HARP Celebrates ‘Topping Out’ of Bluebird Build and Launches Fundraising Appeal
On Tuesday 22nd March 2022, we celebrated the ‘topping out’ of our brand new 50 bed Bluebird development in the city of Southend-on-Sea.
We also launched an ambitious public appeal for support to help fund the on-site Learning for Life Centre, as well as bedroom and communal furnishings, and renovations and landscaping for communal outdoor spaces at Bluebird.
Bluebird, which is a combination of six brand new shared houses, as well as renovated nearby existing properties in Southchurch Avenue, will be home to up to 50 local people who have experienced homelessness. Providing supported accommodation to younger clients and those at the end of their journey with HARP, Bluebird will be a final stepping stone for many before moving on to live independently in the wider community.
At the ‘topping out ceremony’, a traditional construction celebration to commemorate the completion of a building’s roof, The Mayor of Southend-on-Sea, Cllr Margaret Borton, unveiled a bespoke ceramic Bluebird created by local artist Madelaine Hanman Murphy.
Matthew Pettitt, Team Manager at HARP who will oversee Bluebird when it begins to welcome its first residents in summer, said: “I’ve been with HARP for 11 years now, and in that time I’ve seen many lives turned around with the help and support we are able to provide. Bluebird will enable us to improve the level of support we can offer clients, and I’m sure that, together with my team, we will make a real difference and enable lots of people to learn the skills and gain the confidence to flourish in the community independently”.
