Westminster Abbey’s Post

We know it is possible to end rough sleeping. But we also know it takes collaboration across the sector and serious political will. We use the power of our clients’ voices and our operational expertise to influence change at a national level to end homelessness. Read more about our influencing work and collaboration with other homelessness organisations: https://lnkd.in/eM6YhqU5 #EndHomelessness #Charity #UKPolitics

Simple ways to help homelessness: 👚 Donating clothes - Find your local supported hostel or homelessness hub and donate some clothes! 🏫 Volunteering time - There are thousands of charities always in need of volunteers. Whether time at a community centre, a charity shop or buddying someone, the options are vast. 📢 Advocating for policy changes - Sign a petition, start a petition, spread awareness! 🤝 Simple acts of kindness - Providing a meal, money or listening/engaging with someone in need. This requires very little other than simple human kindness! 🌁 Streetlink – Make an alert to StreetLink if you see someone vulnerable and sleeping rough. Using this link: https://t.co/rbkJ9QiDhX #HomelessSupport #CommunityHelp #DonateClothes #VolunteerWork #AdvocacyForChange #KindnessMatters #SupportTheVulnerable #StreetLink #SocialImpact #MakeADifference #HelpThoseInNeed #HumanityFirst #CommunityAction #RaiseAwareness

S T A T I S T I C S ! 1. 8.4 million people in the UK are living in unaffordable, insecure and unsuitable housing. 2. Council House waiting lists stood at 1.15m for England in 2018/2019. 3. Appropriate housing can keep older people healthy, support them to live independently and reduce the need for social care. These statistics highlight the importance of our Almshouses for the community. Click the link below to read more about The Eleanor Hirst Trust! www.teht.co.uk #TheAlmshousesAssociation #TEHT #EleanorHirstTrust #Charity #Community #Housing #Statistics

Please sign this and share if you can - it has just two days to go. 1 in 52 people aged 16-24 were experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness last year. We need a national strategy that will provide the direction and support needed to address: (1) the many forms that homelessness can take - from rough sleeping to sofa surfing to unsafe homes; (2) as well as the specific needs and challenges faced by young people - from the increased likelihood of family breakdown as a cause of homelessness to the decreased likelihood of receiving support from local authorities. We need a national strategy to end youth homelessness.

Helpful tips in this article from Matt Peacock MBE for any charity that may be looking at making it possible for trustees with lived experience to join its board by getting authority to pay them to be a trustee, where without payment they could not take up the role. Thanks Felicia Willow for sharing.

Such an interesting read that addresses a question which I often debate with the charities I work with. Where possible, having trustees on your Board with lived experience adds so much value. However in many cases the voluntary basis on which Trustees give their time precludes this. Paying trustees with lived experience is something more charities should consider ... but do read the post below as you'll need to put certain things in place to do this!

Interested in paying Trustees with lived experience? Read on! I recently became very excited when I saw Matt Peacock MBE from Arts & Homelessness International had convinced the Charity Commission to allow payments to Trustees with lived experience to work on their Board. Matt has put together the attached document setting out the key learnings - https://lnkd.in/eHE4mGRQ The one challenge in this is that their constitution didn't prohibit payment to Trustees. Most constitutions do. So, if you want to go down this path, you need to add in a constitutional change, which will also require Charity Commission approval (see https://lnkd.in/e3uUAgjh). As anyone who has followed me for a while knows, I'm a big believer that we need to break down the barriers to participation in the sector, and particularly in the role of Trustee, and part of that is about paying Trustees who wouldn't otherwise be able to participate. Has anyone out there changed their constitution to be able to pay Trustees, and would you be able to share your experience so others can learn from it?

What do we want? More affordable and social housing When do we want it? NOW! Read our plea to the political parties about the priorities we want the new government to focus on. #generalelection #4thJuly #useyourvote #yourvotecounts #housing #affordablehousing #socialhousing #homelessness

Doing what we can, but there is still so much more that can be done.

Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 271, offers guidance on the act of giving charity. It suggests that both public and private acts of charity hold value, yet there is a distinction in the benefits they offer. Donating openly can serve as a form of encouragement and inspiration for others to contribute, thereby fostering a culture of generosity within the community. However, the verse emphasizes that giving in secret, directly to those in need, holds particular merit. This private act of charity cultivates humility and sincerity within the giver, devoid of any desire for recognition or praise. It establishes a profound connection between the giver and the recipient, allowing for the preservation of dignity and respect. Thus, while public charity serves its purpose in inspiring collective action, the act of giving in secrecy carries a deeper spiritual significance, fostering genuine compassion and selflessness within the individual. #HumanityPerth #FundraisingForChange #SupportingHumanity #PhilanthropyPerth #CommunityEngagement #ImpactfulGiving #HumanitarianEfforts #GiveBackPerth #EmpowerThroughGiving #DonateForChange #CommunityBuilding #HumanityInAction #PerthCharity #CaringForOthers #SupportLocalCauses