We’re over the moon to share that last year’s Winter Appeal exceeded expectations, and then some, all thanks to you and your continued support.
Thanks to the extraordinary support and generosity of our supporters, an unbelievable £76,000 was raised last winter and festive season, enough to fund the costs of our day centre premises for more than 18 weeks! This means that we can continue to provide young people experiencing homelessness with a safe and supportive space to shape their future.
In our appeal, we shared Martin’s story. When Martin first came to us at the Clock Tower Sanctuary, he was struggling with many different aspects of his life. His mental health was suffering badly and substance misuse was a real problem for him. Martin had been sleeping in car parks with just scraps of cardboard for a bed. His life seemed out of control and he knew he had to make a change.
We sat down with Poppy, CTS staff member and Martin’s caseworker, who shared this update on Martin and his progress since he came through our front doors for the very first time.
“I first started working with Martin by talking in the day centre over lunch. He was rough sleeping at the time, and he showed an interest in caseworking. After getting him into supported accommodation, I realised it would take a joint effort to support Martin, and we started to build a team around him and organise monthly multidisciplinary team meetings.
“Martin responded really well to someone validating his emotions and believing in him. I used motivational interviewing techniques to support him towards his goals. His previous convictions and substance misuse history meant that he couldn’t see his nephews. A huge goal for Martin was to look after himself and stay stable so he could attend his nephew’s first birthday. I’m so proud to say he did that, and he was able to celebrate with his family – it was a huge moment for Martin, all his hard work and resilience paid off.
“My caseworking sessions with Martin have come to a natural end; he’s feeling stable and doesn’t currently need weekly support. I will be here for him if his circumstances change, but this is a great sign that he is confident about his future.”
Your support is changing the lives of young people like Martin. At a time when costs continue to increase, both for small charities like us and the young people we support, your support means more to us than ever. CTS receives no statutory funding, which means that our services, support, and safe space remain accessible thanks to generous people like you. If you can, making a regular donation can ensure we can plan for the future and support young people experiencing homelessness, helping them move from crisis to stability.
Thank you for continuing to support the Clock Tower Sanctuary, so that young people experiencing homelessness in Brighton & Hove have the support, services, and safe space they need. You can read all about the difference you’re making in our 2024 Impact Report.