The Genesis Trust Bath, a local charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people, has launched a Big Give Christmas Challenge to raise money for its Lifeline drop in centre.
Lifeline provides a safe sanctuary where homeless and vulnerable people get a warm, friendly welcome and help meeting basic needs such as food and clothing.
The charity has seen an eight-fold increase in demand for its popular intensive support sessions over the last two years.
Staff meet with visitors one to one to discuss issues like housing, benefits and health and identify how to get help for their individual needs.
There has been a rise in requests for support from people who are at risk of eviction and struggling with accessing benefits.
Caleb Mallard, Lifeline Manager, said: “People who come to Lifeline are desperate and in crisis. They are often facing complex multiple issues and simply don’t know where to start.
“We help visitors work out what the key issues are and where they can get the right individual help. We welcome everyone at Lifeline and will support people for as long as it takes.”
Following a successful trial last year, funded by the Avon & Somerset Police Community Trust, Lifeline has also recently started opening on a Saturday morning, serving hot breakfast in addition to its regular sessions every weekday afternoon.
Caleb continued: “Weekends are a particularly lonely time for homeless people, as others relax, see family and friends and come into town for shopping and entertainment.
“There has been nowhere for homeless people to go on a Saturday morning, so we are keen to welcome them in, offer food and friendship and when they are ready, work with them to start to address the causes of their situation.
“We have secured initial funding to open Lifeline on a Saturday morning but need more to keep the service going.”
This increase in demand for specialist help at Lifeline comes against a backdrop of rising homelessness nationally.
A recent report by the charity Shelter stated that there are more than 300,000 people homeless nationally today. In the South West 1 in 490 people are homeless, according to Shelter.
Last year Lifeline hosted over 4,000 visits, gave out 1,500 items of clothing and footwear, 640 emergency food parcels and 110 Foodbank vouchers. Staff provided 358 hours of intensive one on one support and referred 93 visitors to other specialist agencies.
Genesis Trust Bath is entirely reliant on charitable donations to fund its work. For the first time the charity has been selected to take part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s largest online match funding campaign. Donations made online at www.bit.ly/GenesisBigGive17 between 28th November and 5th December can be doubled.
Genesis Trust provides a range of practical and empowering support services to help disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Bath & North East Somerset.
Over 700 volunteers run and help with 10 interlinked projects including:
- Lifeline – drop in centre for homeless and vulnerable people open six days per week.
- Furniture Project – collecting unwanted furniture and reselling it at low cost to people on benefits and low incomes.
- Life Skills – courses and mentoring for homeless and vulnerable people to build life skills, increase resilience and confidence.
- Soup Run, Sunday Centre & Lunch Box – providing hot soup, sandwiches and meals daily to homeless people in Bath.
- Bath Foodbank – emergency food parcels for people in crisis.
- Family Matters – volunteer mentoring for local families struggling with poverty and other issues.
- Street Pastors – helping vulnerable people on the streets of Bath Friday and Saturday nights.
- Home for Good – promoting fostering and adoption in local churches.
