Salvation Army loses contract for James Lee House

9:30am Friday 29th June 2012 in News

JAMES Lee House will no longer be run by the Salvation Army.

The charity lost out to Brighter Futures after it tendered to carry on running the centre when its current contract with Warrington Borough Council runs out on July 31.

For more than 25 years the 54-bed Brick Street hostel has been run by the charity offering accommodation for up to two years while residents are given help to become independent and move into their own home.

A Salvation Army spokesman said: “The needs of the community and long-term plans are being considered as a priority for us.

“Our church has served the Warrington community for almost 130 years and we are determined to keep meeting the needs of Warrington, especially during such tough economic times.”

The new contract was agreed by the council’s executive board at a meeting in May.

A council spokesman said: “The council is committed to working with all organisations to address the issue of homelessness in Warrington. “There is a clear commitment to continue funding at the existing level for the supported accommodation service provided at James Lee House.

“A formal tender exercise to manage and deliver services at James Lee House.

“Based on price, quality and overall service, this exercise identified an alternative provider as being best placed to deliver the service.”

Comments(14)

old-codger says...
6:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12

One of the main functions of both these charity,s (Salvation Army and YMCA) @ James Lee House and in winmarleigh street is a Bail Hostel, The only reason the contract has gone to somebody else is that they are cheaper because the council dont want to pay more than they did last year. I agree with knocking it down and building something away from the town centre or peoples homes.

Report this post »

Concerned person from Warrington says...
9:05am Sat 30 Jun 12

I find it sad that people (who in most cases) are just homeless and have nowhere else to go as there has been a family or relationship breakdown are referred to as scumbags. Yes there are those who have more than those issues, but at the end of the day they are individuals like you and me and should not be judged and referred to as scumbags. If there are no hostels then these very people who are labelled by people will be living in the communities and probably be your neighbours. I hope that places like these do stay open so that people can be helped to be rehabilitated and then move into the community, rather than moving straight into communities and that's when problems arise. I guess if you are not aware of what exactly the work with these residents entail then please go and make an appointment and see what work goes on in there rather than labelling and looking down at them. I for one hope that the good work with the homeless continues. Without the YMCA or James Lee House the town centre will have loads more people just sitting round and begging. And I for one have a lot of respect for those people who work with the homeless without prejudice, without judging and treats people as people not scumbags!

Report this post »

Chip Hazard says...
10:00am Sat 30 Jun 12

I can understand your opinion but the genuine cases are surely a minority. People stereotype, that's a fact, and when these facilities are close to the town center it tarnishes the image of the town for local and visiting shoppers.

I appreciate the work some people do to reform the high percentage (guess) of drug/alcohol abusers using these facilities but I'm guessing again a high percentage of these abusers are long term residents not helping themselves in the process. Hence the need to move these facilities out of town.

We have a relatively nice town center but some people find it intimidating making their way to a shop whilst dodging the tramps, beggars, druggies, alcoholics, chavs with their pitbulls and other loitering types.

Report this post »

drunkennun says...
1:22pm Sat 30 Jun 12

I agree with concerned person, you have no right to comment unless you have worked with these so called scum bags. what gives you the right to comment on things you know nothing about. The people accessing these services are some of the most vulnerable people that the town has. without the FANTASTIC srevices of the YMCA or JAMES Lee House some service users would be left cold hungry and sleeping on the streets of warrington without any access to main stream health services. Maybe you need to contact james lee and Sue Blyth from the ymca and ask can you go and do some work with these service users. I for one have worked along side the YMCA for many years now, and can honestly say that people accessing these services are not all scum bags and druggies. Some people have issues however if you here their life stories no wonder they have issues. you all need to remember these are peoples sons daughter brothers and sisters and sometimes family units break down or things happen and you can no longer stay as part of your family unit, should you be just chucked in the gutter ... I THINK NOT..
I would ike to know why Warrington Borough council now think that this should have gone out for tender, a few years ago no one would have touched the contract with a barge pole .. wonder how much WBC have been paid or what discounts they have been offered by this company .

Report this post »

Chip Hazard says...
2:37pm Sat 30 Jun 12

I'm not saying get rid. I'm saying move these facilities away from the town center.

