Earlier this month, our lovely Frazer was interviewed on Phoenix FM by Patrick Sherring. They spoke all about Cool to be Kind’s weekly outreach group ‘Warm Hearts for Cold Hands’ which Frazer helps out at.
He talked about how every Wednesday evening in the layby in front of Chelmsford library, Chelmsford Rough Sleeper Support provide drinks, hygiene bags, clothes and other items by Warm Hearts to those in Chelmsford needing their help. Hot food is supplied by Streetfood.
This week 56 people registered with Sanctus in Broomfield Road to receive the food. Frazer spoke about how shocked he was to find that some people were sleeping in cars.
He said, “we are just ordinary people trying to do our best to help, and the rough sleepers are also just ordinary people like us”.
He described his own role as lifting heavy boxes and getting the tea! He encouraged anyone who felt they might like to become involved to turn up on a Wednesday evening between 6 – 8pm, and if possible bring come clean clothes to donate.
If you would like to help, we are in desperate need of the following items:
- Men’s Jeans – small (up to 34″)
- Women’s jeans – small (size 6 – 12)
- Clean, usable trainers
Various organisations are involved at the layby and more information can be found at the group’s Facebook page and the Cool to be Kind website.
Listen to the full interview here.
Introducing Breakeven to Street Support Chelmsford
Breakeven is a new organisation that can be found on Street Support Chelmsford.
Breakeven offer free counselling and support to enable you to overcome your gambling-related harms.
Treatment works to examine practical ways of dealing with ’triggers’ to gamble, develop strategies for avoiding temptation and look at options for managing your money to minimise opportunities to gamble.
Breakeven will explain the purpose and benefit of using Blocking software and how to access these tools. The aim is to gain insight and understanding to help you come to terms with the problem and overcome it.
Gambling is often the ‘forgotten’ addiction so Street Support Chelmsford are proud to promote this amazing organisation.
Outreach Returns Results!
Julia Best, Cool to be Kind’s outreach lead (Outreach group Warm Hearts for Cold Hands) had some really lovely news to share:
Outreach last Wednesday was crazy! We must have had around 40 people there. We came away almost cleared out and trust me, we took out double the amount that we usually take, due to the horrific weather we have had the past couple of days. Tents were washed away and sleeping bags and clothes were soaked. We were so grateful to receive donations of much-needed items (jeans and trainers), we still need more, so please keep them coming in.
It’s not often we get feedback from those we help. They either move on or out of the area and all-too-often lose touch. However, I was recently contacted by a female rough sleeper who had really struggled to beat her addiction. We worked with her for many years whilst she was off and on the street. She has been free of all addictions for 2 Years now. She is housed and happy and just wanted you all to know and to thank us for the help she received. Thank you to all our supporters, you make this all possible!
Another huge thank you To ‘Quackers’ for once again donating £200 to our group Warm Hearts for Cold Hands. This was money raised from their annual ‘Duck Race’. This happens every May Day – you buy a duck and then race them down an area of the River Blackwater from Bocking. It’s great fun and always well supported. An enormous amount of work goes into organising this event, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the organisers and helpers. Not only for coming up with something that’s so much fun but also for raising so much money for local causes and charities.
Thank you so much for helping us do what we do! https://streetsupport.net/give-help/
