Friday 18 March 2016

Where does Sport Relief Money Go?

Earlier this week I took part in the #TeamHonk challenge for Sport Relief with the lovely Vanessa and Sarah.  Today, my daughter has excitedly scooted to school in her track suit ready for a day of sport and a sponsored mile run. Tonight, Sport Relief ambassadors and celebrities will be all over our TV screens.  But where does the huge amount of money raised actually go?

Well, Sport Relief funds are split 50/50 between overseas projects and funding initiatives and good causes right here in the UK.  Lots of them will be small, local organisations who are not well known outside of their local community, but who do vital work and deserve highlighting.

This week I had the opportunity to visit NOAH Enterprise, a local charity who provide support and assistance to some of the most disadvantaged in the community.  Dealing with a wealth of issues that come with homelessness, they offer a pathway to help people back onto their feet, and to re-start their lives.


Service users come along to the centre for basic needs such as a hot meal from the canteen or the evening soup kitchen; use of the showers and toilet facilities; use of the laundry; appointments with the visiting doctor and dentist; as well as specialist help dealing with housing departments; form filling; language skills; re-training; work experience; job-seeking advice; addiction recovery programs; and more holistic services such as art therapy and drama and music workshops to regain confidence and purpose.




The day centre is open every single day of the year and provides a final safety net for those who have fallen through all the cracks.  This is often the last point of refuge. 

You can tell, that this organisation uses every penny to the benefit of the people it supports.  They don't have plush offices, swish signage or fancy merchandise.  The centre is rough around the edges, but they don't waste money on unnecessary frippery.  The team work tirelessly to raise money in any way they can, tapping into local businesses to use their staff and skills.  They've had the MD of a local aviation firm come in and give invaluable advice on job-seeking, large fast-food outlets provide food to the canteen one day a week, and other firms have donated IT equipment and office furniture.

The problem of homelessness is a rising one.  The latest rough sleeper count in Luton where NOAH are based was 53.  The previous year it was 33.  The latest rough sleeper count in nearby Bedford where NOAH are starting to work was 51. The previous year it was 25.  Jim O'Connor the Chief Executive explained that this represented just the tip of the iceberg.  It doesn't take into account the huge numbers of sofa-surfers, those in temporary accommodation, those in hidden squats or those who sleep on the outskirts of the town centre such as the rising number of tent sleepers.

I used to work for a homeless charity and I know just how hard it is to raise funds.  Homelessness is not a sexy charity, and you have to work hard to compete with the big charities who have huge budgets for marketing campaigns and advertising.  Cancer charities for example are ones that everyone has some kind of personal connection to one way or another, but homelessness and addiction still has a stigma attached.  There's still a feeling amongst some members of the public that they've brought it on themselves - I can't tell you the amount of discussions I've had with people about this issue.

But I think now, opinions are changing.  The current benefit cuts and austerity measures have given a stark reminder that actually, most of us are only one or two pay packets away from being in the same situation.  The rise of food banks and the media coverage of that has opened up the conversation about poverty. Many of the people who use the day centre, have found themselves in a spiral of poverty brought on by just one or two life changes. A redundancy, a relationship breakdown, a bereavement or an illness can be all it takes to start this journey to homelessness.

The staff at the centre had organised some people for me to interview, but this is always tricky with the transient nature of the service users.  We weren't able to meet the lady I'd been expecting to meet, but what happened unexpectedly that day gave me much more of an insight into how NOAH works.

As we were standing chatting in the corridor, a woman walked by.  She stopped and reached out her hand to my face.  She was around my age, but her face was puffy from crying and she had a cut above her eye.  She then took hold of my hand and held it tight.  All I could do was squeeze hers back.  We stood for a few moments in silence, but I could see the desperation in her eyes.

When she spoke, tears spilled over.  She was imploring me to help her, but she spoke no English.  Communication was impossible and I've never felt so helpless.

Thankfully, there were staff on hand who could interpret.  While she asked for help, she never let go of my hand once.  It was such a personal moment of despair and I felt as though I was intruding, but for some reason she wanted to hold onto me.  All I could do was offer her a hug and hold her hand.  Maybe that's what she wanted?  Some human touch and interaction?

She spoke to the staff in her own language, admitting she was struggling with alcohol and asked for help to recover.  There was a flurry of activity as the guys started the ball rolling, and lots of gentle explanation of her need for commitment to a program.

Admitting an addiction problem is such a huge turning point in someone's life. I don't know what had happened to get her to that point, but clearly it was her moment.  The staff were not going to let that moment pass.  I know how difficult recovery is for anyone, but for someone living such a chaotic life, sleeping in a squat, miles away from her friends and family, I can't imagine how difficult her journey is going to be.  She now has the right support, and I hope with all my heart she makes it.

