• The ‘Hope Funds’ scheme is offering grants of up to £10k for projects working to alleviate homelessness in the East of England; • In the first round of funding in summer 2021, £96k in grants were awarded to 11 organisations in the region; • Applications are invited from registered charities, social enterprises, and community based not for profit ventures by 6 December 2021. ‘Hope Funds’, a scheme offering grants of up to £10k to support projects working to tackle homelessness in East Anglia, is once again open for applications – after £96k was awarded in the first round of funding. 11 organisations working to alleviate homelessness across East Anglia were the recipients of funding up to £10k this summer, and now applications are invited once more by projects which share the aims of Hopestead, the charity behind the grant scheme. Hopestead is looking to support organisations which can provide access to a safe place to live, tackle the causes and impacts of homelessness – as well as homelessness itself – or empower people who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness to take control and get past the challenges in their way. They are also keen to invest in projects which enhance communities, and give people connections to build relationships, solve problems and try new things to create a sense of belonging that makes a house a forever home. Applications are invited specifically from registered charities, social enterprises, and community based not for profit ventures, and grants are open to projects which share Hopestead’s aims. Hope Funds opened on 1 November and 6 December is the deadline for applications. Successful applicants will be announced on 20 December, and these projects will then be invited to submit full proposals by 24 January 2022. The funds will be granted in March 2022. The announcement of the latest round of Hope Funds grants is testament to Hopestead’s ethos to work collaboratively to achieve the charity’s ambitious goal of ending homelessness in the East of England. CEO Marie-Claire Delbrouque explained: “We’re so proud of the partnerships we’ve made since we launched in October 2020. We know that it is only through working together that we can make homelessness a rare, brief, and non-recurring event in people’s lives, and ensure that those moving into a property from a route of homelessness have everything they need to thrive. “There are so many incredible organisations and fantastic projects working to alleviate homelessness across our region, and through our Hope Funds grant scheme, we have an opportunity to support these great initiatives that are making such a vital difference. “Our first round of funding showed us just what an impact the Hope Funds grants can make, and I would urge eligible applicants to please do apply.” Organisations and projects wishing to apply for the Hope Fund grant scheme can do so here: Apply for funding – Hopestead Hope Funds previous recipients St Martin’s Housing Trust was amongst the recipients of the first round of Hope Funds grants and was awarded a grant to provide tenancy training for 32 people to aid the prevention of homelessness. Lucy Bone Head of Community Services at St Martins said: “We have been extremely fortunate to receive this funding. It gives us the opportunity to deliver training to the people we support to develop the skills needed to live independently in a safe and secure environment and to feel confident they can sustain this in the future.” Empanda, a CIC which offers community-based housing related support across Norfolk and day care services across Norfolk and Suffolk also received a grant. A representative of Empanda said: “The grant from Hopestead has enabled Empanda to access a small team of specialist counsellors able to respond quicker, and often more appropriately to the young persons’ needs assisting them to become more positive about their future. We know from experience that when a young person feels positive and in control of their life they are more likely to move on to permanent accommodation successfully and avoid the pitfall of repeat homelessness.” Another recipient was Village Orchard CIC, a not-for-profit organisation which provides personalised mental health support through one-to-one therapy sessions and group work. A spokesperson for Village Orchard explained how they would be using the grant: “We will be providing a 12-week closed therapy group for 6 to 8 participants, as well as 16 weeks of 1:1 therapy for 2 participants. The Village Orchard East CIC understands that homelessness can stem from trauma. We are so grateful to receive this funding and to have been granted the opportunity to provide this support for people who need it, thank you Hopestead!” Hopestead was also pleased to provide a grant to Norfolk Community Law service. A spokesperson for the service said: “The independent specialist Debt and Welfare Benefits advice and representation we can provide is quite literally life changing. The funding from Hopestead means we can help more people. People who have been made most vulnerable by society. On their behalf we say thank you.” And, The Horticulture Industry Scheme CIC (Thetford) received a grant and remarked: “We are so grateful to Hopestead for awarding us funding as part of their Hope Funds project. This funding will enable us to help ten households who have struggled with their gardens because of Covid-19. Our team of employees who have suffered difficulties such as homelessness will be working on this project to transform these householders’ gardens.”
