Local Rotarians are appealing for support in their heightened efforts to meet growing homelessness in the region.
The fresh call follows The Rotary Club of Wylde Green’s latest donations to charity partners SIFA Fireside, based in Digbeth.
Since 2016, SIFA Fireside has been the central hub for adults experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, in Birmingham, supporting them through specialist hubs offering essential services and support, including twice-daily food provision for 170 people.
They also have a network of health workers who come to their centre each week to provide individual and specialist support in the areas of housing, finance and employment and access to an IT suite and even shower facilities.
Rotary’s hands-on and financial support over the past five years has come most recently in the form of winter clothing donations, working with local businesses, clubs and groups to provide coats, socks, scarves, shoes, underwear, towels and toiletries, including bench coats and training tops from Sutton Coldfield Town FC. as well as a new container to store them all in.
Previous support includes cooking and serving Christmas dinner and the donation of a piano which is proving both ‘popular and therapeutic.’
Spokesman for The Rotary Club of Wylde Green, Dick Elston, said: “For a number of years we’ve been committed to helping the sadly increasing number of homeless people in the West Midlands, incorporating rough sleepers, some who sleep in their car and those who “sofa surf.
“Over the last few years, we are proud to have donated many items they require and will continue to do so. As with many charities currently, they are desperate for more and more support, which prompted their latest campaign, Homelessness Doesn’t Take A Holiday.”
Melissa Roche, Head of Fundraising, Volunteering and Communications at SIFA Fireside, said: “Our summertime dip in donations is an issue we experience every year. And an increase in homelessness in Birmingham and across the UK means that more people are in need of our support services.
“SIFA Fireside continues to rise to the challenge and strives to provide high quality support to homeless and vulnerably housed adults in order to enable them to rebuild their lives.
“Many of our clients have moved on to more settled, healthier lives through our services, with some choosing to come back to us to either volunteer or work.”
She added: “The Wylde Green Rotary Club have been amazing supporters of SIFA Fireside stemming over the last number of years. Their continued support has never faltered with regular donations being delivered to our support centre and its members taking part in our volunteering programme.
“This generosity has enabled us to continue with the vital work we provide for people experiencing homelessness in the city. We’re so very grateful for this partnership and look forward to their continued support in the year ahead.”
For further information or to donate to SIFA Fireside’s campaign, visit: https://sifafireside.co.uk/
To learn more about the work of The Rotary Club of Wylde Green, visit: https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1725