As I left the centre, I walked through the town to visit the NOAH Boutique charity shop to see their fundraising activities there.  The shop was calm and quiet, with volunteers steadily working away in the background stocking the store and serving customers - raising funds and gaining valuable work experience.

As I browsed the books, Amy Winehouse came on the radio.  Listening to the words of Rehab, the stark contrast struck me between the celebrated artists and 'tortured souls' who have a talent which brings them world-wide fame, and those who are completely unknown, ignored by almost everyone who passes them by on the street.  Sadly Amy Winehouse never overcame her addiction problems, I really hope the story with the lady I met turns out differently.


Sport Relief have given £30,000 over three years to support their work. This supports their art, music and drama workshops, as well as cookery lessons and running the food kitchen.  If you'd like to donate, you can sponsor the Team Honk challenge here.

19 comments:

  1. I'm actually sat here crying as I read that. Just last week I heard Justin Dealey on BBC3CR Breakfast talking about homelessness across the "three counties" and how the numbers of homeless have doubled recently in places like Luton and Bedford. They also interviewed a homeless man near their studios in Dunstable who was being supported amazingly well by the local population who were bringing him food, drinks and warm clothing. It's a heartbreaking story and as you say a charity that isn't sexy at all, but needs to compete with some of these "sexy charities" to raise desperately needed funds.

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  2. Well that made me weep. You have captured so beautifully why Sport Relief is so dear to so many of us. Supporting those little charities that dont have huge advertising budgets or well known celebs as spokespersons. Often in dreary offices in the cheaper end of town they are going about their hard work day in day out, helping those desperate for it.

    You felt helpless but do you know what, that hug would have meant something, and as you wont forget this lady, she wont forget you either. Knowing you were there to help, in the short term, longer term, who knows but right then she knew you had taken time out of your day to give her a hug. Never underestimate what that means to somebody

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  3. I am sitting here in tears.
    The work they do is so so important and a lifeline to many. People need to pay more attention to the smaller charities. Thank you so much for this post x

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  4. So sad, i often think that charity should be closer to home but you soon get shot in the foot, however this just proves that. Such a heart felt post.

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  5. There's a project like this where I live. I don't think people realise how close they are to homelessness themselves.

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  6. Having a home is such a basic thing isn't it? Shelter has been my husband's favourite charity for years and he supports them on a regular basis. I hadn't realised though that the figures were going up so much.

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  7. Wow what a thought provoking post, it is so easy to forget when you come home at night put on the heating and make dinner that it could all so easily be different. I often buy drinks for homeless people I see on the street, especially in the colder weather. It's not a big thing, it isn't life changing, but at least that person knows someone cares. This sounds like an amazing charity and worthy of the money from Sport Relief and more.

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  8. Some amazing work and clearly a business that prides itself on really helping those who need it. All the staff sound very capable and the story of the lady coming in with the alcohol issue is so moving, they are clearly a wonderful organisation. Off to sponsor Team Honk now.

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  9. It's really good that bloggers get to experience these places. I would have no idea how Sports relief money would be spent otherwise. Must make sure I donate now x

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  10. This is such an incredible project working on the front line of supporting those who need help the most. Thanks for sharing your valuable insight into the amazing work that they do x

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  11. We try really hard to give as much as we can to Sports Relief, Comic Relief and Children in need. They are charities that both my boys love to support, I loved seeing how the money was spent

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  12. Wow what a difference it makes having somewhere they can go for help, support and just some kindness, your post has moved me and made me realise just how important the work they do is x

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  13. What a moving post Liz!

    It was really interesting to read where our money gets spent and what a difference that we can make to people's lives.

    I just can't imagine what it must be like to be homeless and I hope I never have to experience it!

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  14. I see the homeless often on the way to work and I feel so sorry for them when its freezing.

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  15. What amazing work is going on. I was in the city back in January and I saw a man who was living on the streets. I popped into a nearby coffee shop and bought him a brew. He looked so shocked and thankful, but I couldn't see him sat in the cold and not get him a little something!

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  16. I love sport relief and comic relief and know of lots of local good causes they have helped. It is nice to know where all the money is going

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  17. I am aware that the homelessness numbers have been on the increase in Northern Ireland too. This is s sobering realisation and I do believe that raising awareness and fund for projects as NOAH is our duty. Thank you for a beautifully written post, hope the lady is safe and on her way to recovery.xx

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  18. Sport Relief is a great charity for this kind of thing! My husband used to work for a homeless charity too, I really remember him telling me about a guy showing him round his 'home' - it was a public toilet. Then some crack addicts made him leave that too. Pretty awful stuff so it's good to know small charities can still get financial help.

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  19. Wow...finding it really hard to put into words what you have captured and explained here. I find it absolutely shocking that the number of homeless people has basically doubled in a year and that those numbers may not even cover the extent. Amazing that charities like NOAH exist and are trying to make a difference to an awful situation.

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