When the New Connection Centre in Camborne opened its doors for its annual Celebration Day, visitors got the chance to have fun as well as to see lives transformed.

The New Connection, a division of Coastline Housing, is a local charity that provides accommodation, advice and support to over 300 homeless people a year. The charity’s annual Celebration Day is an opportunity for visitors to get involved in fun activities as well as for the New Connection to showcase and celebrate some of the many successes and achievements over the past year.

Staff, client and visitors enjoyed a range of activities from riding the smoothie bike; a fun way to learn about healthy eating with a delicious drink at the end of it, to taking part in a DJ workshop and hearing The New Connection resident band play in the marquee outside.

An awards ceremony in recognition of outstanding achievement was also held.

Marion Barton from the Drug and Alcohol Action Team was one of the many visitors at the Celebration Day. She works in partnership with Coastline in a number of areas. She said: ‘Coastline carries out invaluable work for its clients, providing essential support, guidance and the opportunity to become involved in a diverse range of activities.’

Hava Aboo is living proof of the success Coastline achieves in changing lives. Having been homeless for five years, Hava now has her own home, has just completed a BTEC in Music and plans to start a degree course in Plymouth next year. Taking a brief break from teaching her DJ workshop, she said: ‘I have completely turned my life around thanks to the excellent support from Coastline. I owe them so much and am now committed to giving something back to help others.’