Alternative Giving CIO Supports Wolverhampton’s Most Vulnerable and Homeless People

Alternative Giving CIO Supports Wolverhampton’s Most Vulnerable and Homeless People.

The Alternative Giving CIO is pleased to announce that 6 Wolverhampton-based charities, communities or organisations who applied for funding have received grants which help provide vital support to protect the city’s most vulnerable and homeless people.

The funding of £25,000 will help ease pressures on local organisations and charities that support people out of, or on the brink of homelessness. The number of people seeking support from these organisations is increasing now due to the implications of the increased cost of living.

The Alternative Giving CIO was keen to ensure the Wolverhampton organisations and charities that do amazing work to support our most vulnerable and homeless people received funding available thanks to ongoing public donations.

The Alternative Giving CIO receives most of its funds through the 16 donation points located in city centre businesses and via its two ‘Tap to Donate’ points located close to the city centre’s bus station and at Wolverhampton train station.  

The donation points aim to reduce street begging by providing an alternative way to give donations, 100% of these donations are then directed to existing organisations that work directly in Wolverhampton to provide long term support for people in most need.

This round of grants issued by Alternative Giving CIO has seen much needed funds go to the following organisations:

TNB Connect EMPOWER project work with LGBTQ+ people who are at high risk of homelessness, specifically the transgender and nonbinary community due to factors such as lack of acceptance from family, discrimination in workplaces and opportunities to find work.

The Haven “Make a House a Home” supports those in refuge to enhance resilience, feelings of safety, security and of being cared for. Once settled in refuge, women can access a whole range of support to help them to rebuild their lives, from counselling and therapies to court advocacy, and resettlement into appropriate and permanent housing and regain their independence and plan for the future-establish relationships with their children and reconnect with other support networks.

The Cyrenians operating as Changing Lives to provide vital items that are needed, for our service users to be able to succeed in their journey of progression and offer a weekly evening drop-in session where vulnerable ladies can attend to get vital support that they require.

Simple Acts of Kindness “Home Proud” Simple Acts of Kindness aims are to provide an affordable sustainable way for people and families to furnish a home to comfortable standard without the need for loans or financial stress and provide a positive place of community led support to help reduce burdens and improve daily life.

Migrant Help- Connecting Futures- Lifting Digital Barriers the project will empower and connect 68 individuals over a 12-month period who are experiencing digital poverty due to being homeless asylum seekers. The struggles they face, worsened by the cost-of-living crisis, mean that purchasing phones are out of the question due to unaffordability. These vulnerabilities are heightened by intersectional issues, including minimal income/financial resources, unfamiliarity with the UK’s system and culture, poor or unaffordable transport links, separation from family and friends, and not knowing how to connect to people.

The Way-After School at the Way to support an additional hour of after-school sessions specifically targeted at vulnerable young people in Wolverhampton. These sessions will provide a safe and supportive environment for those in the 30% most deprived wards, helping them build resilience and access essential resources.

Cherry Shine, Charity Trustee said, ‘We are beyond delighted to be able to support our Wolverhampton based partners and look forward to seeing the funding being used to help the most vulnerable people in our community’.

 ‘Since the Alternative Giving charity launched in 2018 it has raised over £74,000 for Wolverhampton and supported local charities working with our most vulnerable people presenting as homeless in Wolverhampton.’

 To learn more about the ways to donate to the Alternative Giving CIO or find volunteering opportunities please visit www.wolverhamptonchange.co.uk.

 Alternative Giving CIO Registered Charity No. 1186415 formed by Wolverhampton BID, City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Homes with a charitable aim to support vulnerable and homeless people in Wolverhampton.

Please visit www.wolverhamptonchange.co.uk.

For further information, please contact:

Cherry Shine or Jo Leek

Contact details – 01902 710903 – Available Mon – Fri, 9am to 5pm

Email – cherry@wolverhamptonbid.co.uk or jo@wolverhamptonbid.co.uk