HOME IS EVERYTHING
The festive season has officially landed.
Cold nips at our noses and our fingertips.
Parks and forests are festooned with autumnal colours.
Windowpanes and car bonnets are jewelled with frost.
The nights are perishing.
Parks and forests are festooned with autumnal colours.
Windowpanes and car bonnets are jewelled with frost.
The nights are perishing.
And tonight, over 150,000 children will go to sleep homeless.
Our charity partner is Shelter
Which is why Nice Work is proud to announce that their Christmas races will be helping to raise valuable funds for Shelter. But, we can't do it alone; we need your help.
A seasonal campaign
If you haven't seen Shelter's seasonal campaign, then we would encourage you to take a peek. Be warned, you won't want to watch it without a bumper pack of tissues somewhere nearby... https://www.youtube.com/watch?
On your doorstep
But, what does it all actually mean? In real terms? In your area?
If you scoot over to Shelter's website, you can actually find out how many children are homeless in your area. I would encourage you to do this, as I did. It provides the kind of visualisation that really crystallizes why your help is so desperately needed with a stark, nauseating clarity that has you hugging your kids just a little bit tighter, a little bit longer when you kiss them goodnight.
https://visualisation.
The takeaway...? Homelessness is on your doorstep.
But, the good news is that together we have the power to do something about it.
If you scoot over to Shelter's website, you can actually find out how many children are homeless in your area. I would encourage you to do this, as I did. It provides the kind of visualisation that really crystallizes why your help is so desperately needed with a stark, nauseating clarity that has you hugging your kids just a little bit tighter, a little bit longer when you kiss them goodnight.
https://visualisation.
The takeaway...? Homelessness is on your doorstep.
But, the good news is that together we have the power to do something about it.
Exactly who is Shelter and what do they do?
Shelter believes that HOME IS EVERYTHING. It is a human right. It's our foundation and where we thrive. Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home and work towards ending the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and our communities.
Shelter believes that HOME IS EVERYTHING. It is a human right. It's our foundation and where we thrive. Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home and work towards ending the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and our communities.
How bad is the problem?
The figures are staggering. 2024 has seen the highest numbers on record of children living in unfit temporary accommodation. Currently, over 150,000 children are living in unfit temporary accommodation, a number that continues to rise. At the moment, around 3898 people sleep rough on any given night in England. This has risen by 27% in the last year and has doubled since 2010.
The figures are staggering. 2024 has seen the highest numbers on record of children living in unfit temporary accommodation. Currently, over 150,000 children are living in unfit temporary accommodation, a number that continues to rise. At the moment, around 3898 people sleep rough on any given night in England. This has risen by 27% in the last year and has doubled since 2010.
The homeless get access to temporary accommodation, right?
Well, in some cases. But, it's not what you think.
Children and their families are often stuck in unsuitable temporary accommodation, often miles away from their friends, schools and community and for much longer than would be considered 'temporary'. The majority of families in temporary accommodation have been stuck there for over one year. Children without a home aren't just denied a basic right to feel safe, but access to education and healthcare too.
75% of families in temporary accommodation experience poor conditions.
57% of parents say that living in temporary accommodation has harmed their children's health.
Well, in some cases. But, it's not what you think.
Children and their families are often stuck in unsuitable temporary accommodation, often miles away from their friends, schools and community and for much longer than would be considered 'temporary'. The majority of families in temporary accommodation have been stuck there for over one year. Children without a home aren't just denied a basic right to feel safe, but access to education and healthcare too.
75% of families in temporary accommodation experience poor conditions.
57% of parents say that living in temporary accommodation has harmed their children's health.
53% of homeless children have missed days of school as a result of being homeless.
55 babies & children have died suddenly and unexpectedly as a result of living in temporary accommodation, since 2019.
Children without a home aren't just denied a basic right to feel safe, but access to education and healthcare too.
55 babies & children have died suddenly and unexpectedly as a result of living in temporary accommodation, since 2019.
