£24K Award From Wates Giving Boosts Birmingham Homeless Charity's Volunteer Programme

A charity that works with homeless and vulnerable people in Birmingham City Centre has received a huge funding boost to its volunteer programmes with a £24,000 award from Wates Giving. 

The SIFA Fireside drop-in centre will now use the additional funding to employ a full-time Volunteer Organiser to co-ordinate the charity’s service-user programmes which provide support and training to assist them in becoming more independent and finding a job.

Wates Giving is a charitable programme run by the Wates family, owners of the Wates Group, which invests in local projects which benefit communities for the long term.  The programme receives many of the nominations for its awards from Wates employees who are able to identify schemes which will have a positive impact.

SIFA Fireside was identified as a potential recipient for funding by staff from Wates Living Space, the affordable housing division of the Wates Group, which is currently undertaking a number of property refurbishment contracts for Birmingham City Council.

Tom Langley, Business Director for Wates Living Space said: “We came across SIFA Fireside through our work with Birmingham Council and Business in The Community, and were really impressed.

“After speaking to some of the team at the centre about some of the challenges faced by the charity and its volunteer programmes, we realised that we were in a unique position to be able to help, by using our staff and supply chain and applying for funding through Wates Giving.

“The charity’s all-important volunteer programme, runs initiatives like the ‘Change Kitchen’ which offers catering training as part of a work placement scheme. But the programme was struggling to meet the demand from the people that use the centre so we applied to Wates Giving for £24,000 funding.”

The money awarded by Wates Giving will now help the charity’s service-users to improve their social skills, literacy and job prospects and give them the opportunity to learn new skills.

The SIFA Fireside drop-in centre opened in 1988 and is now used by around 90 people daily.  With a minimal budget for maintenance, it was showing signs of wear and tear.  The centre’s kitchen facilities were also worn-out through regular use.

Wates Living Space brought staff over, as part of its annual volunteering Community Day, and used contacts within its supply chain to give the centre a facelift. Staff and suppliers installed a brand new kitchen, redecorated the centre’s interior, installed new flooring throughout, replaced furniture and donated new air conditioning units.

Carole Fox, Operations Manager SIFA Fireside, said: “The impact of the funding from Wates Giving and the time and equipment donated by the team from Wates Living Space has been massive.  

“Our new Volunteer Organiser will play a vital role in co-ordinating our social inclusion programmes which help vulnerable people who are struggling to get back on their feet and work towards becoming independent and getting a job.

“The refurbishment work undertaken in our drop-in centre has given not just the building and its facilities a new lease of life, but given staff and service users a real boost too.”

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Categories: influencing, affordable housing, people, supply chain, events, midlands

Tags: Birmingham City Council, SIFA Fireside