Pedal power kicks off fundraising campaign
18th October 2007
Bath Self Help Housing Association has used pedal power to
launch the first fundraising campaign in its 23 year history.
Chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Councillor
Ian Dewey, was on hand at the charity’s Foyer project in Twerton to
see the first donation Bath Self Help has received – two bikes to
help the young people who live at its Foyer and Pathways
projects.
Bath Self Help has provided housing, support and training for
thousands of young people, adults, and families. Now the charity is
asking the Bath community to help it raise £30,000 for a minibus,
bikes and household items to help turn empty flats into homes.
An anonymous donor gave the first £500 to pay for the first two
bikes, which young people who have no means of transport, can use
to get to job opportunities around the city.
Zoe Price project leader of the Foyer said:
‘Every day in Britain people of all ages
become homeless through no fault of their own and from all walks of
life. It could be a next-door neighbour, a work colleague or their
teenage sons and daughters; it could be you.’
Bath Self Help Housing Association provides three main areas of
housing and support:
- Temporary accommodation for families and people who are
homeless. They may be fleeing domestic violence, on low incomes, or
with drug dependency or other challenging needs; or may simply be
trying to re-establish themselves after experiencing the trauma of
losing their home.
- Projects for vulnerable young people aged 16 to 25 with all
sorts of support needs, including care leavers and other young
people with high needs. Projects include Pathways schemes in
Bath and Wiltshire and Bath Foyer.
- Help the young people to get back to work, training or
education, or into work for the first time.
The support makes a real difference to their lives and includes
help with emotional problems, money management, welfare benefit
advice, completing benefit claim forms, housing advice, anger
management, basic cooking skills and basic DIY. Working with young
people to help them to compile a CV and work through the employment
process to interview stage. Bath Self Help also work closely with
Connexions, The Princes Trust, City of Bath College and Millennium
Volunteers and other agencies to make sure young people have the
right services for their needs.
Janet Errington, Bath Self Help’s Supported Team Manager
said:
‘This is the first time in our history that
we are asking the public and businesses to support us in such a
significant way. We are restricted from using our funding for some
of the extra support that we give, but this support makes so much
difference to the people we help. It takes them a lot of courage
and resolve, and we want do as much as we can to make that process
easier.’
To find out more about Bath Self Help Housing Association, and
to make a donation, contact Howard Cunningham-Smith on 01225 366042
or email howard_cunningham-smith@somer.org.uk