Open Hands Project Charity Organization In Sheffield
Who we are
Registered Charity No:1121814
We are a group of Christians in Sheffield who have been moved over the past few years by the plight and needs of failed asylum seekers for whom all means of support, including accommodation have been withdrawn.
We have observed that a piecemeal approach is insufficient to deal with the various crises asylum seekers face regularly in their daily lives. Thus we decided that a more structured and co-ordinated response was necessary which would also demonstrate the love of God to those in real need in our own city.
The initial group who have initiated this are members of the All 1 Cluster, a group within St Thomas’ Church, Philadelphia. The Cluster comprises different nationalities within the church, of which a number are refugees or asylum seekers. Each Cluster is divided into smaller units, which usually meet weekly, called Small Groups. One of these Small Groups has been responsible for establishing this project.
The aims of the charity
Our aim as a charitable limited company is to provide accommodation and support for those asylum seekers who find themselves isolated and destitute in Sheffield. Initially we have rented one house , accommodating three persons, to be called ‘guests’.
We do recognise however that providing housing alone will be insufficient. As detailed below, a small weekly personal allowance is given to each guest together with pastoral support.
Activities in carrying out the aims
(a) Accommodation
The accommodation is a three bedroom, terraced house in a residential area of Sheffield.
The house has been occupied by three guests since 1st October 2007. We approached a Sheffield charity called Assist to invite it to place three suitable guests in the property from amongst its beneficiaries.
Our charity will use the contacts and experience of Assist, who have acquired considerable skills in working with and supporting destitute asylum seekers. The accommodation committee of Assist were responsible for the allocation of the initial guests.
Two of the initial guests have been able to secure some support from the Government and have moved out and other guests have moved in to ensure the house is fully utilised.
St Thomas’ church, Philadelphia and the Kings Centre, Nether Edge have been very supportive of the aims of the charity.
To help the charity to meet our monthly costs , the main one being the monthly rent , we are seeking to secure the support of some 60 people to covenant donations at £10 per month. Many of the standing orders we are receiving are in excess of £10 per month. Currently our monthly income does not match our outgoings but the initial gifts received have given us a foundation to build upon.
(b) Food, fellowship and support
However it is not just money we are seeking. We wish to get others involved particularly in the pastoral side by inviting guests around for meals, provision of food parcels etc. In due course we also want to provide daytime activities.
Future plans from 2008/9
The charity is also committed to encouraging other churches to get involved. In this way, we love to rent a second house to accommodate and assist destitute asylum seekers.
We intend to approach a larger church to take on responsibility for another house with their members providing the pastoral support and enabling the guests to make use of the structured day time activities we plan to establish, as indicated above.
Smaller churches or even small groups within churches , who may not be in a position to raise the finance for a whole house , will be encouraged to take on financial responsibility for one guest and with a number of such offers, we would be in position to take on a third house.
Registered Office: 6,GILPIN STREET,SHEFFIELD S6 3BL
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Company Details:
- Company name: OPEN HANDS PROJECT (SHEFFIELD)
- Charity number: 1121814
- Company no: 6368608
- Company telephone number: 0114 2367621 or 0114 241 9560
- Mobile: 07977 157494
- Email: Jonathan@openhandsproject.co.uk
Company Trustees:
- Chair Jonathan Bennett
- Treasurer: Ali King
- Nikki Foote
- Nick Allen
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