by John Harris | Oct 17, 2024 | news
The effectiveness of our work is evidenced by our clients – Jess Dolan (CEO of ecoActive in London) had this to say about us following our support in gaining a £250,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund: “John and Rachel have been invaluable pillars of support since 2020. Their dedication has been evident through tireless efforts in researching funders, meticulously crafting grant applications, and offering precious assistance in editing and proofreading. Beyond this, they have played a pivotal role in refining our impact assessment, elevating the evidence we provide to funders. Their support has significantly contributed to expanding and diversifying our grant income, empowering our small charity to enhance our fundraising over the years.”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.
by John Harris | Oct 17, 2024 | news
At at time when fundraising has become so much tougher this counts as a marvellous result! A grant of £19,000 towards a yurt and a programme and field co-ordinator. Growing Links in Penzance has a community garden which is open to everybody and they have volunteer sessions three times a week. They accept referrals on behalf of vulnerable adults from doctors, from rehabilitation, the detox centre, from the police, from social workers, from Family Services and the Ministry of Justice. The crucial issue is that they develop an all year round, accessible venue to use with different groups – holding up to 20 people What they need is a Yurt, a temporary building that can be erected and dismantled, where they can add a wood burner for heat in the winter months and it will have an insulating thermal layer for the colder months. Workshops held in the yurt will include connecting with nature for wellbeing, permaculture, exercise and healthy lifestyles. They also also have a programme and field co-ordinator on a part time basis, this person will organise facilitators to use the field and yurt as a space and for vulnerable adults to be able to join the workshops free of charge. The co-ordinator will be responsible for risk assessments, health and safety, equality and diversity, safeguarding.
by John Harris | Sep 19, 2024 | news
Another great result for Abigail Housing – supported by Third Sector Consultancy – is a 2 year grant of £60,000! This is to contribute to core costs.This grant will really help with the costs of both work in Bradford and Leeds. In Bradford they support destitute, appeals rights exhausted (ARE) asylum seekers. ARE asylum seekers are unable to access any benefits or housing support, and Abigail Housing provides free safe accommodation to this group. Abigail has have fifteen beds across four properties and are exploring partnerships to provide additional bed spaces. The Leeds project works with those recently granted refugee status. Refugees are given just 28 days from receipt of their status documents to find accommodation and financial support. Many have been out of the job market for years while waiting for the resolution of their claim. For a significant number of refugees, the relief of securing leave to remain is destroyed by falling into street homelessness. Our Leeds project works to support this group through providing accommodation for 60 adult refugees and 4 children (living with parents) across 16 properties. At the same time, they offer support around securing long-term housing and resettlement, benefits, and volunteering and employment, as well as health and education.
by John Harris | Sep 1, 2024 | news
We worked with Fusion Housing over a period of a year – here is what the CEO, Director of Operations and Director of Business have to day about us: ‘We’ve worked in partnership with Rachel and John to raise nearly £400,000 over the past year for our Food and More project. We’ve found them helpful, responsive and available to support us where needed. They’ve guided us in selecting appropriate funders; provided support in liaising with funders; advised us on consultation and budgeting; and written successful applications. We envisage a very positive impact from the new funding, which will make a real difference in the lives of our service users.’
by John Harris | Jul 29, 2024 | news
We have been working with Abigail Housing for around 3 years now. Our latest success in supporting them in securing a grant for £20,000 – towards the costs of their Bradford Drop-In. The Bradford Destitution Project Provides housing and support to people seeking asylum who are homeless and destitute who are working with a legal representative to re-engage with the asylum process. These are individuals facing homelessness who are among the most vulnerable in our society as they are left completely destitute with no legal entitlement to any resources with serious risk to their physical and mental health. The project currently supports 15 people in 4 shared houses in Bradford. A key part of the support we provide is through the Drop-in. Here people can collect food and toiletries parcels, the cash allowance we are able to give and updates on their asylum case. Staff and volunteers keep in touch with individuals, check on their wellbeing and make referrals, particularly around health and wellbeing issues e.g. to Bevan Health Care. This grant will contribute towards the salaries of the support staff – providing advice, support, overseeing the drop-in sessions, supporting the Experts by Experience Group and managing and supporting the volunteers.
