500 together

This week we have been delighted to help Sheffield Working Women's Opportunities Project (SWWOP), an organisation that provides intensive support to anyone involved in sex work in and around Sheffield. https://swwop.org The work they do is fabulous, offering women a range of invaluable support through weekday drop ins and an evening outreach van. They have a dedicated housing link worker, a substance use worker, access to a GP, provide food parcels, essential toiletries, condoms and offer STI testing. They really are making a difference to very vulnerable women, helping them to look after themselves and make informed choices about their lives. This year they are in the process of creating a makeup station for the women to enjoy whilst using the drop-in space. Their aim is for this to be an important part of what they offer. As our member who works at SWWOP explained, it’s not just about makeup itself, but about confidence and self-expression. For many women, having access to t...

One of our members wrote to us asking if we could help. For the past 2 years she has been working with an Afghan chat group for Refugee women . The women are now looking to start running the group themselves and become an official Community Group. During Refugee week, due to take place in June, the women in the group would like to do a ‘pop up’ shop selling clothes they have made using Afghan fabrics, embroidery etc. They are hoping to make this the start/launch of their Community Group. The group has been donated 2 sewing machines but would very much like to buy an overlocker. They have sourced a re-conditioned one and wondered if we could get that for them. We were only too pleased to help and sent £300, which covers the cost of the overlocker with a bit extra for them to put towards supplies. We love groups like this that support and bring refugee women together. We look forward to following the progress of the group and their pop up shop and wish them every success.

We hope everyone has been able to keep cosy and dry this week. We are back with news of donation 235, which we hope will provide some warmth! Before Christmas one of our members asked if we would consider a donation to a charity supporting communities who are at risk of suicide. The organisation, Body & Soul, is a revolutionary suicide prevention charity supporting children, young people and families. We were delighted to help when we heard about the important and unique work this charity does. More information can be found on their website: https://bodyandsoulcharity.org/ Just before Christmas we made a £500 donation to the charity so that they could buy essential smart phones for Body & Soul ahead of what can be a difficult period for some people. While a smartphone may seem small, it is a lifeline that keeps Body & Soul’s support going which enables urgent, real-time support. The smartphones 500 together’s money has purchased is allowing Body & Soul staff and vo...

We are pleased to be kicking off the new year with donation 234. We have supported members of Shasbah in the past - a brilliant Sheffield based charity which supports people with Spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus in the local area. They asked if we could help one of their young members to get an accessible trike - which as well as helping him get around, has also made his physio sessions much more fun. These specialist trikes are expensive, and it is not easy for families who also have so many other additional expenses to cover, so we were very happy to send £500 to help towards the cost of the trike.