Having previously offered a glimpse into Marc and Jason’s visit to the Hope Centre, we thought it would be valuable to provide a deeper insight into the work the staff and volunteers do there, how the centre works and Marc and Jason’s thoughts following their visit.
What is the Hope Centre?
Based in Ash Street, Northampton, The Hope Centre is a mini community centre for individuals who need support and positivity. People can come in, sit down, and have a chat over a warm drink and a sandwich.
The volunteers at the Hope Centre work incredibly hard to get people on the straight and narrow so they can better themselves and move on. They provide sessions to improve CVs and get jobs, help with applications and training on other skills, including woodwork, cookery and crafts.
It is a safe place where people can take showers, get cleaned up and spend the night if they have nowhere to sleep.
The centre is also home to a community larder – a membership programme that provides access to donated and surplus food at discounted rates. The larders are run by volunteers who are committed to getting food to those in our communities facing hardship.
What was the purpose of our visit?
Having launched our charity recommendation incentive scheme earlier this year, Marc and Jason wanted to drop off the first £250 donation in person to see the centre’s fantastic work with their own eyes.
Marc said of the visit: “Visiting the Hope Centre was a massive eye-opener in terms of what the charity does. It’s much more than just a food bank; it’s an organisation that supports people who desperately need it”.
Jason added to this by saying: “It really is a pathway to get people back on their feet. They provide skills for work and people to talk to, including counsellors. It was such a humbling experience to meet people on the other side, hear their success stories and see where they are now”.
What did we see during our visit?
During the visit, Marc and Jason were taken around the two Hope Centre buildings by Tanya Haji-Miller, the centre’s Community and Events Fundraiser.
The original building on Ash Street is home to their “warm space” area, where people can come in and purchase low-cost hot drinks and food from the cafe. It’s a space to come out of the cold and chat with like-minded people.
Additionally, this building is home to the administrative offices, ensuring the smooth operation of the team’s initiatives.
Nestled within the Oasis House on Campbell Street, the second space has a vibrant atmosphere. Downstairs contains a large cafe area with an outdoor area. It’s a social space where people can grab something to eat or drink, charge their phones, and receive support.
Venturing upstairs, Marc and Jason were shown around a respite area, offering shelter for those experiencing homelessness and providing a safe place to spend the night.
How often will we make donations?
The team plans to visit the Hope Centre every quarter and drop off any donations in person. We will bank them so they build up, and then go to the centre to catch up with the volunteers and see where the money is going.
As we previously mentioned, the £250 donation would provide:
- Breakfast, hot lunch and drinks all day for 35 rough sleepers and sofa surfers
- 4 hours of specialist counselling for those suffering from problems with drugs and alcohol or mental health, or debt management support for those in need
- 10 emergency welfare packs for someone facing homelessness
- Food staples for a week for up to 10 families struggling to pay for food.
Reinforcing our dedication
Visiting the Hope Centre cemented Marc and Jason’s commitment to the charity recommendation incentive scheme as they saw with their own eyes the benefit it has on the local community.
Marc said: “We were blown away by the fantastic work. You don’t realise how much they do until you go there and physically see how they help people. It made me think about how lucky I am and how Insight Wealth can be a force for good by continuing to make donations going forward”.
It goes without saying that we couldn’t make these donations without our wonderful clients who have recommended us. A heartfelt thank you extends to each person who referred us to their friends and family throughout 2023, enabling us to contribute generously to an exceptional local charity.
