The Old Vicarage, SJOG's residential care service specialising in supporting people with autism, has been awarded National Autistic Society Autism Accreditation. This is the third service to be awarded accreditation, demonstrating SJOG's commitment to providing high-quality, autism focused personalised care where people thrive in capable environments.

Dr Lisa Alcorn, Chief Operating Officer, said, "The team has worked tirelessly to create a service that goes beyond meeting needs and focuses on people reaching their full potential by providing exceptional autism practice. This recognition is not just a badge; it's a validation of the work we do every day to ensure people receive the support they need to lead fulfilling and purposeful lives. The Old Vicarage team, led by Nicola Toth are to be commended for the outcomes people are achieving. We are very proud of the work they do."
 

May 2025

SJOG will be moving our award-winning day service provision to Trinity Hall, which is based behind the current home of the service.

SJOG has been operating a day service for vulnerable adults out of Woodhall Community Centre for many years, as well as managing the property for community, sport, health and wellbeing, and social events.

We aim to continue to work with our wider local community and offer support where needed in the future. We will be doing this in partnership with Trinity Hall which we believe to be a better environment, and is a positive move for us and the people we support, and will mean that we can support more people.

SJOG does not own the Woodhall Community Centre.  This is owned by the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, and they have decided to put the property up for sale. Any enquiries regarding the building should be directed to the marketing company who are managing this: Aitchison Raffety whose details are on the for sale board. They are based in St Albans - contact numbers: 01727 843232 and 01727 739373.

May 2025

SJOG has once again joined with Homeless Link, the No Accommodation Network (NACCOM) and other 80 frontline organisations working in the fields of homelessness, housing, and migrants' rights to continue advocacy efforts to influence the homelessness strategy. 

NACCOM has recently published an updated policy briefing highlighting an increase in homelessness for those with a migrant background, asylum seekers or newly granted refugees. The data collected indicates that this is due to restrictions in accessing asylum and immigration support and over-reliance on statutory voluntary services and short-term emergency accommodation.

We understand that the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and the introduction of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2025 represents a significant responsibility in shaping the UK's approach to border security at a critical moment in both national and international migration policies, but it also bans anyone who arrived 'irregularly' in the UK since 7 March 2023, from ever being granted any form of immigration leave, therefore, excluding them from statutory services.

It is evident that the lack of access to resources can only lead to increased vulnerabilities, and that when people live in a state of permanent limbo and are unable to ever settle their status in the UK, they are more likely to disengage from the system, to be at risk of exploitation and to be excluded from access to services that exacerbate their vulnerabilities: health outcomes, homelessness, human rights, trauma and recovery.

To read the report in full which outlines the key driver to migrant homeless and the policies we believe the government could implement to ensure we live in a society where everyone has a home, go to: Vital solutions to ending migrant homelessness'.
 

May 2025

SJOG, a national charity with services around the country and its head office in Darlington officially opened its new office on Friday 25 April 2025.

As the charity is growing to meet more need, bigger space is needed for its head office and as part of its mission to ‘to be of more help’ is offering space to small local charities and social enterprises to provide meeting and training spaces, access to wi-fi, screen and kitchen facilities.

The new office is based at The Old Exchange building in central Darlington.

The office was officially opened by Lola McEvoy, MP for Darlington, who said, “It was a real pleasure to officially open the SJOG office and learn more about the incredible work they’re doing to support communities here in Darlington and across the country. As a Living Wage employer, the way they care for their staff is essential to delivering excellent care. 

It’s fantastic to see them not only advancing their own mission but also opening this new space to support other third-sector organisations doing vital work. I encourage voluntary sector organisations in Darlington to get in touch with them as the offices are state of the art.

It was also an especially lovely coincidence to cut the ribbon on the new headquarters of an organisation that is close to my family." 

Paul Bott, Chief Executive said, "SJOG is a well-kept secret. We are the largest charity based in Darlington and have been supporting people in the borough since 1946. 

I love our new space. I love that it's a space that has been purposefully created as a hub for all charities and not-for-profit organisations, so that we can all be of help to people in Darlington."
 

April 2025

Raising awareness is a crucial step in tackling modern slavery and to help with this we are supporting local organisations through our awareness training. 

SJOG’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Lisa Alcorn recently delivered Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness training to Middlesbrough Council, helping staff across a number of departments to better understand the impact of this crime, how to spot it and how to address it.  

The training focused on key areas such as understanding the scale and types of modern slavery, recognising methods of exploitation, and knowing how to report concerns and act responsibly. It also covered organisational responsibilities under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.  

The training received excellent feedback with all participants giving five stars. 

This is the first of several courses that will be held over the coming months.  If anyone would like further information, please email us at:  enquiries@sjog.org.uk
 

April 2025

World Autism Acceptance Month, established by the National Autistic Society (NAS), aims to raise awareness of autism and the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, both to educate those unaware of the condition, and to help make the world friendlier to those who are affected by it.

Autism is a lifelong disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.

At SJOG, we’re committed to supporting each person with a diagnosis of autism through a unique person-centred approach. We focus on creating meaningful outcomes and improving quality of life. 

Throughout the month of April, to mark World Autism Acceptance Month, we’ll be sharing information, resources and ways people can get involved to make a real difference in support the autistic community.  
Get involved via our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SJOGUK

April 2024