How the St Mungo’s Outcomes Star can make stars out of homeless people
As our work at St Mungo’s aims to both prevent and reduce homelessness, it might seem reasonable that its success is measured by what are often dubbed ‘hard outcomes’; for example, the precise number of people who, thanks to our help, are no longer homeless, or the specific volume of our clients who have successfully given up drugs or alcohol. However, lifting a person completely out of homelessness can be a lengthy and difficult process, which is why we have led our sector in developing more achievable goals – in short, ‘soft outcomes’ – for homeless people on the lengthy journey to full recovery.
In particular, we have enshrined these short outcomes into our Outcomes Star. This examines ten distinct areas of a homeless person’s life, and their perceived progress in each area is, with the assistance of their keyworkers, registered by the homeless clients. The Outcomes Star has clearly won respect throughout the homelessness sector, as it is now that sector’s most commonly used outcome measurement tool. Central Government and several London Local Authorities also identify the Outcomes Star as typifying good practice.
You can learn much more about the demonstrated effectiveness of the Outcomes Star through the relevant area of the St Mungo’s website. However, the Outcomes Star is only one of many tools that we regularly use in working to lower the volume of homeless people in the UK. Just browse the rest of the St Mungo’s website to learn more.
Explore Concrete Versatility With Concrete Finishing Tools
Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials that can be used for expanding array of walkways, pavers, pool decks, driveways, post holes, patios to family room floors and kitchen countertops. For many of us who are even skeptical about the concept of concrete furniture, here in this article, they will discover why concrete is becoming so popular, who is making it. And, the endless ways you can use concrete finishing tools to complement any décor. However, the tools needed depend on the jobs you will be doing.
Many designers and contractors call concrete a fluid material because of the unlimited design possibilities to create a range of furniture including conference tables, bedside tables, cocktail tables, accent tables, benches, beds, and urban seating. Concrete furniture is warm and earthy while exhibiting durability and low maintenance. While concrete is gaining recognition as a great choice for furniture, many still do not realize that concrete can be used in exceptional ways to furnish and bring a sense of style to your office as well.
When it comes to office furniture, employers and employees favor desks and tables that are functional and stylish. It creates a favorable, lasting impression with both clients and employees — an impression that will echo constructive feelings. With advanced concrete floor grinding machines, and variety of floor polishing machines, the possibilities for creative expression with concrete are endless. You can also use concrete furniture in the lobby to make an impression to highlight your company’s brand of individuality.
Each concrete contractor approaches the concrete task differently giving a signature look by creatively building their own forms, developing special casting techniques, and using proprietary materials and coloring methods.
Many expert concrete contractors create a range of furniture, including bedside tables, cocktail tables, accent, patios, driveways, walkways, tables, benches, beds, urban seating, porches, kinetic tables, pizza ovens and work stations. Because of concrete ability to adapt into any possible shape, it can be created and custom-built to anything you have in your mind.
Some of the most famous places you will find concrete are in the restaurants, schools, salons, and retail stores, manufacturing facilities, automotive shops, showroom floors, residential interiors, hospitals, airports, shopping malls, airport hangars, as well as government facilities.
Concrete is versatile and can be molded to have soft, graceful curves and soothing color tones. For a look that is bold and contemporary, concrete experts can cast concrete into interesting shapes and colors it an array of bright, vivid hues. Designers, contractors and artisans are using concrete finishing tools to build marvelous pieces that bring a unique sense of style to homes and businesses, indoors and out.
DIY Concrete Resurfacing and Concrete Finishing Tools
Are you thinking about adding on a new patio to your home for those back-yard barbeques? How about running a sidewalk or path around the side of your home? Having the proper concrete finishing tools for the job should certainly be considered before you begin. Weather you are a concrete newbie or a seasoned handy-man here are the hard facts about DIY concrete resurfacing projects.
Probably the biggest factor in deciding if you should do-it-yourself or outsource to a professional crew is the size of the job. A new driveway for example would be quite a task for even the most seasoned do-it-yourselfer! Especially if you must first tear out the old driveway and if there is rebar (steel) in the old driveway the difficulty level and expense just got much higher. The reason you should outsource this type of job is because the concrete should all be poured at once if not separated by expansion joint material. Also, it will take the efforts of a full crew and many concrete hand tools as well as other equipment to remove the old materials and get the new concrete in place before it sets up. As they say on the job-site “wet concrete doesn’t wait on anyone! “
On the other hand, smaller concrete projects and DIY concrete resurfacing can be accomplished with just a little planning and effort. Also you don’t have to break the bank with a complete set of tools. A float and a trowel are a couple of specialty tools you need for the finishing. Concrete projects like patios and sidewalks need to be properly finished. For example, just before the concrete dries a light sweeping with a broom to give some anti slipping texture should be done. Another option would be DIY concrete resurfacing kit for the trendy new decorative concrete styles. Keep in mind that for larger patio projects many concrete finishing tools are available for rental.
So when planning a DIY concrete resurfacing project or adding a new patio and sidewalk addition around the house here are the basic concrete finishing tools needed for the job and there uses:
The Jointer or Groover: The purpose of this tool is to control the location of the cracks that “will” occur in the concrete. The Edger: The edger produces a radius along the “edge” of the concrete so it is safer and more resistant to chipping. The Float: Floating should be done after edging and jointing to work the concrete into place and push the rough aggregate into the mix to leave a smoother finish. The Trowel: The trowel should be the last concrete hand tool to be used besides brooming. Most concrete will require more than one troweling. Also the angle of the trowel should be higher each time you go over the surface to produce a hard finish. The Broom: This can be difficult. Broom too soon and it will leave an unsightly finish and you have to trowel again. Broom too late and you cannot get the anti-slip finish desired.
Now the list of concrete finishing tools above is just going to give you a basic understanding of the DIY concrete resurfacing and finishing. Please do as much research as possible before you order or mix the concrete because there is a lot more to this task yet to learn and this stuff sets up really quick on a hot day. Although, on cooler days you have much more time to work your material as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing. There are a lot of good information sources available such as books online to learn more before you start.
Also keep in mind that DIY concrete resurfacing and decorative concrete applications are quite a different process so research these as well before you begin.
So before you begin to tackle a concrete project yourself be sure to do your homework and properly assess the tools and labor required. That is probably the most important aspect of any job. Research!