The crowd funding initiative, a collaboration between the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council (WVCS) and several organisations from across Wolverhampton, is aimed at supporting vulnerable groups in the City effected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Organisations, businesses and individuals can go to the crowd fund site to donate money, get behind the project and support their city.
The ‘No Place Like Home’ fund aims to raise at least £10,000 for organisations supporting the homeless. Once the £10,000 is reached, 60% of the funds will be distributed to partner organisations. The remaining 40% will be made available as small grants to grassroot community groups supporting local people during the crisis.
Wolverhampton Homes, an Arm’s Length Management Organisation that manage 22,000 homes on behalf of City of Wolverhampton Council, have already pledged £5,000 to kick start the appeal.
Shaun Aldis, Chief Executive of Wolverhampton Homes said: “It's really important to Wolverhampton Homes that we're able to give something back to the communities we serve, and I strongly believe we will get through this situation by supporting each other.
“We're seeing how the Covid-19 crisis is affecting the lives of families across Wolverhampton and we're proud to make this contribution to the One City Fund, to support our local voluntary sector organisations with the fantastic work they are doing.”
The fund will build on the success of previous phases of the One City Fund, which have so far raised more than £51,500 for important organisations across the city who are providing vital help to those hit hard by the pandemic. They include Adventist Food Bank, Elias Mattu Foundation, Excel/Bilston People, Good Shepherd, The Real Junk Food project and The Well Food Bank.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has already donated to the One City Fund; because of your kindness we have smashed the target for the ‘Feeding Our City’. Now we’re urging the city to get behind ‘No Place Like Home’ and support our city’s homeless.
“Since the Covid-19 crisis began, organisations in the city have gone above and beyond to support those who were rough sleeping or facing the threat of homelessness. Supporting this appeal is a simple way of getting behind the city’s efforts to help vulnerable residents during the pandemic so that no-one gets left behind.
“The organisations this fund supports are a vital lifeline for many. They go far beyond providing shelter, supporting people to overcome other issues such as substance misuse and mental health problems.”
Angela Davies, Chair of Wolverhampton Homes said, “People from all walks of life have been impacted on every level by the Covid-19 crisis, but perhaps none so much as those who find themselves homeless at this extremely difficult time.
“This crisis has presented organisations and communities across the city with a unique opportunity to work together to help those most affected by the pandemic. It’s through this thinking that the One City Fund was born, and Wolverhampton Homes is proud to support it.
“Historically, we have used Wolverhampton Homes’ corporate social responsibility fund to deliver community protects across the city. In recent years, this fund has seen the creation of playgrounds, community gardens and an allotment. The situation around Covid-19 is unprecedented and it calls for an extraordinary response. We are therefore pledging £5,000 from our corporate social responsibility fund to the One City Fund, to boost the support on offer to our city’s most vulnerable at this crucial time.
“Our teams have been working tirelessly in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council and other partners to offer temporary accommodation to those who have no permanent residence or who are at risk of homelessness, and to support them into more settled, longer term housing. ‘No Place Like Home’ fund is focused on helping those people affected by homelessness, and the money raised will go to these organisations to further support the work they’re doing.
“I encourage everyone who can to dig deep and give generously. Thank you.”
Sam Bailey, Head of Support and Community Services at P3 said, “P3 specialises in homelessness services. We provide street outreach, community support, supported accommodation, justice services and more to the city’s most vulnerable people. We help them to gain the confidence and esteem to become full and valued members of society. We support clients to make positive changes while offering continued support and supporting rough sleepers in Wolverhampton to secure temporary safe accommodation at often difficult times, when other services or offers of support are not available or have reached capacity.
“We are currently supporting 156 people in temporary accommodation across the city. The additional funding provided by the ‘No Place Like Home’ initiative would enable us to provide people with travel costs, starter packs for people moving into their own homes, tenancy deposits and emergency B & B accommodation.”
To make a donation, please visit Spacehive. Organisations wishing to make an application to the small grants fund are asked to email Saffi Price on sprice@wolverhamptonvsc.org.uk. The grants will be administered by Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council.
Spacehive, the crowd funding platform powering Crowdfund Wolves, has waived its 5% fee for all projects created during the current lockdown which means all monies raised will go directly to local third sector organisations.
Crowdfund Wolves provides a single portal where people with project ideas can build support from their community, ensure their plans are viable, pitch for funding from the crowd and partners at the same time, and share the impact they have created. For more information, visit One City Fund - Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council.
