30 year anniversary for Bradford Nightstop – celebrated with good news and some sadness

Last night John attended the AGM for Bradford Nightstop – as well as the AGM it was the 30th AGM – begun in a garage in 1993. In October two new films about Nightstop and the young homeless people it supports were premiered at Pictureville cinema. The support provided for thousands of young people was acknowledged – provided by home hosts in their own homes and in the shelter – backed up by volunteers telephone contact people and a small staff team – led by Joy Rainbow. The Good News was that our work has brought in a grant of £40,000 over two years from the Garfield Weston Foundation – following a visit from the Deputy Director of the Foundation. She was met by trustees and staff – and most importantly by one of the young people who has been supported by Nightstop. This young man was at the AGM and gave an inspiring and emotional account of living in a forest before he was referred to Bradford Nightstop – when he was able to turn his life around. he now lives in supported housing and is studying at college. The sadness referred to in the title of the post was about the fact that this significant issue of homelessness has not been solved over the last 30 years. Will it be over the next 30? The links for one of the films are:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjxOhi6EDNw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aT-g1QwHEQ

If at first we don’t succeed – succeed at the second attempt!

One year ago we worked with Manningham Advice Project in Bradford (giving advice to a largely Asian community) on an application to the Henry Smith Charity. Having got through stage 2 there was the visit – at which point most succeed in getting a grant. We were unsuccessful – due to issues over safeguarding. We didn’t give up! Rachel has worked with the Project for months to refine a new application. We got through to the visit stage – and this time were successful in winning a grant of £198,000 over 3 years – this will really help stabilise the swrvices and support the Project provides.

Phenomenal work with ecoACTIVE on their Buzzline Project application

We’ve had challenges and fun working on a very detailed application to the Heritage Lottery Fund – working closely with ecoACTIVE’s CEO. The Hackney Buzzline is an exciting project aiming to set up a 4 kilometre ‘buzzline’ for bees.The Hackney Buzzline will be a four kilometre ecological corridor extending through and between four east London parks. The parks are all local sites of importance for nature conservation. The corridor will be built by sowing wildflower meadows, planting flower beds and creating ‘stepping-stone’ habitats for pollinators every 100-200 metres along the route. Fingers crossed for this one, please!

Good grant for Together Dementia Support’s new minibus

A much needed new minibus for Together Dementia Support in Manchester just got much closer. John has worked on an application to the Clothworker’s Foundation and just heard that this has yielded £27,500! Having two minibuses is essential in order to support people with dementia and their carers getting to social, leisure and learning activities which all keep people going. As one member said: “Attending TDS groups is a lifeline for me and my husband. We don’t have a car and our children are all at work. Also my husband’s walking is now very poor so we couldn’t walk to a bus stop. Without transport he wouldn’t be able to attend the groups that give him friendship and the stimulation so important to people with dementia. I would also lose the brief periods of respite that enable me to keep going.”

£65,000 result for Stanley Grange!

It’s always wonderful when a bigger grant comes through! This £65,000 is a contribution from a foundation supporting the refurbishment of three smaller houses at Stanley Grange – the residential community for adults with severe learning disabilities in Lancashire. John (working as a Moneytree associate) liases with the Manager there and one of the trustees so we can celebrateb this success together. Over nearly 5 years working with Stanley Grange we have raised almost £750,000!