Leamington-based homeless charity celebrates milestone birthday

A Leamington-based homelessness charity celebrated a milestone birthday this week by thanking its supporters.

The Salvation Army’s Way Ahead Project, which provides advice and support to the homeless and vulnerably housed community in Leamington and the surrounding areas, marked its 21st birthday on Thursday (December 3) by staging its first ever 'thank-a-thon'.

The 'thank-a-thon' involved staff, volunteers and service users speaking to as many supporters as possible in 210 minutes, on the phone or by sending personalised emails.

Stephanie Jackson, fundraiser at the Way Ahead Project, said: “We had great plans to mark this special anniversary with celebratory events and a fundraising campaign throughout the year, but of course, that has all had to change.

“Then we realised that the most important thing is that, 21 years on, our doors are still open and we are still helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community to turn their lives around.

"Last year, we supported 374 individuals, a 55 per cent increase over the previous three years.

"With 21 years’ experience under our belts, we are now better placed than ever to make sure we provide the help and support that is needed for these individuals, when it is needed and for as long as it is needed.

“We wouldn’t be in that position if we hadn’t had the financial support of so many wonderful people and organisations, especially this year – we needed to make sure they realise just how much we appreciate them."

The Way Ahead Project has always been the outreach programme of the Salvation Army in Leamington, although it is now independently funded.

When it first opened in 1999, it focused on providing information to the homeless community and getting people into accommodation.

Now, the focus for the project is on building relationships so that the underlying causes of homelessness, such as addictions, mental health issues and destructive relationships, can be tackled leading to individuals being able to maintain long-term tenancies and contribute back to their community and wider society.

To find out more about the Way Ahead Project, go to: https://wayaheadprojectsa.org/