My love letter to AMAT.
It’s hard to believe that this August AMAT has been around for 25 years!
It’s even harder to believe that I’ve worked here for 18 of them, time is so strange. I’ve always said that AMAT years are like dog year’s…I feel like we achieve 7 years’ worth of work in 1 year. It’s such a fast-paced environment with no two days being the same. It’s impossible to be bored in this job, so it also seems as though no time has passed, even though I started my employment at AMAT with a 4- and 6-year-old in tow – both now fully grown and doing me proud.
When I think about the impact that AMAT has had on Medway in those 25 years, the 1000’s of individuals that have been housed and supported by us, I’m so proud to be part of this amazing charity that’s had such a positive effect on so many.
To mark the achievement, we have a full schedule of events, so far this year we’ve had A Great Birthday Bake Off, a volunteers afternoon tea and awards ceremony, a street party to celebrate the jubilee and most recently friends and family day.
Later on in the year we will be holding an event for our AGM to coincide with World Homeless Day; we are looking forward to meeting colleagues from partner services in person again and we will also have exciting news about the HUB. We will also be holding a quiz night in November, and our annual Christmas concert.
AMAT is a unique organisation that grew organically and here are some of the things that separate us from other providers:
- We house couples.
- We accept people with pets.
- Staff live in the community.
- We employ people with lived experience, which, whilst other organisations do this now, is something AMAT has always done.
- Staff can really influence and shape how we do things, and we encourage this though our innovation fund.
I’ve learnt a lot during my time at AMAT, the person who started work here is very different to the person who is now CEO. Whilst my core principles and values remain the same, my understanding and empathy for people has broadened and my judgement of people has reduced. I’ve been stretched far outside of my comfort zone and developed as person. I’ve also met some incredible people and made some lifelong friends. Although my experiences and personal development have come from working at AMAT, I know that these are the same experiences available to our Residents, our work at AMAT is vocational, it’s not work that can be done without heart, energy, empathy, or patience. The same heart and energy needed by our Residents to address the issues that led to homelessness, and to ensure that they are never homeless again.
I’m thankful to AMAT for the opportunities it’s given me to progress and the fact that I’ve been able to support my family as a single parent. To quote Teddy Roosevelt: ‘I’m grateful for the chance to work hard at work worth doing’.
