Helping The Homeless - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Helping The Homeless – BY Clare Wilson, HARP’s Head of Communications. More than just a homeless charity – a community effort.

Helping The Homeless - BY Clare Wilson, HARP’s Head of Communications. More than just a homeless charity – a community effort.

Leigh On Sea News: Helping The Homeless – BY Clare Wilson, HARP’s Head of Communications. More than just a homeless charity – a community effort.

BY Clare Wilson, HARP’s Head of Communications. More than just a homeless charity – a community effort.

Imagine living on the streets for weeks at a time. Being too ashamed to ask for help, or having nobody to call to ask for help? Make difficult choices every day about whether to pay your rent or buy food?

That feeling, that gut retching feeling, is what most of the people HARP have experienced, often for months or sometimes years before coming to HARP.

Everyone’s journey into homelessness is different. Relationship breakdown, job loss, leaving the care system, armed forces, or mental/physical health issues. Or, more often than not, a combination of the above.

As well as providing temporary housing, advice and support and our Bradbury Day Centre, the real difference we make, the difference that stops the cycle of homelessness, lies in the hands-on support we provide, including our recovery programme.

Part of this programme includes helping people back into Education, Training or Employment (ETE) and I’m lucky enough to run this programme at HARP.

HARP has always tried to do this but over the last year, we’ve introduced a ‘proper’ programme and it’s proving successful. Arguably, our timing could never be better given the changes announced in the Spring Statement recently.

Anyone can become homeless. And while we house people from all walks of life and careers, ranging from business people, financial advisors, decorators and all others. A large proportion of our residents have never had meaningful employment for much of their lives. Having been let down by the care or education system with missed diagnosis of a learning disability or neurodiversity condition that has made learning especially difficult for them.

In the last year, since the programme began, of the 320 people we provide temporary accommodation to, over 100 individuals have been given personalised information, advice and guidance around ETE.

Forty-two residents have completed an action plan to support their journey into work. Over 21 people have completed in-house training, re-engaging many into structured learning for the first time in many years.

Eleven individuals have started work experience or volunteering, six have begun external training and amazingly eight have returned to work. We’ve also been able to provide a range of microgrants to remove barriers to work, such as work clothing, travel and digital access.

Over 83% of people we’ve involved in the programme have rated it “very helpful”, with 100% feeling supported and listened to.

Stats are great, but what about real people? Take Ben, for example. After a tragic family loss, his relationship broke down, and he became homeless.

After coming to HARP and joining our ETE programme, he has gained housing with HARP, signed up for university, passed his theory driving test and is looking forward to taking his practical test in the summer – steps that are helping him rebuild his life and gain independence, this has given Ben the confidence to take positive steps and feel like a part of society again.

This very ‘hands-on’ support is what is needed if people are going to recover and move on with their lives. I hope you agree that this is making a demonstrable difference in the lives of our service users – rebuilding confidence, offering opportunity, and helping individuals take steps toward education, work, and independence.

So what can you do to help Leigh-on-Sea residents?

All of this work is funded entirely by fundraising. We were lucky enough to benefit from a grant from the UK Prosperity Fund, but there is still so much more to be done! Here are a few ways!

Volunteer – We rely on 100+ volunteers and always need more. Just a few hours can make a huge impact. The ETE programme needs professional people to help, if this sounds like something you’d like to do!
Donate – Our Leigh charity shops welcome unwanted items.
Join HARP24 – Take part in our 24-hour endurance fundraiser on 21-22 June at Cherry Orchard Park – we also need volunteers to help at the event with marshalling the course.
Financial support: Just £5 a month could provide breakfasts at our day centre.
Local businesses – If you’re in Southend or surrounding areas and looking for a charity to support, we’d love to connect!

HARP’s work cannot continue without the support of our community in Leigh-on-Sea! HARP is more than just a local charity – it’s a community effort to ensure no one in Southend has to face homelessness alone.

It’s only through the kindness and generosity of local people that we can continue our work. Whether you give time, money, or simply help spread the word, you are making a difference. If you’d like to get involved, visit www.harpsouthend.org.uk to learn more.

Together, we can help end homelessness in Southend.

Picture: Clare Wilson, HARP’s Head of Communications. More than just a homeless charity – a community effort.

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