Churches can help us in a variety of ways. These include:

• Holding regular collections of tinned foodstuffs, basic toiletries and cleaning materials which go into our Emergency Support Packs
• Making a financial donation
• Holding a Homelessness Sunday event
• Co-opting a person onto our Management Committee
• Inviting someone from KEY to speak at their services
• Trying to do something about homelessness in their area or parish
• Praying for the homeless and for those who are trying to help them

Emergency Support Packs are provided to young people who may be taking up their first tenancy and have little to start with or to a young person who finds him/herself with very little money and unable to buy food in the short-term whilst waiting for their first wage or benefits being sorted out.

Each pack that we put together contains approximately £25 worth of goods.

During the last twelve months we have provided over fifty packs to vulnerable and needy young people who have all been greatly appreciative. Without the help of the churches throughout South Tyneside we would be unable to provide this valuable service.

Financial Donations help us provide a small grants bursary fund enabling young people to undertake training and educational opportunities not provided through the mainstream. Many young people receiving grants from us have got jobs as a direct result of a grant being made to them. Donations also go towards helping us develop and sustain South Tyneside Action for Youth Network (S.T.A.Y.) which aims to help voluntary and statutory organizations work more closely in dealing with the needs of vulnerable and homeless young people in the area.

Homelessness Sunday is an annual event to raise awareness about homelessness and the plight of homeless people. We provide resource materials to help churches make homelessness an important part of their worship. Homelessness Sunday takes place on Sunday 29 January 2006. If you are willing to hold an event in your church please let us know. We may also be able to provide a speaker. Homelessness Sunday is also a good time to think about fundraising to help us in our work.

A Local Project which seeks to understand how big a problem homelessness is in a particular area can be a great place to begin doing something positive about the situation. You could even look at ways of involving homeless people in what you are doing. It need not be something hugely complicated. Why not contact us to find out more? We may be able to provide help and support in establishing a local project!

Management Committee provides opportunities for people from churches to become involved in doing something practical about homelessness. Contact us to find out how you can become involved.