Centrepoint: Helping Homeless Young People

Following on from yesterday’s post about the homeless sleeping rough in the cold weather, I decided to research a little further about charities and organizations who help the homeless. I found Centrepoint, who focuses on young people.

Centrepoint provides a safe place to live for more than 1,000 young people, aged 16-25, in London and the North East of England. But Centrepoint is more than just a room. They support these young people into positive and independent living with health programmes, life skills and learning opportunities.

80,000 young people experience homelessness in the UK every year, which is a worryingly high figure. This number does not even take into account the 'hidden homeless', like sofa surfers and young people sleeping on night buses.

At Centrepoint, they believe that we should live in a society where all young people are able to realise their potential. Since 1969, they have helped over 75,000 homeless young people to do just that.

Through an award-winning approach to supporting homeless young people, collaborating with others and influencing government policy, Centrepoint strives to achieve their vision of ending youth homelessness.

Their work is supported by thousands of donors, hundreds of volunteers and HRH The Duke of Cambridge, who became their Patron in 2005.

You too can support the work of Centrepoint by:

·   Volunteering

·   Fundraising

·   Donating

·      Sponsor a room at Centrepoint for just 40p a day

·      Payroll Giving

·      Leaving a gift in your will

·      Leaving a gift celebrating the memory of a loved one

·      Through unwanted shares

·      Bursaries for studies

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” {Proverbs 19:17}

Snow Days: Help the Homeless Sleeping Rough

Today was a snow day at my school, so I stayed at home and had a (very productive!) duvet day. The bottom line is: I was warm and comfortable inside my house, under my duvet with cups of tea and central heating on.

It did make me think about those less fortunate, who might even be homeless, having to brave the elements with none of these comforts. It made me shudder to think about having to sit/sleep out in the snow, but the unfortunate truth is that there were many homeless people who had no other choice but to brave the elements.

I read a story today about how failures by two councils led to a homeless 16-year-old boy being forced to spend nine months living in a tent, sleeping rough and having to sell his belongings to survive. This situation was not even rectified when the snow came and the teenager had to sleep in his tent even in these sub zero conditions!

It absolutely broke my heart and left me thinking that there must be something that can be done and somewhere that a destitute teenager can turn to and actually be helped! I stumbled upon an organization called St Mungo’s, which has an initiative where you can tell them about a rough sleeper. They also have a website called Street Concern, which is St Mungo’s outreach service supporting people who are rough sleeping in London (Westminster, Ealing and Southwark), Bristol, and Reading. This site is useful for people wanting to help the homeless, or for people who are homeless and want to ask for help.

So, if you see someone sleeping rough, you can buy them a cup of tea/coffee and some hot food, maybe even a blanket, and then report them to an organization like St Mungo’s who can and will help!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” {Isaiah 1v17}

UnLtd: Supporting Social Entrepreneurs

Often, people have brilliant ideas and/or endless passion for being social entrepreneurs and making and impact on the world around them, but they are rendered useless due to a lack of cash flow. This is the gap that UnLtd aims to fill!

UnLtd is the leading provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK and offers the largest such network in the world. It resources hundreds of individuals each year through its core Awards programme. UnLtd operates a unique model by investing directly in individuals and offering a complete package of resources; from Awards of funding, to ongoing advice, networking and practical support.

UnLtd supports individuals who have their ventures firmly rooted in delivering positive social change. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (Harding and Harding 2008) found that there were 1.7m people leading social organisations in the UK. UnLtd resources community entrepreneurs to start-up; support those with more established ventures to scale up; and are committed to developing an eco-system of support to make it easier for those who need help to find it.

You can support UnLtd by partnering with them in the following ways:

·      Funders: If you have funds you’d like to use to create positive social impact, UnLtd can help by supporting Social Entrepreneurs.

·      Mentors: If you have specialist knowledge that you’d like to share with Social Entrepreneurs, UnLtd can help match you with the right individuals.

·      Research: If you’re interested in social entrepreneurs and wish to create research or resources to support them, UnLtd are open to collaborations.

·      Delivery: If you are embedded within a community and you’d like UnLtd’s help to support Social Entrepreneurs, UnLtd can help you by sharing our knowledge.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.” {2 Corinthians 8:12}

Joyce Meyer: blessing and encouragement

Today’s post is a bit of inspiration for anyone who is feeling discouraged and in need of a blessing! I have taken it from Joyce Meyer’s online daily devotional. I hope that it blesses and encourages you- Enjoy!

