Homeless Street Angels is still shining through adversity, its efforts throughout the pandemic having earned it the justly deserved award for Charitable Business of the Year. Homeless Street Angels.
COVID resulted in the loss of many of its critical funding streams, forcing the homeless charity to adapt to survive as it continues to provide vital support to the community.
“We have had to be creative looking at different ideas for fundraising,” says co-founder Becky Joyce. “Relying mostly on digital avenues to help us continue our vital work, the demand for our services has increased dramatically as vulnerable communities have been affected throughout the pandemic.”
The charity’s focus shifted from a general outreach service and grew to incorporate a food bank, enabling it to deliver its services in new ways: “Working alongside other council groups has resulted in a streamlined support network of rehousing, advice, and food support,” says co-founder Shelley Joyce. “We now have over 118 families we are supporting, and the figures are increasing on a daily basis. We have found an amazing increase of support from our local community in Alwoodley, with donations of food and clothes flooding in, which has enabled us to continue throughout the pandemic.
“The community has even donated towards a local electrical box which has been designed with our logo as a standing reminder of how far we have come and what we still have to achieve. We have also just received the Yorkshire Choice Charitable Business of the Year 2020 award. Our team of volunteers has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, and as a charity we are becoming stronger than ever.”