SMART CJS NEWS BULLETIN JULY/AUGUST
SMART CJS continues to be influenced by the current pandemic and keeping everyone safe. Our services are in high demand, with more people than ever reaching out for support as a result of COVID-19.
CREATIVE FUNDRAISING BY KATIE!
“I thought I might be able to make a little money for charity by raffling off my most recent new products before they are released for sale. I wanted to help local smaller charities who’ve needed to adapt quickly during COVID, and I knew SMART had to make big changes to continue supporting the homeless of Bedford.”
GALE TRUST AWARDS SMART CJS £5,000 TO SUPPORT BEDFORD’S HOMELESS
Bedford based Gale Family Trust has awarded £5000 to SMART CJS. “Changes to the way we operate, longer hours and a rise in demand for our services means we require additional staff and more supplies. To maintain these changes, we need increased funding, which is why the money received from the Gale Family Trust is so important right now. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts”
YOUNG PEOPLE OF PRIORY HOSPITAL GET CREATIVE AND RAISE £250 FOR SMART PREBEND CENTRE
SMART CJS is delighted to have received a donation of £250 from the young people on the Priory Court and Lower Court wards of Priory Hospital, Roehampton. These wards care for young people with a wide range of mental health illnesses.
EXCITING VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY IN WOKINGHAM
SMART CJS is excited to offer a rewarding volunteering opportunity at SMART Wokingham’s Young Person’s Drug and Alcohol Service. You will need a strong desire to work with people up to the age of 18, supporting them to explore their substance use behaviours.
THANK YOU FROM SMART CJS’s CEO
“I have been overwhelmed by the support we have received over the past four months in Bedford; the local response to COVID-19 has been unbelievable. Communities have united to support SMART CJS and smash the SMART Prebend Centre emergency appeal target!
£25,000 SMART PREBEND CENTRE COVID-19 APPEAL TARGET SMASHED!
A message from Anita McCallum, SMART CJS CEO. “I am delighted to report that, thanks to the generosity and kindness of SMART CJS supporters, the SMART Prebend Centre emergency appeal has reached an amazing £26,500.”
WE ARE LOOKING FOR PASSIONATE PEOPLE TO BECOME SMART CJS TRUSTEES
In a recent survey it was reported that over eight in ten of those performing Trustee roles said that it made them happier and over one in five said that they got a promotion as a result of their service. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to bring their experience and knowledge to our board of trustees. The board is our governing body, providing strategy and direction and ensuring we’re run according to the rules.
SMART CJS NEWS BULLETIN MAY/JUNE
SMART CJS’s services continue to be heavily influenced by the current pandemic and keeping staff and users of our services safe. We continue to redesign how we work to keep helping those who need it – with ever-increasing demand from those who have been badly affected.
Panacea Trust Awards SMART CJS £20k to Help Fund Essential Homeless Services
SMART CJS is delighted to have been awarded a much-needed grant of £20,000 from the Panacea Charitable Trust, a charity based in Bedford. This fantastic contribution will help to cover, otherwise unfunded, staffing costs as they continue to deliver an emergency response to the outbreak of Covid-19 for Bedford’s homeless population.
Bedford Rotary Club Backs SMART Prebend Centre Emergency Appeal
Despite only being able to meet ‘virtually’ and not able to undertake their usual fundraising, the Bedford Rotary Club has awarded SMART CJS £2000 to help boost the SMART Prebend Centre Covid-19 emergency appeal.
SMART CJS wins £1,000 Movement for Good award
SMART CJS has won a £1,000 Movement for Good award thanks to nominations from our supporters. We are one of 500 winners in specialist insurer Ecclesiastical’s Movement for Good awards, which is giving £1million to charities this summer.
AGAINST THE ODDS – POSITIVE NEWS FROM SMART BEDFORD SERVICES
An update from SMART CJS’s CEO, Anita McCallum. Read about the positive results achieved by the SMART Bedford team, who have helped 48 homeless people into suitable accommodation, during this most challenging of times.
The Rotary Club of Bedford Park continue to Support Prebend Centre Through Tough Times
On 19th May 2020, The Rotary Club of Bedford Park showed their continued commitment to the SMART Prebend Centre by donating an extremely generous £2000, and it could not have come at a more crucial time.
SMART PREBEND CENTRE COVID-19 APPEAL UPDATE
Back in March, when the country went into lockdown, we realised that we were going to have a SHORTFALL of £25,000 in donations from the groups which normally meet and raise funds for our projects. We also anticipated additional money being required to relocate and change our service model. This is why we launched our emergency appeal, which, with your help, has raised £9,109 so far.
2 minutes could make a difference – Your nomination really counts!
£1,000 could make a big difference to the work we do at the SMART Prebend Centre. That’s why we’d be really grateful if you could nominate us in the Ecclesiastical Movement for Good awards. Your nomination could be the one that wins us £1,000!
HARPUR TRUST FUND SMART CJS WORKER WHO WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN FURLOUGHED
WONDERFUL NEWS – The Harpur Trust has awarded SMART CJS funding as part of the Bedfordshire Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund. The money is paying for a skilled worker for 3 months who would otherwise have been furloughed.
SMART CJS NEWS BULLETIN MARCH AND APRIL 2020
Read our latest news bulletin for March and April. This edition will look at the impact COVID-19 has had on SMART CJS’s services and how we have had to redesign how we work to keep helping those in need.
SMART CJS IMPACT REPORT 2019: EVOLVING IN DIFFICULT TIMES AND PROVING OUR WORTH
We are proud of our work and feel privileged to have the opportunity to help people to help themselves. We care greatly for all of our service users and are motivated to help them to succeed. The report includes some of their stories, along with facts and figures about our work. We hope that you find it informative and inspirational.
Understanding the Homeless and Rough Sleeper Community and COVID-19
Many questions are being asked about homelessness and COVID-19 right now, the answers to which are not always obvious and often complex. To help, we have produced a guide to understanding the Homeless and Rough Sleeper community and COVID-19.