Expect the Blessings of God

by Joyce Meyer - posted January 19, 2013

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. —Psalm 27:14

Sometimes you may feel discouraged, miserable, and depressed. In those times you need to take a close look at what’s been going on in your mind. Isaiah 26:3 tells you when you keep your mind on the Lord you will have “perfect and constant peace.”

By focusing on the goodness of God and waiting, hoping, and expecting Him to encourage you and fill you with His peace and joy, you can overcome negative thoughts that drag you down.

Think and speak positively. Begin believing right now that you are about to see God’s goodness in your life. Wait, hope, and expect His blessings to be abundant in your life.

From the book Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2004 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” {Ralph Waldo Emerson}

CAF: tax effective giving

Tonight’s post is about making giving tax-effective through using a charity called CAF.

CAF, or Charities Aid Foundation, is a charity that aims to help donors and charities to be effective. They are dedicated to getting the best for other charities and their donors. 

For over 80 years, they have been finding the most effective and efficient ways to connect donors to the causes that matter to them and for money to get where it’s needed.

For charities, they provide: financial services, advice and donation processing, freeing them up to concentrate on the real work of making a difference.

Making an impact in the charitable sector is what drives CAF. That's why they have spearheaded many of the changes that make the UK one of the best giving environments in the world.

CAF can help you if you want to give as a company or give as an individual.

Click on the links below for more information on CAF’s: 

•               Mission

•               Governance

•               International network

•               Grant programmes

•               Policy and campaigns

•               Research

•               Career opportunities

So get in touch with CAF to help maximise your tax-effective giving!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” {Mother Teresa}

Bethany Hamilton: Soul Surfer

There is a film called Soul Surfer, which tells the true story of Bethany Hamilton. Bethany is a Christian, a surfer and an incredible inspiration and testimony!

Bethany’s story is an incredible one! She has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination, and hope. Born into a family of surfers, Bethany began surfing at a young age. At the age of eight, Bethany entered her first surf competition.

At the age of thirteen, on October 31, 2003, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. The attack left Bethany with a severed left arm. After losing over 60% of her blood, and making it through several surgeries without infection, Bethany was on her way to recovery with an unbelievably positive attitude. Lifeguards and doctors believe her strong water sense and faith in God helped get her through the traumatic ordeal.

Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water to continue pursuing her goal to become a professional surfer. In January of 2004, Bethany made her return to surf competition; placing 5th in the Open Women’s division of that contest. With no intention of stopping, Bethany continued to enter and excel in competition. Just over a year after the attack she took 1st place in the Explorer Women’s division of the 2005 NSSA National Championships – winning her first National Title.

In 2007, Bethany realised her dream and turned pro!- something seemingly impossible for someone with only one arm!

In 2004, Bethany shared her life story in her autobiography entitled Soul Surfer. Seven years later, the book was made into a major motion picture bearing the same title which released theatrically in April, and for home entertainment in August, 2011.

Bethany’s story is continually growing as she strives to be the best at whatever God calls her to do. The future is truly wide open for this young soul surfer!

Watch the trailer of Soul Surfer, buy the DVD, the Soul Surfer book, or other inspirational books by Bethany and her family! You can also watch Bethany’s testimony on I am Second (a must see!), which hosts an incredible archive of testimonies of people (celebrities) who are living second and excelling against the odds! Next time you feel discouraged, useless, or uninspired, go to I am Second and watch some of the incredible seconds!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“I don’t want easy. I just want possible.” {Bethany Hamilton}

Christine Caine and Francis Chan: Get Personal!

I was working late tonight, so I decided to listen to some talks by some of my favourite speakers while I worked. I was really inspired by two in particular, so I thought I would share them.

I searched for Christine Caine and found a talk that she did at Passion 2012 about making a difference. After this, I found a video by Francis Chan (from the same conference) entitled Just Do It.

Both of these talks where focused on loving others through action and how we have to make things personal for them to really take effect in our hearts. Christine and Francis both talk about how 27 million modern day slaves is a massive statistic, but how it has so much more impact when you meet that one person who has suffered / is suffering, or when you think of it in terms of your own life: your friends and family, your children, or even you yourself could easily have been one of those 27 million!

Both of these talks left me with a real need and drive to become more active in fighting for the rights of those who are trapped in modern day slavery and subject to terrifying, brutal and often fatal journeys into the dark underworld of human trafficking that is still very much alive in this day and age.

I encourage you to listen to both talks on YouTube:

·      Christine Caine: Make a difference!

·      Francis Chan: Just Do It

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” {John 15v13}