It's better for our economy all round. Town center petty crime will be down and the town center will be more attractive for shoppers.

There are too many temptations for the addicts amongst James Lee/YMCA crowd and their benefits will stretch much further without all the town center happy hour pubs.

Report this post »

Julie Collins says...
3:28pm Sat 30 Jun 12

The above comments are judgments based on individual personal impressions and feelings and opinions rather than facts.

Crisis research looking at people's turning points into homelessness in the UK, found that reasons most often cited by male participants were relationship breakdown, substance misuse, and leaving an institution (prison, care, hospital etc.). For homeless women, the most common causes were physical or mental health problems and escaping a violent relationship.

There are also problems in wider society that can contribute towards homelessness. These structural causes might include a lack of affordable housing; high levels of poverty, unemployment or worklessness; the way in which the benefits system operates; or the way social housing is rationed.

Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: "Our worst fears are coming to pass. We face a perfect storm of economic downturn, rising joblessness and soaring demand for limited affordable housing combined with government policy to cut housing benefit plus local cuts to homelessness services."

James Lee House (Salvation Army), The Verve (Arena) and the YMCA all contribute a safe space with staff support, where people can start to rebuild their lives.

The organisations provide a 'temporary' family. Most service users find a sense of belonging, that is as important for all human beings. It contributes to our sense of well being, as well as the usual suspects of; warmth, food and shelter. When a person has those basic needs met, they can begin to work towards a positive future.

Staff at all the centres care passionately about the individual person and their rights to live with dignity whatever the circumstances that brought any one person to access those services.

The successes, of people returning to live and work, and bring up their own families, may not be obvious, but they exist in their hundreds - and that is just in Warrington.


There are several other organisations, who, also continue to support the changes people want to make in their lives. The strongest, probably, is peer group support. People who already understand, more than anyone else, why and what is needed. The wider community surely need to begin to do the same.

After all, we are all only ever one step away.

Report this post »

Trevbert says...
12:32pm Sun 1 Jul 12

typical NIMBY's

where should we put it on Mars??

Some people dont have the luxury of family and/or support...think you should all take a step back and THINK - anyone could end up in this postion and then what....?? sure your egotistical views would change then.

Report this post »

mac says...
8:45pm Sun 1 Jul 12

I am slightly curious as to how the Salvation Army can be more expensive than the councils preffered bid?

Report this post »

Trevbert says...
11:10pm Sun 1 Jul 12

mac wrote:
I am slightly curious as to how the Salvation Army can be more expensive than the councils preffered bid?
because the salvation army probably wont cut corners...... cheap and cheerful prime example of WBC

Report this post »

chunkymunky says...
9:15am Mon 2 Jul 12

there are some sad, opinionated blinkered folk out there in this town with appauling attitudes to those less well off in our society! utterly shameful comments from some of you!!

Report this post »

old-codger says...
5:08pm Wed 4 Jul 12

Concerned person from Warrington, Who called them scumbags, I certainly didnt.

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
5:25pm Wed 4 Jul 12

Well now, let me tell you that for about 70 years or more there has been a hostel for homeless, down and out, men on the site of James Lee House without any adverse affect on the town so why shift it now because of a few beggars, alcoholics and drug addicts, most of who probably have had nothing whatsoever to do with the hostel anyway?

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
11:11pm Wed 4 Jul 12

For more than 25 years the 54-bed Brick Street hostel has been run by the charity offering accommodation for up to two years while residents are given help to become independent and move into their own home.


James Lee House was built in 1969 by The Salvation Army, some 43 years ago. The hostel replaced the old Men's Hostel that stood there, or immediately behind it and was in a badly delapidated condition prior to being demolished.
What I would like to know is how it came into the hands of WBC.

Report this post »

Concerned person from Warrington says...
12:29pm Thu 5 Jul 12

old-codger says...
5:08pm Wed 4 Jul 12

Concerned person from Warrington, Who called them scumbags, I certainly didnt.

To Old Codger

There were two comments before your's which referred to people at James Lee House as being scumbags but has since been removed probably due to complaints and does not refer to you at all.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree