Scrine Foundation

The Scrine Foundation is a registered charity that works with people in need including people who are homeless, young people, ex offenders and individuals who live with issues related to mental ill health and or addiction. The charity formerly known as Canterbury Open Centre which was formerly known as Canterbury Open Christmas. The name was changed to The Scrine Foundation in 2004 in order to expand their work out of Canterbury and in recognition of the work of two key founders, Ralph Scrine and Joan Scrine.

Ralph Scrine wrote a book about the organisation and its work called Every Day Of The Year

In 2005 the organisation moved its head offices from Canterbury to Clifftonville in Margate

The charity's methods of development based on primary research conducted with members of the pulic who are asked:

"What groups from the list below should The Scrine Foundation be working?"

"How do you think the charity could make a difference to those in need within the community?"

"Would you be willing to volunteer with the charity to work directly with people in need or to raise funds in aid of the charity's work?"

In this way the charity maintains it independence at a strategic level by ensuring that the local communities where it is active influence and in some cases determine strategic planning prioirties (based on evidence of need).

This 'market led' approach is underpinned with a Service User Forum which provides a clear feedback loop from the customer base to organisation from within the services.

Key services include:


 * homeless shelter in Canterbury
 * Various Supported and Managed Housing Projects
 * Resettlement and Tenancy Sustainment
 * Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health care (advocates of Dual Diagnosis, i.e recognition that any or all of these problems can be interlinked rather than a simple cause and effect)
 * Jobs, Education and Training programs

Areas of potential growth:


 * Offering routes out of prostitution
 * Becoming an education provider
 * Developing branches of the charity in other parts of the country

The charity is currently funded by way of a range of statutory streams and public subscription. Unrestricted income from the public is undertaken by volunteer Local Community Fundraising Co-ordinators who operate small groups of volunteers at a local community level.

Excerpts taken from their website
"The Scrine Foundation is a registered charity that aims to improve the lives of vulnerable or marginalized people. We work all year round to support people in need, offering food, shelter, primary healthcare and the chance to develop potential and transform lives."

"We offer a range of meaningful occupation services to help people learn new, or update skills they already possess. We also work hard to find appropriate permanent and secure accommodation and to overcome addictions and mental health problems."

"We work with young people in order to provide structured youth projects including a homelessness advice service and a youth club. We also facilitate an alternative curriculum scheme. We have good working relationships with other agencies to ensure we can offer the best services to those who need our help."

"The Scrine Foundation assists in developing and improving local communities for everyone by focusing work and resources on the most disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the community. Whilst many people are now aware of the all too familiar problems faced by those disadvantaged by homelessness there are many other individuals living in the community whom The Scrine Foundation supports to maintain tenancies, develop lifelong learning skills and participate positively to improve their environment."

"Registered Charity Number 1014868 - Limited Company Number 2719436"

External link

 * scrine.org