Now accepting applications for the third round of #HopeFunds! Find out more 👇
Are you a registered charity, social enterprise, or community group in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, or Cambridgeshire? Grants of up to £10,000 are available for projects that help us deliver one or more of our priorities, which are:
- Preventing homelessness (addressing causes, impacts, and homelessness itself)
- Increasing bed spaces for those experiencing homelessness
- Reducing or alleviating the impact of homelessness on children
We know that we are far more likely to be successful in our goal of tackling homelessness and its causes through partnership with others that share our values and motivations.
Homelessness is on the rise, with almost 20,000 people recorded as homeless in the east of England – an increase of 15% from the start of the 2022/23 recording period. Across England, the figure is 286,000, an increase of 5% from the previous quarter.
These increases reflect increasing pressures on homelessness charities and organisations, with the rising cost of living making it hard to meet the huge increases in demand.
That’s what Hope Funds is for; to support local organisations with projects that align with our values and core objectives.
Visit our website (link in bio) to read our Grant Funding Guidance, and if your project meets the criteria and aligns with our core objectives, then please apply for Hope Funds before Friday, 30 June. And stay tuned throughout June for more about the importance of our strategic objectives.
Jun 1
#RuralHomelessness: it`s a ‘hidden homelessness’ which is often less visible and can be missed from official street counts, so the true number is often under-reported.
It might mean someone is forced to sleep in the woods, in horseboxes, in tents on farmland, on moored boats.
We’re increasing awareness so that we can make sure the people that need support are counted, so we can tackle this “growing yet unacknowledged problem” (from `Homelessness in the Countryside: A Hidden Crisis`, new research published by @unikentlive and @uni_southampton in 2023).
One of Hopestead`s service users, ‘M’, had been camping in fields around Suffolk for 4 years before we were able to offer them support: “I had nothing. If it weren’t for you…I’d be sitting on the floor, probably.”
With over 19,000 people registered homeless in the east of England, a largely rural area, we know that there are people living rurally homeless who still need our help.
Access to a safe place to call home is a basic human right. We will continue working to help people break the cycle of homelessness.
#ruralhomelessnesscounts
May 25
We’ve saved you a place on our board. Ready to join us 🤝 in changing the story of homelessness?
We’re still accepting applications until 📅 Friday, 2 June for Hopestead trustees to help us explore new ways of working and be a brilliant ambassador for the work we do, and the people we support and partner with.
Our goal of ending homelessness in the east of England is ambitious, we know. That’s why we need an insightful, curious, and passionate mind to help us develop different approaches to tackle the causes of homelessness through building long-term, sustainable solutions. After all, if the old answers worked then there wouldn’t be any homelessness, and that’s where you come in.
Get in touch with us before that 2 June deadline via weare@hopestead.org and make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to be part of something extraordinary!
Follow the 🔗 `Work with us` link in our bio to find the recruitment pack with all the information you’ll need on how to apply.
May 24
We’ve saved you a place on our board. Ready to join us in changing the story of homelessness?
We’re now recruiting for Hopestead trustees to help us explore new ways of working and be brilliant ambassadors for the work we do, and the people with whom we partner, to make ending homelessness a reality.
Ending homelessness in the east of England; it’s an ambitious goal, and we need a different approach to tackle the causes of homelessness and build long-term, sustainable solutions. As a trustee, you’ll play a key part in helping us enact that lasting change.
You’ll be insightful, curious, and driven to challenge current ways of thinking – after all, if the old answers worked then there wouldn’t be any homelessness.
Bring your passion to make change, a strategic mindset and strong communication skills, the ability to lead by example, and a commitment to integrity and ethics to work in our best interests and help build Hopestead’s reputation further.
So, if you`re motivated to make change and are ready to help a young organisation make a real difference, get in touch at weare@hopestead.org before Friday, 2 June.
However you apply is up to you, and for more info you can read through our recruitment pack on our website - follow the `Work with us` link in our bio!
Hear from three of our service users; Joanna, Wayne, and Yulia; on how Hopestead have been able to support them in getting back on their feet, and learn more about the difference you could help to make:
May 4
Could you cycle 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats? 🚴♀️
That’s the epic undertaking that Colin and Rob have challenged themselves to complete to raise money for Hopestead! They even managed to get some *very* snazzy Hopestead jerseys too, which we love ❤️
We’re hugely grateful to these two for taking on such an epic feat in support of what we do.
They set out on Sunday, 30 April so are several stages into the 11-day journey from tip to top of the country – last we heard, they were somewhere between Gloucester and Wolverhampton with roughly 300 miles down.
Our legs ache in sympathy, and if yours do too, we’d be thrilled if you were able to give any amount to help us towards our goal of tackling homelessness in the east of England (link in bio)!
Drop any words of encouragement you have for the dynamic duo of Colin and Rob in the comments and we’ll make sure they see them – thank you again you two!
May 3
#NowHiring! We have an exciting new #opportunity for someone to join our team as a #Community Officer
💰 £23k p/a plus a company car 🚙
Day to day activities include, but are not limited to:
🏡 Visiting individuals and families we support, to ensure they have the essential items they need to thrive in their home
👋🏾Engaging with individuals supported through our initiatives to help us improve and develop our services
📣 Looking for opportunities to amplify the voices of those who have experienced homelessness, using gained insight to help us build sustainable communities
💯Taking responsibility for getting the job done – doing whatever is required and seeing it through to completion
As your work will be centred around East Anglia, wherever you are needed - a driving license is essential 🚗
For more information and to apply visit the link in our bio before 📅 Wednesday, 22 February!
Feb 9