Knowing the difference your money makes when you support a charity matters. It’s not really good enough to ‘hope’ it’s been put to good use, or to ‘assume’ your money’s going to the right place. And it certainly doesn’t defeat the object of giving to charity just because you want to know how you’re making a difference – quite the opposite.
Here at Simon on the Streets, we know that CSR and corporate giving are evolving, and we’re on board. That’s why we’re offering a different way to fundraise and donate. Something that means you’ll see exactly how your money changes lives. So, on that note, will you consider being one of Simon’s Outreach Champions?
What does being Simon’s Outreach Champion mean?
It’s simple. Your corporate sponsorship will go directly toward supporting one of our outreach team members for 1, 2, or however many years you’d like.
By doing so, you’re not just ensuring our outreach presence in the community and having a direct impact on people experiencing homelessness; you’re also empowering people to aim for and create a brighter future, the kind of future that doesn’t include homelessness.
Want to know more about becoming Simon’s Outreach Champion?
Contact us now.
How does Simon on the Streets’ outreach impact people experiencing homelessness?
The answer is, in so many ways. Let’s take a look.
Emotional support and advocacy
The relationships our outreach team has with the people we support are complex. Outreach isn’t easy, and trust takes a long time to build. Many people have been let down by various services in the past, which can make them (understandably) reluctant to engage with any support they’re offered.
As one person we support told us:
“When you feel like you’ve got no one that cares about you, what else are you going to do but stay in that rut?”
Just listen
In the early stages of outreach, our team’s main job is often just to sit with someone, hear their story, and listen without judgment. There won’t be any practical advice, and there are unlikely to be any immediate solutions (unless that’s what’s required as an emergency). Progress might look like agreeing to meet and speak at another time, and simply making sure we’re there. It might just mean we’re there, checking in and providing a friendly ear.
Advocacy
Think of a time when you’ve felt unfairly treated. Whether it was at work or within family relationships, it’s something that we’ve all experienced at one time or another. Now imagine having no one to talk to about it, nowhere to turn, and nowhere to call home. For people who have been let down time and again, and who are nervous about re-engaging with services or authorities, advocacy is nothing short of a lifeline.
Advocacy isn’t about telling someone what to say or what to do – our team would never assume they know what’s best for anyone. Instead, they focus on building a relationship, and whatever action they take is guided by that person’s specific wants and needs. If they need our outreach team to speak on their behalf or simply be an advocate in the room while they take the lead, we’ll be there.
In the work we do, consistency matters so much, and being one of Simon’s Outreach Champions could make a world of difference here. Knowing we can keep an outreach team member in the community for at least a year at a time allows us to build those relationships and that all-important trust. It means when we tell someone we’ll be somewhere at a certain time, we mean it. It means we don’t turn into ‘just another service’ that lets a person down when they’re trying to rebuild their life. It means we can make real progress and break the cycle of homelessness.
“[Simon on the Streets] didn’t give up on us when we’d given up on ourselves. They saw something in us that we didn’t see.”
Practical support
Breaking the cycle of homelessness is challenging in so many different ways. Knowing where to start can be extremely overwhelming, and, in some cases, frightening. There are many different organisations, bureaucratic systems, red tape and loopholes to figure out before someone can be successfully housed long-term.
Getting started can be blocked by something as simple as a lack of access to a phone or an internet connection. When working with people whose first language might not be English or whose confidence is low when it comes to filling in forms and applications (we’ve all been there), it can be even more challenging.
The practical support our team provides helps people overcome these challenges. For example, accompanying them to appointments, seeking out local volunteers who can provide services like haircuts or dentistry, or even just helping them access the internet when they need it.
This practical support goes beyond finding someone a hot meal and a room for a single night. While that’s absolutely critical, our outreach has always been focused on helping someone build a long-term, sustainable future rather than a short-term fix. And that means helping them see value in themselves:
“Simon on the Streets showed me that I’m worth something.”
Signposting to other services
You know the phrase: ‘it takes a village’? Well, it definitely takes a village to support someone experiencing homelessness. We work closely with local authorities and other local organisations to ensure a person has the support they need – the right support for them and their circumstances.
That might be specific support for refugees and asylum seekers, though. It could be facing up to debt and tackling it head-on. Some people might need addiction and recovery support, while others might be experiencing homelessness as a result of domestic violence. Homelessness is a complex issue, and we’re beyond grateful to work in a city with so many other incredible charities and organisations to signpost to.
It’s not one person or organisation’s job to end homelessness. We can only make a difference when we work together. Part of the role of our outreach team is to work out how someone experiencing homelessness wants to move forward, what support they need, and to show them exactly where to find it. If they need that practical and emotional support to engage with these services, then our team is there every step of the way. So, if you really want to know what difference being an Outreach Champion can make:
“[Simon on the Streets] has done so much for me. They saved my life and gave me hope.”
Could you be the difference between someone getting a year of consistent support or fading into the background unseen and unheard?
Could you or your business play your part in bringing an end to homelessness?
Could you be Simon’s next Outreach Champion?
If you’d like to find out more or learn more about our other corporate partnership options, please contact us now. Let’s end homelessness, together.