Westminster Befriend a Family
EVERY FAMILY NEEDS A HOME
200 Volunteers support 120 children and their families living in long-term temporary accommodation (up to 10 years). Volunteers provide a home-visiting service and also provide weekly community-based sports, recreational and learning projects.
It ran from 10:00 AM, 5 December 2013 to 5:00 PM, 18 December 2013
Registered Charity in England and Wales (1082452)
Match funded Campaign target
£10,000
Amount raised
£20,020
Donations
3
Location
Campaign overview
Aims
Where's the money going?
Impact & reporting
Situation
There are 2000 children living in temporary accommodation in Westminster, with many spending years in overcrowded conditions with limited amenities. Of these, 101 families currently live in B&B accommodation. Our Homeless Families Project supports 80 homeless families. Families like Marilyn and her three sons who have been temporarily housed in a one bedroom flat since 2009. Marilyn has HIV and is seriously ill. Her children are taken into care when she cannot cope.
Solution
With just 4 staff we mobilise a workforce of more than 200 dedicated and trained volunteers to support 500 children and 300 parents throughout our organisation, specifically 80 homeless families. Our volunteers provide a lifeline for families: homework support for children; helping families to access community learning and advice services; providing sports and learning projects for children and their parents. They also fundraise for grants to improve the living conditions of families.
“We live in temporary house, don’t see anyone. At swimming the children learn things, talk to people and good for health.”
— Esther, refugee lone mother of two sons, (Homeless parent fleeing domestic violence)
I’ve just got into UCL university. I couldn’t have done this without the support of the volunteers who supported me as a young person.
— Young woman, whose brother and mother have learning disabilities .
WBA staff and volunteers and their professional support has been invaluable.
— Yvonne Jackson-Browne, Teacher, St Augustine‚Äôs CE High School
“We live in temporary house, don’t see anyone. At swimming the children learn things, talk to people and good for health.”
— Esther, refugee lone mother of two sons, (Homeless parent fleeing domestic violence)
I’ve just got into UCL university. I couldn’t have done this without the support of the volunteers who supported me as a young person.
— Young woman, whose brother and mother have learning disabilities .
WBA staff and volunteers and their professional support has been invaluable.
— Yvonne Jackson-Browne, Teacher, St Augustine’s CE High School