Pete Wishart MP praises good work of Skinnergate Lifehouse

[Pete Wishart MP with staff and service users at Skinnergate Lifehouse]

MP Pete Wishart has praised the Salvation Army for its homelessness work in Perth.

Mr Wishart, who represents Perth and North Perthshire and is the chairman of the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster, met residents at the church and charity’s Skinnergate Lifehouse (centre for people experiencing homelessness) to see first-hand the type of support they are receiving to get back into independent living.

Mr Wishart said: “I'm always thoroughly impressed by the work of The Salvation Army in Perth, especially the work that goes on at Skinnergate to help people get back into their own homes. The church has a great footprint in the city and is hugely supportive to people who are in real difficulties.

"As an MP, I will do what I can to give whatever support possible to organisations like The Salvation Army."

[Below: Pete Wishart MP chats to a resident at Skinnegate Lifehouse]

Skinnergate Lifehouse is a 41-bed residential centre that aims to help people get back into independent living. Support staff provide a caring environment for clients to reach their own potential and offer support around life skills and work closely with other agencies to ensure support needs are met.

The centre provides advice and access to social workers and a programme of social activities. Clients can also learn basic skills training, including literacy, numeracy and IT in partnership with the local college.

Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Roberts, The Salvation Army’s Assistant to the Secretary for Scotland, said: “It was good for Mr Wishart to witness the great work at Skinnergate. We're delighted to be able to highlight to him the kind of stories of transformation that take place at the centre.

"We also wanted to highlight the issues of homelessness in Perth and ask him to make his Westminster and Scottish Parliament colleagues aware of the issues."