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Well done, Tim
26 July 2010
Action Homeless trustee Tim Blewett achieved an incredible 88 miles of the Leicestershire Round over the weekend. That's about 160,000 times of putting one foot in front of the other. Starting out from the marketplace of Market Bosworth at 12.30 on Saturday he reached Launde Abbey at 1.30 on Sunday morning and finally Dunton Bassett by the 24 hour mark at lunchtime on Sunday. Action Homeless support team including Fiona Parkhouse, Jonathan Cryer and Rob Parkinson and Territorial Army team of Lee, Jason and Dave from Coventry walked with Tim at the beginning and end of the Big Walk and at various points on the way. The challenge was also ably supported by a medical and refreshment team from Launde Abbey of Jacqueline, Michael and Nick. The route of the Leicestershire Round was followed clockwise and took in some lovely views of the Leicestershire countryside and some dark woods in the early hours. Well done to everyone.
If you would like to make a 'well done' gift to mark Tim's achievement in support of Action Homeless and Launde Abbey please do so by going to the donate now page or by visiting www.launde.org.uk
New Look - New Message
19 July 2010
100 guests, residents and staff were guided in by volunteers in striking orange t-shirts to Curve Leicester on Friday 16 July where Leicester based charity Action Homeless launched its new brand identity.
The audience heard moving first hand testimony from three people who had experienced homelessness, as they talked with Radio Leicester presenter John Florance. None of them had expected to be homeless and all had suffered loss or tragedy in their lives of which having nowhere to live was only one part. But all spoke of the positive support that they had found at Action Homeless and all now had a future that they wanted to work towards.
The theme for the future of Action Homeless is “A Chance For Change”. This will be how the charity promotes itself and its work from now on. Giving homeless people chances for change was the keynote of presentations from guest speaker Bishop Chris Mayfield, marketing and design consultant Owain Prorok of Reach and chief executive of Action Homeless, Rob Parkinson.
This launch event also marked a handover at Action Homeless by Sarah Feather, chair of trustees for the last six years, to her successor Mark Grant.
“A brand identity is important,” said Owain Prorok, “because it is one of the key ways that a charity raises its profile and reflects its core values. It is the first picture you see. What Action Homeless wants to do is bring about two transformations. They want to transform the lives and opportunities for homeless people and they want to transform negative perceptions about homelessness. This new brand with its colour, logo and message says that Action Homeless is about people and about giving them shelter, self-belief and new direction. Action Homeless The Chance For Change – six simple words that can change the world for homeless people.”
If you would like to receive information about The Chance For Change please contact jonathancryer@actionhomeless.org.uk or call 01162211878.
Tim's Big Thankyou Walk
12 July 2010
This year Tim Blewett, the Warden of Launde Abbey and Trustee of Action Homeless, is saying "thank you" by going on a Big Thankyou Walk.
But this is not just any walk! Tim will walk the Leicestershire Round in its entirety during the weekend of July 24-25. He wants to set a Round Record of all 101 miles in 24 hours!
Why is Tim doing this? Last year the people of Leicestershire helped to save Launde Abbey. Tim wants to say thank you for all the effort that made that possible but he also wants to benefit others so he will be raising money not just to enhance the abbey but also for Action Homeless, the Leicester charity for homeless people where Tim is a Trustee. Like Launde, it also changes lives. Action Homeless gives people a chance for change. In particular, it wants to improve its services to help people move on into their own tenancies.
How you can help
* Sponsor Tim and his companions from Action Homeless, Jonathan and Fiona, on the Big Thankyou Walk of the Leicestershire Round.
* Tell as many people as you can about Tim's challenge.
* Join Tim's support group by giving an hour or two of your time to give practical help over the weekend.
To sponsor the walk on line go to www.charitygiving.co.uk/timsbigwalk
To pledge a gift of sign up for information call 0116 2211851
Please help Tim's Big Walk turn into big chances for change for homeless people!
