It was late summer of 2020 when I was put in touch with a charity called ‘Warming Up The Homeless’ which based in East Sussex (Bexhill), helps to warm up the people living on the street.
Living in Hastings, and as we were in lockdown, I wanted to do more with my time and see how I could help within my own community. So I contacted ‘Warming Up The Homeless’ and they took me on, for a couple of evenings, helping on outreach, as a taster, to see if I would like to help.
Outreach is when you go out with a team of people distributing food, clothing and provisions, that we all use in our daily life. After a few evenings, I decided I wanted to continue so they put me forward for my DBS check which all went through.
I have continued to work on outreach, ever since, mainly on a Friday evening, as I felt it was the most beneficial evening I could commit to.
In February 2021 the charity moved to new premises. The CEO, of the charity, asked if I would be interested in helping them ensure the appropriate health and safety requirements, for the news premises were in place. Having worked in catering for quite some time, I had completed all the necessarily courses and had all the appropriate health and safety qualifications. So I was delighted to take up this new challenge and worked with them also covering on donation days, which is asking for food donations at supermarkets. I have also recently have been asked to become Deputy Team Leader on outreach evenings.
It’s so rewarding giving back something to the community and Fridays isn’t the same if I’m not on out reach, something is missing. I always put myself down for most Fridays now unless I am not in East Sussex. The outreach team and the homeless community look out for me and I have a good rapport with them,
It’s a great feeling to be treated as a valued member of the homeless charity.