Children without a home aren't just denied a basic right to feel safe, but access to education and healthcare too.
Homeless at Christmas
For families, Christmas should be a time of joy, but for many, it’s overshadowed by uncertainty and hardship. Imagine children wishing not for toys, but for something as simple as a bed to call their own or a safe place to live. Not a poster to put on their wall. But, for four walls and a roof.
I know that, as it was for me, you'll find that a very sobering thought. My kids have asked Santa for roller skates and a new pair of headphones. They're excited about hanging out their stockings, choosing their tree and decorating it in the shiniest, most god-awful decorations that they can find. They'll have a Christmas morning. But, so many won't.
For families, Christmas should be a time of joy, but for many, it’s overshadowed by uncertainty and hardship. Imagine children wishing not for toys, but for something as simple as a bed to call their own or a safe place to live. Not a poster to put on their wall. But, for four walls and a roof.
I know that, as it was for me, you'll find that a very sobering thought. My kids have asked Santa for roller skates and a new pair of headphones. They're excited about hanging out their stockings, choosing their tree and decorating it in the shiniest, most god-awful decorations that they can find. They'll have a Christmas morning. But, so many won't.
How do Shelter support the homeless?
Shelter works tirelessly to offer support in four different ways... locally, online, over the phone and through free legal advice and support services helping people who have lost their homes or are facing eviction. They provide urgent advice for families in crisis, navigating them through the crippling fear of losing everything and helping them to find a safe, permanent home.
Shelter works tirelessly to offer support in four different ways... locally, online, over the phone and through free legal advice and support services helping people who have lost their homes or are facing eviction. They provide urgent advice for families in crisis, navigating them through the crippling fear of losing everything and helping them to find a safe, permanent home.
And, with your help, it's working
Through your support, your kindness and compassion, Shelter is helping to provide emergency support, advice and security.
From the beginning of April 2023 to the end of March 2024 a staggering 15,975 households received support via their emergency helpline. 12,203 of those were referred from local hubs. There have been over 7.1 million online visits to their advice and support pages with 15,577 resulting in urgent conversations via Shelter's webchat service. Shelter's advice professionals helped to answer 16,293 queries.
Your support makes a difference.
You can be the change in someone's story.
Because... Home is Everything.
From the beginning of April 2023 to the end of March 2024 a staggering 15,975 households received support via their emergency helpline. 12,203 of those were referred from local hubs. There have been over 7.1 million online visits to their advice and support pages with 15,577 resulting in urgent conversations via Shelter's webchat service. Shelter's advice professionals helped to answer 16,293 queries.
Your support makes a difference.
You can be the change in someone's story.
Because... Home is Everything.
To find out more and make a donation, visit Shelter at their website:
https://england.shelter.org.
https://england.shelter.org.
Christmas races supporting Shelter
When you sign up to any of the races listed below, you will be given the option of making a donation to Shelter or fundraising on their behalf... because everyone deserves a place to call home, especially at Christmas.
Sherwood Christmas 10k & 5k
Salcey Forest Christmas 10k, 5k and Junior Fun Run
Nice Work Richmond Christmas 10k & 5k
Porsche Wolverhampton Cannock Chase Forest Christmas 10k, 5k & Junior Run
Chasewater Christmas Pudding Dash
Christmas Pudding Dash
Kent Christmas Cracker
When you sign up to any of the races listed below, you will be given the option of making a donation to Shelter or fundraising on their behalf... because everyone deserves a place to call home, especially at Christmas.
Sherwood Christmas 10k & 5k
Salcey Forest Christmas 10k, 5k and Junior Fun Run
Nice Work Richmond Christmas 10k & 5k
Porsche Wolverhampton Cannock Chase Forest Christmas 10k, 5k & Junior Run
Chasewater Christmas Pudding Dash
Christmas Pudding Dash
Kent Christmas Cracker