Barrie Stephen gets on with homeless people moving in
23 April 2010
Why are a bunch of hair stylists waving empty washing up bowls outside the Barrie Stephen Hair salon in Leicester?
The answer is that they have taken on the challenge from Action Homeless to create 40 moving in packs for homeless people to receive when they move on from supported accommodation into their own tenancy.
A client at the salon got talking about homelessness recently and as a result the staff decided that they wanted to know more about it. Once Action Homeless was able to tell them, they asked what they could do to help. “You can join in our Moving In Pack appeal,” was one answer, so last Friday Barrie called all his staff together from his four salons across the county and Rob Parkinson, Chief Executive of Action Homeless, with a resident, Carl and colleague, Jonathan, gave them an insight into how miserable homelessness can be and how it often leaves you with nothing to set yourself up when you finally get back on your feet and into your own home again. Each year Action Homeless supports up to 150 people to achieve this.
Over the next month Barrie Stephen Hair salons will be collecting all kinds of kitchen items to fill their red bowls. These will become Moving In Packs which are given as a welcome gift to residents who move into empty homes and make that step just a bit more bearable.
Action Homeless is delighted to be working with Barrie Stephen Hair in this way and we look forward to returning in May to see how they have got on turning empty bowls into welcome gifts. If you would like to join in the Moving In Pack appeal please contact Jonathan Cryer at Action Homeless on 01162211878 or at jonathancryer@actionhomeless.org.uk
Students sleep out to help homeless
23 February 2010
Around 20 student volunteers from De Montfort University in Leicester will be braving the cold in a bid to raise awareness of homelessness and raise funds for Action Homeless by sleeping out overnight on Saturday 27 February as part of National Student Volunteering Week. Hannah, 22, is one of the students taking part. "I decided to sleep out because I think there are a lot of misconceptions about homelessness and the reasons behind it," she says. "We are choosing to sleep out for one night, but those actually living on the streets have rarely chosen that life. There are often a lot of complex reasons behind why a person is homeless. I think that the experience is going to be a real eye opener. I hope our event will raise awareness as well as some money for Action Homeless."
Rob Parkinson, Chief Executive of Action Homeless, will be there on the night to offer information,support and some encouragement. "We are really pleased that these students want to help raise awareness about homeless issues and of course it is great that they have chosen to raise funds for our charity. It will be interesting to see how they feel after spending 12 hours outside in the cold."
If you would like to support the students, you can make your pledge and leave a message by logging on to www.charitygiving.co.uk/dsusleepout2010
Action Homeless opens new Tesco store
2 February 2010
Rob Parkinson, our Chief Executive, performed the official red ribbon cutting to declare the latest Tesco Express store in Leicester open today. The new manager Kate Wevill wanted to choose a local charity to share in the opening ceremony. "Action Homeless fits the bill as far as I'm concerned," she said. The new Express store is located right next to the railway station in Leicester and has taken over the site occupied for many years by Sheehan's Music Store that has moved further up the main London Road. "We know that Tesco can be seen just as a big national business," says Kate, "but actually every shop is part of its locality and we want to be aware of local community needs. Action Homeless helps local people who are in need so we are pleased to help it." Kate handed Rob a cheque for £500 from the Tesco Charity Trust. This money will be used to grow our outreach work.
Students help homeless in Leicester with Christmas fundraising
14 January 2010
Action Homeless owes a big Thank You to students in Leicester whose activities at Christmas helped to raise funds and goods to support homeless people. Students at Leicester University, who are part of MEDSIN that campaigns on global and local health and social issues, chose to support Action Homeless for their HOMED project. The charity issued them with red washing up bowls and challenged them to fill these with a range of kitchen items that would become a Moving-In Pack to be given to homeless people when they move on into their own accommodation after a time in one of Action Homeless' supported hostels or homes.
In just over a week the students collected enough for more than 15 full packs and with extra to spare. "They did extremely well," says Jonathan Cryer, Senior Fundraiser for Action Homeless, "to such an extent that half of our Drop-In Centre at St James Terrace became a temporary hardware store! These moving-in packs are not just a practical lifeline for a person who is trying to set up a new home often with nothing but they send a real message of care and support to people who can feel very alone and cut off." This is the first time that Action Homeless has worked with Leicester University students in this way and we are very encouraged by their enthusiasm and their response to this challenge.
