GY10K: Helping vulnerable people
Harbour Place, which opened in Grimsby in 1996, helps some of the most vulnerable people in our society. It is the only local homeless charity providing a night shelter for those needing a bed, operating 365 days a year.
Homelessness statistics in North East Lincolnshire remain consistently above the national average – but homelessness is, of course, so much more than just a number in a newspaper headline or media report, and that’s why Harbour Place works so hard in raising the profile of the issue and forging positive change.
The organisation is one of seven benefitting from this year’s Ørsted Great Grimsby 10k, of which we are a sponsor. As reported, we are hosting the St Hugh’s Hospital Family Fun, too.
And our involvement with Harbour Place runs much deeper than this; 2022 marks a 26-year partnership between us. Each Monday our kitchen staff prepare and deliver food directly to the shelter in Hope Street, Grimsby. This has never stopped during the pandemic, despite the charity’s night service having to temporarily close. This allowed it to still provide essential food and its rough sleeper outreach services during the daytime through a challenging time.
“Homelessness and poverty are interlinked. Research shows that a lack of permanent accommodation impacts on a person’s emotional well-being, their sense of identity and of belonging. It also prevents them from putting down roots,” says the charity.
“Our service users face a variety of challenges that prevent or create obstacles to finding permanent accommodation. We opened our doors in December 1996 with the aim of helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society and in 2011 we started operating an Outreach team.
The Street Outreach Team works closely with rough sleepers, building relationships and trust to form a base that allows positive change to happen.
In September 2018 we moved into the Hope Centre on Hope Street, this move gave us the opportunity to further develop and extend our services, including the area’s first full-time night shelter facility.
“It operates 365 days a year providing accommodation each evening in a supportive and supervised environment. The shelter, outreach and support activities give our service users a comprehensive support network.
“In order to deliver the service, we have highly motivated staff, a bank of volunteers and a dedicated group of trustees. This commitment is entrenched throughout the organisation and allows us to ensure that the most vulnerable in our community receive the best support possible to bring about positive changes to their lives.”
And of course, the charity needs funding to do this. It receives support from a combination of donations, grants, and fundraising. That’s why the contribution being made by the Ørsted Great Grimsby 10k will mean so much.
Organised overall by Tape2Tape, the much-loved road race is taking place on Sunday, June 5, and the St Hugh’s Family Fun Run is making a welcome return. Whether you are an avid runner or have recently taken up the sport or want to have a fun day out with family and friends, don’t delay and sign up today.
Enter our fun run here: www.tape2tape.co.uk/events/st-hughs-hospital-great-grimsby-family-fun-run-2022.
Enter the Great Grimsby 10k road race here: tape2tape.co.uk/events/great-grimsby-10k-3. There is a virtual option if you’re not quite ready to return to a live event, to run in your own time and wherever you feel safe.
Watch this space for more spotlights on the worthy causes set to benefit. A £1 donation is made from every race entry into a fund shared between each of them. Any local business who would like to support the event in some way can get in touch with the organisers at nicola@tape2tape.co.uk
Find out more about Harbour Place, the work it does, and how you might be able to get involved at harbourplacegrimsby.org.uk