A CHARITY which helps feed homeless people is facing closure due to a lack of funding at a time when demand on its service is growing.
Barnsley Churches Drop-in Project has been helping the town’s homeless and vulnerable for almost 15 years, but is due to close in March unless additional money can be found.
The charity cooks meals for people three times a week, and also hands out donated supplies including toiletries, clothing and sleeping bags where needed.
The project costs about £40,000 a year to run. It moved into new premises at Temperance House on Pitt Street earlier this year but higher costs and a lack of available grants and funding mean the charity’s future looks uncertain.
“Grants and funding pots we’ve been applying for have got much smaller over the last five years, said former chairman of the project Kate Raynor, 34, of West End Avenue, Millhouse Green.
“We’re having to work just as hard now to apply for £1,000 as we used to for £10,000.
“We moved premises in April this year. The new landlord has been fantastic, we got three months free to start with, and we’re on a lower rent than they'd initially asked for, but it’s still been a major increase in our costs.”
Kate has been involved with the project for about six years and knows firsthand what the impact of the project has has had.
“I had a man break down in tears because I gave him a sleeping bag,” she said.
“He hadn’t eaten a meal in two days.
“A teenage girl was overwhelmed because we offered her a hairbrush and deodorant when she was sleeping on the streets.
“I spoke to so many people who had no money, no home, no family, and nowhere else to turn. The project isn’t just about feeding people when they’re hungry, it gives people a bit of hope and shows them that someone cares about them.
“We regularly see about 100 people at a session. Some of those people just come for a couple of weeks, perhaps as they’ve just moved out of employment onto benefits and they’re in that adjustment period. But some come for the longer term.
“I will be devastated if the project has to close.”
Some of those using the service have later become volunteers. Pat Hughes, now a self-employed business woman, said: “I was a heroin addict for 12 years and was homeless for a few months.
“I used to use the service and it helped me out a lot. What’s important is knowing there’s someone there to help, someone to fall back on. The thing that stuck in my head was knowing there was someone there who cared. That made a big difference in my recovery and the life I have now.”
The project is asking for regular donations from individuals to help them try to stay afloat.
Co-ordinator Caroline Hyde said: “If you can give £5 or £10 a month it will make a real impact on local people. We’re not a big charity with a marketing budget. I’m the only paid employee, everything else is done by volunteers.
“We are very appreciative of all the donations of clothing and toiletries we receive. But without the funds to pay the bills, unfortunately we won’t be able to continue.”
If you’d like to get in touch with the project email bcdp@live.co.uk. Single or regular monthly donations can be set up with the charity’s bank details: sort code 40-09-12
Account number 71828312. Donations can also be made online at the Barnsley Churches Drop-in Project page on the website totalgiving.co.uk
