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. The worker, based at the SMART’s temporary hotel accommodation for the homeless and rough sleeping community of Bedford, will be delivering essential services including meals and access to health, benefits, and housing support.
SMART CJS’s CEO, Anita McCallum explains “This vital role forms part of the team who are working 24/7 to protect up to 70 rough sleepers from developing COVID-19, and potentially more severe complications given their vulnerable health. Working together with our incredible volunteers, the Kings Arms Project and Bedford Borough Council we are proud to be protecting our community and our NHS. Sincere thanks to all who are making this possible.”
More information can about the Harpur Trust emergency grants can be found here.
Can you help?
The SMART Prebend centre for the homeless of Bedford is currently closed and services are operating from temporary hotel accommodation. Many of the centre’s ongoing donations are made by local groups (churches, clubs etc) who meet regularly to fundraise. Due to current lockdown restrictions, those groups have been unable to meet and the centre has been left without much of this vital funding.
SMART’s Emergency COVID-19 Appeal has been launched to replace lost donations due to the current crisis and to provide essential services from our emergency rough sleeper base. Thanks to incredible generouity from supporters of the centre they have raised almost £9,000 to hit the £25,000 target! WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO KEEP GOING!
PLEASE DONATE TO HELP TO KEEP OUR WORKERS SAFE AND SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE PREBEND CENTRE
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