Two other local students braved the weather to busk for Action Homeless in Leicester around the Allandale shops over Christmas as well. Alex and Neha raised a tremendous £130 from their efforts and lifted some spirits as well. Why did they do it? "We like to support a local charity each year and we just wanted to do something for people for whom Christmas is not necessarily a happy time," says Neha.
If you would like to join in the Moving-In Pack Appeal then visit Action Homeless in Leicester Market on Friday 5th February 2010 when you will be able to discover more about what we do and make up your own pack. Or call us on 0116 221 1851.
Action Homeless gets clicking and how!
4 December 2009
Staff and service users are being congratulated for a tremendous start to a new fundraising initiative by using Everyclick to search on the internet and raise money for the charity by just doing what they would have done anyway. The programme was launched on 11 November and already they have made nearly 2000 hits and are raising in one day as much as a trial in October raised in one month. The Head of Charities at Everyclick, Nick Croall, has sent a message to Action Homeless: "We are delighted to see that Action Homeless have got off to such a good start. We hope that with the release of the new Everyclick site Action Homeless supporters will continue to raise significant funds for the charity. Keep up the good work! You can support them at http://www.everyclick.com/actionhomelessleicester "
To find out more, about how you can help to raise funds to improve the services that Action Homeless can offer to people who have very little, contact jonathancryer@actionhomeless.org.uk today.
Awards for inspirational contributions to Action Homeless
27 November 2009
In a surprise addition to the programme at the Action Homeless annual general meeting in Leicester on Thursday night, the Chief Executive, Rob Parkinson, announced four awards to service users, who have in the last year made an inspirational contribution to the work of the charity and to helping fellow service users. Each were presented with glass trophies to mark their achievement. Steve Cosgrove has volunteered his time to improve the garden at Jarvis House and offer support and encouragement to other residents. Recently Steve's prompt action quite probably saved the life of a resident who contracted acute meningitis. The person nominating Steve said, "Without Steve's caring nature another resident might not be here today." Andrew Hall Venmore has joined the running club and after a number of short races took on the Leicester Half Marathon in October and was the first Action Homeless runner home in under 2 hours. He helped to raise over £750 in the process. He is a talented chef and has done great work volunteering in the Mayfield House kitchen. His nominator said, "Andrew is a real inspiration to others." Mags Scragg has played an important part in the development of the RAP group and helped create the new magazine Upwards and Onwards. One person nominating said, "Mags represents everything that is good about residents participating and I feel that she is an inspiration to many." Rebecca Topliss has moved on into her own tenancy but has trained successfully as an Action Homeless mentor and now provides advice and support to other residents. She has also established WISH - Women Independently Supporting Homelessness, and her nomination says: Even though she has now taken on her own tenancy Rebecca has continually shown her commitment and contribution to Action Homeless.
An invitation is issued
10 November 2009
The invitation has been issued to come to Action Homeless' annual general meeting in Leicester on Thursday 26 November from 6.30pm. It will be a great opportunity to learn about what has been achieved during the past year and to hear about plans for the future. You will be able to meet trustees, staff and service users. To read the invitation from Rob Parkinson, Chief Executive of Action Homeless, in full and see the agenda with details of the venue and timing follow this link AGM
Gathering to launch website and newsletter
5 November 2009
There were no actual fireworks but lots of enthusiasm at the official launch of the Action Homeless website and new service user magazine at the Resettlement Service in Leicester this afternoon. Staff, service users and friends heard Rob Parkinson, Chief Executive of Action Homeless, say, "After so many recent negative stories about homelessness it's superb to be able to celebrate the launch of Upwards and Onwards which shows that homeless people can represent themselves and make a positive difference to the community they live in here in Leicester." Mags Scragg, an Action Homeless service user and a member of the magazine's editorial team, said, "I was pleased to be invited to work on the first edition. I threw myself in at the deep end by offering to write an article on issues around homelessness. Then I found myself doing an interview and now I'm working on articles for the New Year issue and recruiting new team members." The Leicester Mercury turned up to take a launch photo and all three drop-in service computers were put through their paces as people tried out the web pages. You can read the magazine for yourself here Upwards and Onwards .
