By Nancy Acton When taggers take to the streets on Friday and Saturday to raise funds for The Haven, it will be with the hope that the public will be particularly generous in its response.

This is because the distinctive building off Berkeley Road in Pembroke has been undergoing major renovations in preparation for its anticipated April reopening as a temporary residence for teenaged girls whose domestic situation is deemed unsuitable.

In addition to meeting the cost of renovations, trustees of The Haven must also fully furnish the facility, so they need all the assistance they can get.

Although they have already had "a good response'' from some service organisations with regard to furnishings, the trustees are now appealing to the public at large to assist either with needed items or the funds to buy them.

"Because we had nowhere to store furnishings when we closed The Haven, we have to begin again,'' Haven Trust chairman Mrs. Olga Scott explained.

Among the many household items needed are: a washer and coin-operated dryer, freezer, blender, microwave oven, sheets and blankets (single bed size), crockery and cooking utensils, as well as lawn furniture and a computer.

Such items do not necessarily have to be brand new, but must be in very good condition.

In addition, Mrs. Scott needs helping hands "to help put The Haven together''.

"If there is a club or organisation which would be willing to assist in putting things in place -- arranging furniture, putting up shelves and so on -- we would like to hear from them. We want their help in putting a touch of home into the building,'' she said.

And of course there is the need for funds.

"We would also welcome cash donations which will enable us to get some of the other necessary items for the home,'' Mrs. Scott said.

Anyone wishing to donate furnishings, money or time should contact Mrs. Lorna Crofton at Teen Services (telephone 292-4598).

When The Haven reopens, once again under the management of Teen Services, the trustees expect to have fulfilled their mandate as landlords.

"We aim to ensure that it is a first class facility when it is turned over to Teen Services,'' Mrs. Scott said. "Thereafter, all the necessary services at The Haven will be provided through Teen Services under the direction of its executive director, Mrs. Sharol Simmons. It is going to be a residential as well as a rehabilitation service.'' Unlike the previous operation, which took in young women of various ages, the refurbished Haven will provide temporary accommodation and support services for young women aged 17 to 21 only.

Teen Services' mission will be to correct the lack of proper education and life skills necessary to function as independent, productive members of society. For those who are also mothers, guidance will be given in what it takes to a good parent and provider.

"Hopefully, we will be able to prepare those who are mothers with individual life skills so that when they go on to live independently they can not only manage financially, but also be able to provide the proper nurturing for their child, and be self-supporting,'' Mrs. Scott explained.

For those not yet mothers, encouragement will be given to first make something of their lives before having children, with appropriate counselling on preventing unplanned or unwanted pregnancies.

"The focus will be on having them address personal and health issues so that they will have the self-confidence, academic and life skills to start their adult lives properly,'' Mrs. Scott said.

Teen Services will also ensure that Haven residents receive whatever additional support services they need, either directly or by arrangement with appropriate sources.

"The Haven will really fill a gap in alternate living for young women,'' she promised. "As far as we know, this kind of service does not duplicate any existing services on the Island.'' Admission will be by referral only, and certain house rules will apply. "The Haven will be run as a family, and therefore certain basic understandings and house rules will be in place,'' Mrs. Scott said.

When the former Ridgeway Home reopened in the 1970s as The Haven, it operated with one resident matron and accommodated females of varying ages.

With changes in society, demand ultimately outstripped the ability to serve.

That, plus the need to upgrade the structure itself, led to its temporary closure in 1993.

Since that time, masons, carpenters and electricians have been working to expand its size and renovate the original structure, which has many outstanding architectural features.

"The Haven is such a beautiful building that we have tried to retain as much of its original character as possible,'' Mrs. Scott assured.

The addition of a small wing plus renovations to the original structure will not only give the resident matron more than the previous bedsitter, but also provide more bedrooms and bathrooms.

"The matron will now have a bedroom and a small living area to give her more space and privacy,'' Mrs. Scott explained. "And we will now have seven bedrooms and five baths, allowing us to accommodate nine to ten people.'' In addition to the extra space, new operational innovations will include an additional member of staff, plus access by residents aged 17 or 18 to Teen Services' Continuation School.

"In the past, The Haven was run by one matron, which was really quite stressful, so now there will be two, one in residence and one additional person, at least one of whom will be experienced in this work,'' Mrs. Scott said. "Based on past history a lot of The Haven's success was because of the education, nurturing and warmth that the matron provided.'' Mrs. Scott said that the remodelling was "based on the concept of how The Haven was going to be run and the services it was going to provide''.

"In the long run it should end up costing the public less because these young women should be fully functional, with jobs and skills, and not require any ongoing assistance. That is our vision.'' NEARLY READY -- The Haven undergoes renovations before its Spring reopening as a temporary residence for young women. Faced with onerous construction and refurbishing costs, the Haven is appealing for generous support for its tag days this weekend.