Q&A with Paul Young, Co-Founder & CEO, Off The Fence
What do you think is the charity’s greatest achievement over the past 25 years?
Off The Fence has been helping the most vulnerable in Brighton & Hove since 1997. In that time we have supported tens of thousands of rough sleepers, thousands of vulnerable women and more than 100,000 school children. We have raised and spent over £9 million to do this. Last year when our Gateway Women’s Centre in Portslade was put up for sale we took the decision to raise the money to purchase and then double it in order to increase its capacity by 50%.
What projects are Off The Fence running at the moment?
Off The Fence Trust continues to act in a practical and supportive way to rehabilitate the homeless, at risk and disadvantaged communities of Brighton and Hove - helping individuals who are facing crisis situations with little or no support. 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. Our mission remains: Resisting poverty. Empowering people. Restoring hope.
Are there fewer people sleeping on the streets since the lockdowns?
Good question! Sadly not, as the ‘Everyone in’ initiative has come to the end of its funding.
Most homeless people don’t sleep on the streets – they find safer, more secluded places. We know where and how to find them. Moving the problem off the streets during lockdown was a short term fix which meant that the issue morphed into social isolation, loneliness and mental illness instead.
Lockdown has shown that the prevention of homelessness saves £000s. It costs on average £22k a year to house someone compared with around £4k to assist them into independent living.
How are you celebrating your silver anniversary?
We have our anniversary event in June, a celebration service in the Autumn and are currently planning a major music event with the involvement of significant local artists. In July we will host the official opening of our new Gateway building and extension. A full events calendar can be found on our anniversary web page. www.offthefence.org.uk/25years
Brighton & Hove is one of the strongest communities in the UK because there is a rich seam of compassion and care for others running through it. That includes your readers..
Do you need any volunteers?
Whatever people’s skills, experience or motivation, there is a role for you. We are actively seeking volunteers with outreach skills, mental health experience, teaching, admin, events and corporate backgrounds.
For more information on volunteering or to donate, please visit www.offthefence.org.uk/volunteer