We sat down for a chat with The Cathedral Archer Project and Roundabout to find out about the good work they do in Sheffield and how people can help them.
Name of your organisation?
The Cathedral Archer Project.
What is the aim and mission of your organisation?
We work with homeless adults from sleeping bag to employment. We believe life should be enjoyable and fulfilling: homelessness isn’t. We support people to make changes towards their new lives.
What values does your organisation try to embody in it work?
We value the individual. We try to support and encourage people from their perspective. It’s about believing in them, their capabilities, their self-worth, and building their confidence to be the best person they can be and have their best life.
Who do you serve and how?
We work with homeless adults at our day centre at the back of Sheffield Cathedral. We offer them crisis support (food, showers, clothing, access to medical and dental support, one-to-one support and access to accommodation), activities, wellbeing support, opportunities to volunteer and possibly employment opportunities too.
What challenges has your organisation faced recently?
Balancing the issues presented with increased Spice (drug) use and the impact on the people that use it and keeping them safe, with the longer term development of people making progress who do not make urgent, immediate demands.
What have you been most proud of to date?
Keeping the people who use the project alive. The best feeling is when we are out and about and see people living normal lives.
How can members of the public help?
The main thing we always need is money to run the centre and support the people so going on our website to make a donation would be wonderful. We also love to receive socks and pants (male and female) and some food items (details are on our website).
What does the future hold for your organisation?
We’ll continue learning from the people who use the project to find the best ways to help them move away from homelessness, giving more people the rewarding and fulfilling lives they deserve, including employment.
Name of your organisation?
Roundabout – we are Sheffield’s youth homeless charity and have been around for over 40 years.
What is the aim and mission of your organisation?
Our aims put young people and their future at the heart of everything we do. They are:
To support and empower young people who are homeless, to recognise, develop and take advantage of the choices open to them.
To encourage and assist young people who are homeless, to act upon issues that affect them and to participate fully as confident citizens in their communities.
To provide high-quality, effective and flexible housing, care and support services to meet the diverse needs of young people who are homeless and to develop appropriate new services as those needs change.
What values does your organisation try to embody in it work?
We Care:
We go the extra mile to support young people to make their own choices and empower them to make positive changes to their lives.
We Strive:
We strive to give young people the best possible accommodation, support and advice and continually develop personalised services.
We are Creative:
We are innovative, flexible and responsive to change, to ensure the needs of all young people are met.
Who do you serve and how?
Roundabout works with vulnerable young people aged 16-24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We have a hostel and also have four key services providing shelter and support which helps to break the cycle of homelessness and develop long-term independent living skills. We are strongly committed to preventing youth homelessness and deliver effective mediation sessions and drop-in advice services as well as homeless education in schools.
What challenges has your organisation faced recently?
As with other charities, funding is an issue for us. Cuts to funding have been problematic but this, doubled with a higher demand on our services, has caused further difficulty. We are really proud of the work we do and we provide services of a high standard to give young people the chance they deserve to get back on their feet. Despite our difficulties, we work hard to sustain this level of service. The Sheffield public and businesses have been incredible with their support, and we couldn’t do what we do without them.
What have you been most proud of to date?
Our young people make us proud every day and seeing them progress makes us see that what we do is so worth it. Every person has a different background and a different set of events that lead them to needing our help. We’re so proud that despite their situations and the difficulties they’ve faced, they’ve accomplished so many incredible things in the face of adversity. Recently, one of our young people was accepted to Bristol University to study Law – it’s incredible what young people can achieve.
How can members of the public help?
We really appreciate all the support we have from everyone in Sheffield. Their passion for wanting to help the homeless has been astounding, and we know that people want to do what they can to help those who are going through a difficult time. As we’re a charity, the public can make a huge difference by attending fundraising events or collecting sponsorship for their own events – more information about this can be found on our website (www.roundabouthomeless.org). Our Fundraising Team is at hand to help and support you with what you need! Additionally, we’re always looking for volunteers in various services across the organisation, so if you think you can lend a hand then please do get in touch.
What does the future hold for your organisation?
Our aim for the future is to end homelessness altogether but we’re aware that this may not happen any time soon. We therefore want to reduce the amount of young people who become homeless, so want to expand our homeless prevention work in the Sheffield City Region. Prevention works best when intervention comes as early as possible, which is why our ground-breaking Peer Education project delivers homeless education to students under the age of 16. We’re currently doing these lessons in half of the schools in Sheffield, but are determined to reach every young person in the city to make sure they never have to experience homelessness.
