About the Project
The Project began as a partnership between Church Army and Cranogwen but at the end of 2003 Church Army took sole responsibility.
Funding comes mainly from the Supporting People Revenue Grant but we also receive voluntary contributions from churches and individuals.
The Project has a number of paid staff and volunteers and together we seek to give people the support they need to live independently.
The Team
Our main objective is to help people live independently, by:-
•Helping people to access accommodation
•Support by way of mentoring
•Life skills are taught and individual support plans formed
•Basic Numeracy and Literacy skills taught
•Helping people into a local church if desired
History
Ralph Upton is a Church Army Officer who worked at HMP Liverpool for 6 years after commissioning. Then for 4 years as the Homelessness Officer for Liverpool Diocese.
In October 2002 Ralph, together with his wife, Carol, moved to the Rhondda Valley to set up the Valley of Hope project supporting ex-offenders and other vulnerable people in settling back into the community. He is the Project Manager and holds an NVQ4 in management.
Ralph has preached and taught widely in the UK and is also involved in developing prison ministry in Ethiopia and is a director of Greenstones Christian Trust.
