The Welcome Centre, food bank and more, improves the quality of life of individuals experiencing extreme disadvantage in our local community by providing practical support, guidance, advocacy and advice.
Our clients include people facing job loss, debt and eviction, homelessness, fleeing violence or relationship breakdown, struggling with mental or physical health issues, struggling with drug or alcohol problems, younger people estranged from family, asylum seekers and refugees, ex-offenders, and street workers. Many of our clients survive on very low incomes, rely on the benefit system, or have no source income at all.
We provide clients with practical support - food packs, toiletries, and other essential items. We also offer clients one to one guidance, support, and advocacy. Through our service we're able to provide practical relief for their short term crisis, and ongoing support to help them tackle any underlying problems they face.
In 2016 we supported more than 3,000 people in our community, providing almost 9,000 crisis support packs.
The Welcome Centre helps people in crisis. Our clients are referred to us from over 100 local charities and agencies, and we provide them with practical support in the form of food parcels and other essential items, as well as the opportunity to work with our Development Worker to address any underlying issues.
We are heavily reliant on our team of 90 volunteers, who act as drivers collecting donations, sort and date check all incoming donations, take telephone referrals, make up client packs, and act as a friendly face for clients when they arrive in our reception.
We work closely in partnership with local businesses, groups and individuals to secure the donations we need. We work with local charities to ensure that through partnership working we provide our clients with the best possible support network.
