Who we are and what we do

“REAL DEAL PLUS is committed to supporting its partners in developing skills and abilities that will enable them to progress towards independent living”

REAL DEAL PLUS is an independent Charity established in December 2011 - Charity No. 1148731, Company No. 7886315

Our charitable objects are:

Relief of homeless and other persons who are in need, hardship or distress, in particular (without limitation) through the promotion and provision of supported accommodation, the provision of respite, education, training, information and advice for such persons by providing facilities which will lead to self-reliance and independent living within the community.

Ashington Central is one of the 10% most deprived wards in the whole of Northumberland. Since opening our drop in service in January 2014, we have become aware of an ever-growing number of Ashington residents living with loneliness & isolation, health issues, substance misuse issues, food & fuel poverty and long term unemployment.

We support vulnerable people in our local community by offering a warm place of care and refuge, a listening ear, companionship and direct practical help. We currently run a Community Cafè, provide free home-made soup and very low cost meals, operate a job club with 1:1 support for those with poor or no ICT or literacy skills, provide CBT counselling, and supply furniture, clothing and food parcels to those in need - both directly with proof of benefits, or by referral from local social services.

We offer volunteering opportunities through our drop in tea room, community shop and allotment project. We have painting and Art therapy classes running as well as a craft club and have just received 3 years funding to provide 2 part-time Youth Workers to develop our existing work with young people.

Our centre is currently staffed entirely by volunteers and we work in partnership with Green Pastures, Ashington YMCA, Wansbeck Disability Forum, Family Wise, Hospitality and Hope, Northumbria Healthcare, Social Services, Northumbria Police, Citizen’s Advice, Job Centre Plus, Wansbeck Centre for Voluntary Service (CVS), Making Winter Warmer for the Homeless and Bernicia Homes. We also hope to develop further partnerships with other Local Authorities and Social Services.

The challenges in our Community and our response

Current developments & ongoing projects

We have recently been given a local storage facility for our furniture supply programme and have now transferred our furniture stocks to their own site. We are now currently developing links with existing partners and new organisations to extend our services in the local area.

This has released areas of the Centre for refurbishment to provide even more support facilities.

We are now in the process of installing showers and changing rooms, creating day bed/sitting rooms to relax or sleep in and provide a free laundry service for those who are homeless as well as access to our emergency food & clothing banks, provision of sleeping bags and other essential items and ongoing support.