Amber was founded in 1995 by businessman and landowner Barty Smith, whose experiences led him to conclude that a large number of young people required more help to get them ready for employment.
The first residential centre was Tottenham House in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire. This closed in 2005 due to plans by the landlord to re-develop the property.
Ashley Court was purchased and opened in 2002 followed a year later by Bythesea Lodge.
Amber’s narrow boat, the Mary Rose, was purchased in 2004 and is used by Amberteers for various projects, including volunteering on the Avon and Kennet canal.
Amber Practical Training was formed in 2005 in order to meet the demand by housing providers to use Amber’s
Practical Housing Units (PHUs), a modular training package focusing on how to sustain a tenancy and develop a healthy lifestyle.
Farm Place was purchased and opened in 2010.
Over 15 years Amber has gained a wealth of experience working with ex-offenders, ex-drug users, alcoholics, those who have lost their motivation and self-esteem and those who just need a leg up to move forward. Amber’s strength is the fact that we do not work with people who all have the same issues. The common factor is that everyone at Amber is unemployed; however the reasons for the unemployment, and often homelessness, vary considerably.
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