build a better future for themselves!

In July 2015 it was announced that the Hawkspring substance misuse agency located in Hartcliffe would close at the end of August 2015 due to a lack of funding. Upon hearing the news The Matthew Tree Project (TMTP) contacted the trustees of Hawkspring to discuss possible solutions.  

It was agreed that by merging Hawkspring into The Matthew Tree Project, two significant benefits would result:

• The ‘merger’ provides an exciting step-change in the provision of support for crisis hit and disadvantaged people and families
  across Bristol – the like of which has, arguably, never been seen before
• Future funding requirements, by way of donations and grant
  funding, would be lower and easier to secure as a compliment to self-generating sustainable income streams, made possible by a new funding strategy designed to underpin the long-term future security of the Hawkspring services based on exciting new partnerships with the local council, schools, health services,
  employers and other service providers

As a result of the exciting plans to merge a benefactor came forward with £50,000 of funding in September 2015 to enable Hawkspring to continue operations for a further six months whilst the merger process was completed and the future sustainable funding strategy could be further developed.

TMTP, a pioneer in its field, has five years’ experience with 77+ city-wide referral organisations, providing a holistic full wraparound crisis support programme to extremely vulnerable people on the edge of destitution. Each year TMTP, with partners, support 2,000+ people destitute due to a mix of factors: homelessness, family breakdown, fall into crime, addiction or worsening mental health. Through empowering the clients to take control, the impact and outcomes of the services
provided are considerable as we witness the gradual re-building of broken lives regardless of the type of crisis that is being experienced.

Hawkspring, also a pioneer in its field, has 10 years’ experience providing a ‘whole family holistic’ approach to vulnerable people who have fallen into addiction. The unique and highly effective programme includes recovery support for the addict; carers support for the rest of the family and one-2-one hidden harm support for the children. Hawkspring support 600+ people each year. Early intervention and engaging the ‘whole-family’ as part of the treatment and solution are critical factors in the unique and highly effective model.

By merging TMTP and Hawkspring together, we are able to offer ground breaking and a most comprehensive range of practical and emotional support services in a coordinated, integrated and user friendly way, for people living in all areas of Bristol.