500 together

This week we are really grateful to our member who has nominated a family she is in contact with who are really finding things very difficult just now. Our member told us that just before lockdown the family were given notice of redundancy from their job - which also included their family’s accommodation.  They have since been in a battle with housing for a new home and mum’s additional part time job has seen a cut in hours since Covid, so money is tighter than ever. The family have moved in with the grandmother - which has been positive throughout the lockdown period allowing them to be together with the 79 year old grandmother, who is shielding.  But they are living in a small 2 bedroom house - having to share bedrooms and the situation is far from ideal.  The grandmother is helping out financially as much as she can afford, but they really do not have enough. We are sending them £300 - some supermarket vouchers and some cash to allow mum to contribute to some of the bi...

Snowdrop was nominated by one of our members after their excellent work came to their attention via Instagram. Snowdrop is a brilliant charity set-up in 2012, which helps to empower survivors of human trafficking to ‘live lives no longer defined by their past’. They have around 40-50 clients at any one time and  provide one-to-one, long-term support that is tailored to meet the needs of individual survivors to empower them to move on from their past. Support can last from a few months to a few years, depending on the need. There is a big variety of need too, though it won’t be surprising to hear that mental health support is quite a common one, after such trauma.   The Snowdrop support offer usually kicks in after the statutory 6-8 weeks support period victims get, in safe houses. The project was set up after their founder – who had been working in safe houses – found that there was a real cliff edge for survivors after the safe house period had ended. After no time at a...

This weekend we are delighted to be donating to Suit Works, a really lovely Sheffield charity who help unemployed people of all ages to succeed at interview by providing them with a styling session and smart interview appropriate clothing. When you walk through the door for an interview, those first 30 seconds are crucial - your body language; what you are wearing; your personal grooming. If you have been lucky enough to secure that interview but do not have  a suitable outfit or any interview experience that opportunity is likely to quickly disappear. Suit Works provide their client with a complete interview outfit - including shoes and accessories, all of which they get to keep. They also help clients prepare by giving them some informal interview skills training - covering aspects such as body language, grooming, dealing with nerves and preparation - helping give them the best chance of securing that job. At the moment Suit Works is unable to offer face-to-face stying sessions b...

As everyone was shocked by the murder of George Floyd in the USA, on #blackoutTuesday one of our members asked if we could support Color of Change, a US group which leads campaigns that build real power for Black communities. They aim to challenge injustice, hold corporate and political leaders accountable, commission game-changing research on systems of inequality and advance solutions for racial justice that can transfer the world.   https://colorofchange.org We have been dismayed to follow the events this week and are pleased to be able to send Color of Change £100 to support the work they are doing.