New voice for homeless people in Leicester
30 October 2009
'Upwards and Onwards' is a brand new magazine published by Action Homeless this week. It has been edited, written and produced exclusively by people who have used Action Homeless' services, both past and present. It has a big aim to challenge the negativity that sometimes exists in the wider community to people who have no regular home. It will give those people their own voice. "We want people to understand what homelessness is really like," says Rob Parkinson, Chief Executive of Action Homeless, "and what better way than to give our service users a platform from which they can tell their own stories." The magazine also offers homeless people the chance to try out their own interviewing and writing skills as well as share information on activities and events. The first issue is now available here Upwards and Onwards. If you'd like to obtain copies to distribute or contribute to future issues please contact tinapearce@actionhomeless.org.uk
Bright new future for residents' participation
20 October 2009
Action Homeless is delighted to welcome Tina Pearce as its first ever Service User Development Officer. Tina has joined Action Homeless from Leicester College, where she will remain a part-time lecturer in Health and Social Care. She also has experience as a lead behavioural support worker at the Bangor Centre for Developmental Disorders specialising with adolescents, providing care in a 24 hour setting. Tina says, "I am looking forward to revolutionising service user participation at Action Homeless. I want to create new opportunities for service users to get involved in training, education and work." Karen Purewal, Director of Operations, says, "I am excited about having a dedicated worker to develop new opportunities for service users within the Action Homeless community." To find out more about our service user development work please contact Tina at tinapearce@actionhomeless.org.uk
Running club raises over £700 for Action Homeless
12 October 2009
Members of the Action Homeless running club completed the Leicester Half Marathon on Sunday 11 October 2009, raising over £700 for Action Homeless in the process. Running in his first half marathon, Andrew Hall-Venmore was the pick of our runners finishing in a time of 1 hour 58 minutes. We'd like to say congratulations to Andrew and all our other runners and also a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored them and turned out to support them on the day - your help made a big difference! The running club is really looking forward to competing in more events in the future and to raising more money to help transform the lives of homeless people across Leicestershire.
New fundraiser to help bring about real change for homeless people
28 September 2009
Action Homeless has appointed a new Senior Fundraiser to help expand services and support for homeless people across Leicestershire. Jonathan Cryer started work on 28 September and will spearhead a significant expansion in our fundraising activity. Prior to joining Action Homeless, Jonathan was the National Churches Engagement Manager for the Church Urban Fund. He has also been the Diocesan Secretary for the Church of England in both Leicester and Durham. Action Homeless Chief Executive, Rob Parkinson said: "It's great to welcome someone with Jonathan's talent and experience to Action Homeless. We have some huge challenges to deal with when it comes to transforming the lives of people affected by homelessness in Leicestershire and Jonathan will be at the forefront of enabling us to meet these challenges and bring about even greater change for homeless people in the future". Jonathan can be contacted at jonathancryer@actionhomeless.org.uk
New website for Action Homeless
22 September 2009
Action Homeless has launched a brand new website with many new interactive features and updated content. The website is a gateway to our services and a way for anyone interested in our work to find out about what we do. Supporters can now link in with different volunteering opportunities, find out about upcoming events and donate to the charity online. There are new features for our service users, including an online discussion forum to enable people who have moved out of our accommodation to keep in touch and a space on the website to share individual stories about homelessness. The website also provides information and advice for people who may be worried about homelessness along with details about how our services can be accessed.
The website was designed by Little Black Dog Designs. http://www.littleblackdog.co.uk
We welcome feedback about the new site. Tell us what you think by emailing info@actionhomeless.org.uk