Supporting Charities

I am a great believer in giving to charity. I support several financially by standing order from my bank, but there are other ways of giving that don’t involve your purse. Donating items to your favourite charity shops is a wonderful way of recycling, as well as helping them to raise money, and providing affordable items and clothes for those who are struggling.

Unfortunately, as much as I’d love to be able to do more, I cannot give to everyone, but the charities I support have meaning for me. My mum had dementia, which is why the Alzheimer’s Society are on my list. The community arm of my church has Youth and Families Matter, which supports the people in and around Totton in a variety of ways. Part of what they do is the community café and toybox at The Chapel. If you are ever in Southampton, it’s worth a visit for the cakes alone!

The charity that I am mostly involved in is Fledge. This is a charity based in Eastleigh, so fairly close to me, who provide supported housing for homeless young people.

My eyes were opened to the issue of homelessness when I was a TA in my local secondary school. One of the books we read in the English class was called Stone Cold by Robert Swindells. The story is a tense thriller about a serial killer preying on young homeless people. It left me appalled at the vulnerability of young people who end up on the streets, and a desire to do something about it.

I first got involved with Fledge some years later when I was approached by one of the founders, Mark Cheshire. A good friend and work colleague, he asked if I would be willing to help them out by taking the minutes at their Trustee meetings bi-monthly. None of them wanted to do it and I was happy to do such a small thing to help them out. It just so happened that my first meeting was also the one where our current CEO, Nerissa Dean, was introduced.

At the time, all we had were dreams and some ideas about how best to support the increasing number of young people in the area who were sofa-surfing or homeless. The idea was to provide a place to live while supporting and mentoring them as they applied for a more permanent place and learnt to live independently.

Unexpectedly in 2015, trustees were offered a property with five rooms which could be used to house people for six months until follow on accommodation could be found. It was a great leap of faith, but the trustees decided to accept the offer.

I then started helping out once a week with admin as well as craft activities with the four girls who were our first clients.

Since then, Fledge has acquired more houses as well as purpose-built flats for those who were ready to be more independent. Recently, we have been able to take possession of a floor in Smith-Bradbeer house on the main High Street in Eastleigh, which is being fitted out for offices for the growing staff team of support workers, meeting rooms for 1-1’s and groups, an area for residents to socialise, and rooms for skills-based activities such as cooking and sewing. This is incredibly exciting as we will finally have office accommodation which is fit for purpose as well as room for growth. Although, having seen how Fledge has blossomed over the years, I can’t imagine it will take long to fill the extra space!

Volunteers are essential for the charity. We have people who help keep the gardens tidy in the residences we lease, and many of them are going to be involved in painting the new rooms and offices. We have had fund-raisers who have been amazing. Most recently, a ten-year-old boy, Joe, did a junior triathlon to raise money for us.

When I look back at that first meeting, and see what has been achieved since then, I am blown away. The charity has evolved into one that makes a huge difference to the lives of young people in Eastleigh, working closely with the borough council to tackle such a desperate problem. Despite having increased our housing potential with new properties, we still have a waiting list of those who are desperate to find somewhere to live, with people who can support them, help them with form-filling and health issues, encourage them to learn and grow, and give them hope.

I’m proud to be associated with them.

What charities do you support?