Hope Community Pantry is part of the Street Support West Midlands network, where local people and organisations work together to reduce hardship and strengthen neighbourhoods. Based in Highgate, one of Birmingham’s most diverse and economically challenged areas, the pantry began in 2023 as part of the Your Local Pantry network. It is a ministry of […]
At the Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC) in Wolverhampton and Walsall, a new initiative has been making a meaningful difference for older people who arrived in the UK seeking safety and belonging. The “Boosting Advice” project, funded by Independent Age, supports refugees and migrants aged 65 and over by helping them maximise their income, live […]
Across Coventry, more young people are facing housing crises and difficult choices between heating, rent and food. The Bardsley Youth Project, based at Bardsley House on Hill Top, is working to make sure no one has to face those decisions alone. The charity supports 16–25 year olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. […]
Your compassion matters Across the West Midlands, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Homelessness Taskforce is bringing partners together to design out homelessness by focusing on prevention at every stage. This work follows the Positive Pathway model, which offers a simple way to see how support fits together. The Pathway starts with universal prevention, which […]
Clouds End CIC began with a simple but powerful belief: people who struggle with hoarding deserve compassion, understanding and tailored support, not judgment or stigma. The idea came about because hoarding was so often misunderstood. Too many saw clutter simply as a mess to be cleared, rather than a symptom of deeper struggles such as […]
Hope Community Project in Wolverhampton is marking a special milestone this autumn: 40 years of walking alongside the community in Heath Town. Set up by the Sisters of the Infant Jesus, a Roman Catholic congregation of religious sisters in 1985, Hope began with simple acts of kindness. Door-knocking. Conversations. Friendship. That approach, rooted in […]
This September, Wolverhampton will host the UK Recovery Walk 2025 for the first time. Taking place on Saturday 13 September, the walk will unite people in recovery, their families, and supporters from across the UK in a vibrant celebration of resilience, community and hope. The event will form part of National Recovery Month, a campaign […]
Domestic abuse is one of the leading causes of homelessness. When home is no longer a safe place, people may be forced to leave with nowhere else to go. This can affect anyone, regardless of gender, sexuality or background. Families, individuals, children and older people can all be affected. The trauma of abuse is often […]
Streetwise Opera has launched “Opera Pioneers” Streetwise Opera is a UK-based performing arts charity founded in 2002. Its mission is to inspire and empower people who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness. They do this through co-creative opera workshops in homelessness centres and major arts venues, public performances where participants perform alongside professional artists, and […]
A new resource launched by Birmingham City Council and Spring Housing Association this month is shining a long-overdue light on the vital issue of how people experiencing homelessness are impacted by period poverty, and what frontline organisations can do to support them with dignity. The Period Literacy Toolkit, authored by Thea Raisbeck, Head of Research […]
For many women trying to turn their lives around—whether they’re facing long-term unemployment, housing insecurity, or rebuilding after a crisis—the first step towards stability is getting into work. That’s where Smart Works Birmingham comes in. Smart Works is a UK charity with a simple, powerful mission: to help women feel confident and prepared for job […]
This July, Barnardo’s is launching a new round of its JOBS Project in Coventry—a programme that’s not just about getting young people into work, but about building their confidence, giving them skills for life, and offering real chances at long-term employment. Led by Arun Shoker, Project Worker for Banardos, the JOBS Project is an 8-week […]
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