All the charities that receive funds from SleepSmart have been carefully selected and visited by the SleepSmart team. Some of the money does go to the basics, such as a bed, a shower, a pair of shoes, but the charities we fund don’t stop there as that rarely solves the problem. Funds are also spent on projects aimed at getting people back on their feet again.
C4WS Homeless Project
www.c4wshomelessproject.org
C4WS Homeless Project runs a church based ‘rolling shelter’ that provides emergency accommodation to rough sleepers over the winter period (November to March). Each individual is provided with warmth, shelter and food and is given help to access more permanent accommodation. All former users of the shelter are given year round support through a weekly lunchtime club with English classes, help in finding paid work, and a mentoring and befriending scheme.
Our £15,000 grant will be put towards the salary of one of the Project Managers.
City Harvest
www.cityharvest.org.uk
City Harvest operates 7 days a week to collect, transport, store and redistribute surplus food and dry goods to appropriate organizations servicing people in food poverty circumstances. City Harvest is supported by various restaurants, restaurant trade associations, food retailers and wholesalers.
Our £10,000 grant will help fund transport costs within the project.
The Connection at St Martins
www.connectionatstmartins.org
The Connection at St Martin’s is a busy central London day centre that provides specialist services for the homeless. These services include street outreach, emergency accommodation, work training and placements, healthcare and special needs support.
Our £20,000 grant will help towards the salary of one of the team of outreach workers who engage with hard-to-reach rough sleepers on the streets of Westminster, encouraging them to access the services at the centre and helping them off the streets.
Emmaus Gloucestershire
www.emmaus.org.uk
Emmaus Gloucestershire offers a home and employment for 32 people (‘companions’) who have experienced homelessness, providing the support and stability they need to move on with their lives. They operate 5 charity shops run and managed by the companions and generating funds to sustain the community.
Our £800 grant will go towards the shortfall in running costs of the community.
Framework
Framework supports over 9,000 homeless and vulnerable people each year across Nottinghamshire. In 2016 they helped almost 2,000 individuals find accommodation, 45% of which were under 25.
Our £4,000 grant will be put towards the charity’s ‘EVE trades’ volunteering and training programme which has helped 150 people into work over the past 2 years.
Glass Door
Glass Door (previously West London Churches) is dedicated to alleviating poverty among street homeless people in West London. The charity runs London’s largest Winter Night Shelter, providing 70 bed spaces per night across two church circuits. This vital relief project is backed up by a range of year-round day services, including full-time advice workers.
Our £10,000 grant will help fund Glass Door’s general running costs.
The Manna Society
www.mannasociety.org.uk
The Manna Centre provides both a compassionate and practical response to London’s poor and homeless. For some it’s a place where they can come for their only hot meal of the day. For others it’s a listening ear and welcome respite from another day living on the streets. For others still it’s a chance to get off the street and into accommodation. The centre is open 7 days a week and welcomes 150-200 people daily.
Our £10,000 grant will help fund the running costs of their transit van which is used daily to collect donations of food, clothing and furniture.
Hospitality Action
Hospitality Action offers a crucial lifeline to vulnerable people of all ages, working and retired, from the hospitality industry. The charity awards financial assistance to anyone in crisis, whether through illness, addiction, redundancy, bereavement or domestic violence.
Our £16,000 grant will be used to help fund grants made by Hospitality Action in the London region.
Missing People
Missing People is the UK’s only charity that works with young runaways, missing vulnerable adults and the families they have left behind. They actively search for missing people and support those who are trying to find them. They offer free and confidential support via phone helplines. All services are free of charge and are largely run by volunteers.
Our £5,000 grant will be used to help fund their publicity work, aimed at supporting, safeguarding and reconnecting vulnerable missing people.
Providence Row
www.providencerow.org.uk
Providence Row works with homeless and vulnerably housed people in East London. They provide a range of advice and support services including substance misuse, mental health and housing and benefits advice, as well as volunteering opportunities, employability training and a meaningful activities programme.
Our £20,000 grant will be used to help fund their Catering Trainee Scheme, which is a structured seven week work placement programme giving practical experience, as well as qualifications in basic food hygiene and health & safety in the workplace. The scheme is partnered by the Andaz Hotel.
St George’s Crypt Trust
www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk
St George’s Crypt provides practical care and support to an average of 100 homeless and socially marginalised people every day of the year. A two-course hot meal is provided on weekdays at a nominal cost, and staff give advice and support to help people to access housing and training opportunities.
Our £6,000 grant will be put towards the overall running costs of the charity.
Step by Step
www.stepbystep.org.uk
Step by Step works with young people facing homelessness in Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and Dorset. They provide supported accommodation, education and training, mentoring services, drug and alcohol support and counselling.
Our £6,300 grant will be put towards the development of their services in Hampshire and Dorset.
The Passage
www.passage.org.uk
The Passage run a day centre next to Victoria station which is used by up to 200 people a day. As well as providing the basics – food, showers, laundry facilities and clothing – the centre’s main aim is to move people on by offering them help with mental health, drug and alcohol services, benefit claims, accommodation, training and employment.
Our £10,000 grant will be put towards the food provision at the centre.
West London Day Centre
www.wlm.org.uk/wldc
The West London Day Centre is a busy drop-in centre providing immediate services to alleviate the hardships experienced by those sleeping rough. Services include hot breakfasts, showers, laundry, clothing, haircuts, luggage storage and mail collection. Added to this, their comprehensive advice and referral service assists with accommodation, jobs and benefits. Other support services include access to health workers and social and recreational services.
Our £10,000 grant will be used to help fund their accommodation advice service.