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
“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
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.