Boxers and sleeping bags from The Ruia Group (Sockshop)
Just what the doctor ordered. In the new normal of horrible weather in Springtime, the Ruia Group’s donation of 250 sleeping bags and hundreds of boxers (of the underwear variety, not the dog!) were especially welcome. …and all the way from Bolton too!
Superheroes Lawton & Dawe channel their support for Off the Fence
Our favourite estate and letting agency braved the waves again on the 20th December in order to raise funds for our work. Quite apart from looking after our Intern House, the intrepid agents for change like to support our work - and took to the bitterly cold waves for literally minutes before running back onto the beach at Hove in pursuit of towels.
We do so appreciate this bravery. In fact, it gives us goose bumps just thinking about it!
Barbour helps to make rough sleeping a little less rough
Barbour ensures that our clients are coated with kindness..
Jacket manufacturer puts a protective wrap around the homeless in Brighton.
Barbour is best known as a British luxury, lifestyle clothing brand.
It dates back to 1894 and is world renowned as a ‘by Royal appointment’ designer and manufacturer of waxed cotton outerwear, ready-to-wear, clothing, footwear and accessories.
But now, it will also be known in the city of Brighton & Hove as the provider of warmth and protection in extreme weather conditions for rough sleepers who are experiencing something less than a James Bond lifestyle.Off the Fence Trust were surprised and delighted to hear from Barbour that they would to supply 50 of their in-demand jackets for the charity to distribute to the homeless this Summer in Brighton. T
he usual donation consists of hand me downs and surplus clothing that might be comfortable and offer protection but will not add a sense of self-esteem.Recipients of these jackets will feel that they regarded as important and deserve the best that money can buy.
Founder and CEO of the charity, Paul Young, is thrilled by this unexpected donation, “In the 25 years that we have operated in Brighton & Hove we have never received a gift of this kind. Looking at the Barbour website and seeing people like Kate Middleton and Daniel Craig endorsing and wearing jackets like these gives everyone here a renewed sense of worth. We are so grateful to the team at Barbour for not only protecting the homeless but making them feel like they really are important too.”
For over 20 years Off The Fence has been working in the Brighton and Hove area with the area’s most vulnerable people, tackling social and spiritual poverty, and helping members of the community who are facing crisis situations with little or no support. Its priority is to provide a practical, emotional and psychological safety net for the socially excluded in Brighton & Hove.
To this end, Off The Fence operates three projects: Antifreeze, a day centre for the homeless - part of an emergency outreach to rough sleepers: a schools programme for 6-18 year olds; and Gateway, a women’s centre supporting women in crisis.Its mission can be summarised as: Resisting poverty. Empowering people.
Restoring hope.These jackets symbolise those aims.
Lawton and Dawe’s Dino Dip!
Staff from Lawton and Dawe braved treacherous conditions to raise money for Off The Fence. Dressed up in dinosaur costumes, seven of them went into the very rough sea on a very chilly afternoon and raised a fantastic £940! Events like this make such a difference to the homeless in winter. Thank you!
Electrolux kits out our van
It all begins with an idea.
Last year, Electrolux kitted out our van with two washing machines and two dryers so that we could provide a laundry service to the homeless community of Brighton and Hove.
Carden’s winnings from Metro Bank Pool League
It all begins with an idea.
On December 11th, Vikki from Carden’s Accountants and Business Advisors was delighted to hand Donna a cheque that the Cardens pool team had won by participating in the Metro Bank Pool league!
Co-Op Community Fund raises over £4000
It all begins with an idea.
A huge thankyou to the cop-Op and to those who nominated us! through their community fund, we were given just over £4000!
Sutton Winson, Sawyer and co. and Nationwide all join us for The Big Sleep Out!
It all begins with an idea.
What do four insurance brokers, three bank staff, three estate agents, and three ministers of religion have in common?
They all slept outside for one night to raise money for those who sleep outside every night.
As the temperature dropped to a seriously chilly five degrees, the intrepid crew from Sutton Winson, Sawyer and Co and Nationwide, alongside staff and volunteers from Off The Fence, set up camp for the night (each group covertly competing with the estate agents to build the best shelter). Most of them got some sleep but everyone was surprised just how hard it was.
The event was described as ‘definitely an eye-opener’. One attendee commented on how aware she was of every noise around her. She said that while they were sleeping in a secure school playground, it really brought home how hard it must be for those sleeping in dangerous locations across the city, and how hard it would be to function the following day.
Local vicar Dan Henderson said,
“I knew it would be cold, but I didn’t know just how uncomfortable sleeping on cardboard would be. Going to work the next day was hard, but then 1 in 6 of the homeless are working, so it was good to have an insight into that.”
Tabitha from Sawyer and Co. said,
“To everyone who donated, you have no idea how much your money does help. So thank you.”
Cancom – plugging into the feel good factor
OTF Corporate partner Cancom seeks to level the economic playing field
Conveniently based near the Cricket Ground in Hove, International IT company Cancom is a great ambassador for the life enhancing benefits of cloud-based working and cutting edge digital solutions. Fortunately for Off The Fence they are also huge advocates of corporate social responsibility - and even better enjoy a challenge!
Recently a team from Cancom joined our own Roy Stannard to abseil down the British Airways i360 to raise funds to support Off The Fence. Their camaraderie and commitment to making a difference in our city was a pleasure to watch.
This advocacy for the less advantaged in our City is obvious and filters down from UK and Ireland MD Martin Hess, who has encouraged his staff to participate in a variety of activities that support social justice.
Martin had this to say recently when asked about the strong DNA that runs through the company.
“We work very closely with our local homeless charity Off The Fence Trust so they can help the vulnerable and homeless people access the expertise and the support that they need. Their important work is the key to helping people turn their lives around long term.
Together we use our voice to create real, lasting change through a wide range of exciting activities that both engage our employees and raise vital funds.”
Off The Fence relies on support like this - but we also have a blast organising and participating in these events. If your company has an aspiration to jump, dip, parachute, walk, run or just about anything else please get in touch with Karla Hancock, our Corporate & Community Lead via: karla.hancock@offthefence.org.uk
Astaris: a company that cares
It all begins with an idea.
The relationship with Astaris - who specialise in complex hospitality IT support, came about almost by accident. Except, of course, we don’t believe in accidents. MD Sacha and husband Ivan’s daughter Kiki (who attends St Christopher’s Schhool in Hove - another great supporter btw) wanted to bake some cakes for the homeless. Due to the onset of Covid-19 this wasn’t possible, so we suggested a ‘Give us a Hand’ Glove Campaign which produced hundreds of pairs of gloves for rough sleepers. Afterwards, Sacha and I got talking and the upshot was that Astaris offered to adopt us as their local charity. Since then we have transitioned as an organisation to Microsoft 365/Sharepoint Cloud-based working, become a Google Not for Profit and Microsoft charity partner, equipped all our staff with remote working facilities and their own laptops and replaced the spaghetti junction horrorshow that claimed to be our computer network with a nice neat cabinet. Astaris staff have visited the office, have become firm friends and have sympathetically assisted less technical members of staff who may be stuck in the analogue/digital no man’s land.
Definitely one of the best things to happen for us as a charity in 2020 - and a crucial step forward because of the social restrictions we now have to work within.
If you don’t have or don’t like your own IT support company do talk to Ivan, Sacha, Anton, Rachael or any of the rest of the crew at Astaris in Shoreham.