If you’re concerned about homeless people in Brighton and Hove, Make Change Count is a great way to help: justgiving.com/campaign/MakeChangeCount2022
As we emerge from a global pandemic into a national cost of living crisis, support for vulnerable rough sleepers is more vital than ever.
Make Change Count is the city’s combined fundraising campaign that provides much needed funds to local charities who support and prevent homelessness. It has been running since 2016 and is supported by Brighton & Hove City Council, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Sussex Police. It does three things:
- It offers a great alternative for people who want to give change to rough sleepers but recognise that their money can do more.
- It facilitates the professional help that is needed to give a homeless person the best chance to get off the streets and into safety.
- It supports vital charities in the city who work together to provide effective support.
The participating charities for adults are Antifreeze, BHT Sussex, Equinox, YMCA Brighton. And for young people they include Sussex Nightstop, The Clock Tower Sanctuary, and us at YMCA DownsLink Group.
We’re hosting the Make Change Count for the year ending March 2023. Nikki Mason, Director of Fundraising and Communications is emphatic about the way funds are used and the efficiency of pooling donations and acting together to support positive change. She says:
“With direct action, practical help and compassionate, personalised support, the people who work for our charities provide a real chance for people to rebuild their lives in a safe environment. The public can be assured that every penny donated to the campaign goes directly to people in need – no funds raised are used by any of the charities for administration and we all contribute to the campaign at no cost.”
Outreach workers and street services guide people to access the right accommodation where they will be further helped on a one-to-one basis to recover physically and mentally from the trauma of rough sleeping. People need help and support to adapt to living in new ways. Helping people away from rough sleeping takes time and compassion.
Contributions are then used to provide food, access to shower facilities, healthcare, clothing and a wide range of practical help, based on individual needs.
What else can you do?
If you don’t have spare change to support this campaign, or you want to do more than make a donation there are other ways you can help homelessness in our city:
- If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough in England or Wales, contact Streetlink via www.streetlink.org.uk or by calling 0300 500 0914. The details you provide are sent to the local authority or outreach to help them find the individual and connect them to support.
- If you’d like to volunteer for a homeless charity in the city, four of the Make Change Count organisations have current vacancies for volunteers in a range of rewarding roles. Visit their websites to find out more:
To find out more, visit Brighton & Hove’s council website or the Make Change Count Just Giving page.
