Dear Friends
As our wonderful supporters, I am sure many of you are informed about the visibility and invisibility of people’s lives on the street. However, you may not know as much about the bouncing emotions around our Project every day.
The majority of people we support have mental health illnesses either related to multiple traumatic childhood and life experiences – often resulting in diagnosed personality disorders and post-traumatic stress –or hereditary conditions. All of these have a significant impact on an individual’s ability to regulate emotions, through no fault of their own.
I ask you to consider what rejection means to you. To some people we work with, it can mean limited choice of breakfast, not having the right size shoes or clothes, not being able to store their personal belongings, or a member of the team isn’t available at a particular moment. The feeling is often another rejection in addition to eviction from accommodation, relationship breakdown, losing contact with a child, living through the care system, etc. Feeling rejection while suffering from the above mental illnesses can often trigger an emotional outburst, which some of us may see as a little extreme.
I also consider the emotions of our team, working with over one hundred vulnerable people on a daily basis in a complex, small environment, reacting
minute-to-minute to these heightened emotions in some cases with language barriers. We all have differing emotions at different times and are thankfully able to support each other. We share a mixture of positivity for a new day, frustration at limited progression, feeling overwhelmed due to the number of people in The Project. However, I am proud to say, always compassionate.
During the last year, we have seen more people than ever before asking for help, many of whom would not historically use our services. Helping these people means adding even more strain onto The Project, but how can we turn people away? Where else can they go?
For the first time in the eight years I have been involved with The Archer Project, I truly fear the impact of today’s environment. The current social and economic situation is stretching our mental and physical capacity to support the vulnerable people in our city in a progressive manner, which we pride ourselves on. We will get through this with the support of the community around us, including you. Why? Because we have to.
Jo Parnell Head of Operations
BEHIND THE COVER Q&A BEHIND THE COVER Q&A
Behind each of our covers is a real person with a unique story to tell about what The Archer Project means to them. In this edition, we speak to Engagement Support Worker, Carl Thompson. Sheffield-born, with a background in education, Carl joined The Archer Project’s Engagement Team in April this year.
What can you tell us about your role? What can you tell us about your role?
It's a lot of repetition, but also every day is different. There’s the consistency of what we do on the door: taking names, welcoming people in, making sure people have sleeping bags, get laundry done, get a shower, clean socks, deodorant… Obviously behind that, we deal with unpredictable stuff, and issues or requests, keep an eye on things, stay visible to make sure we're available to people. What you want is to engage, whatever that means for them; for some it’s conversations, for others it might just mean hello and goodbye, but that's a start. And you’ve got to bear in mind what trauma a lot of people have, some have come out of prison, some have mental health issues.
What is the highlight of your time at The Archer Project so far?
What is the highlight of your time at The Archer Project so far?
What challenges do you face in your role?
What challenges do you face in your role?
You can’t do a job like this without having a good set of people around you. I love the team, and how I'm getting on with my colleagues in Engagement, I love our sense of humour. And having humorous conversations with beneficiaries – but also I feel privileged when beneficiaries talk to me in a personal way, I'm glad I've been approachable enough for them to want to talk like that. The challenge is balancing the effectiveness of interventi of a crisis, you have to know when to leave them alone –balance that with mealtimes, when there’s lots of people You don't want to intervene too quickly and escalate, but again you don't want to not intervene and let it escalate. not perfect, you can’t always get it right. But ultimately y dealing with people. My dad was a bricklayer, but what h was he'd got a brick in front of him and on Monday morni still a brick, and on Friday afternoon it was still a brick; pe aren't bricks – there’s no book for this, you bring your exp and keep learning as you go.
What effect has The Archer Project had on your life?
What effect has The Archer Project had on your life?
I’m really proud to say I work for Archer Project. To the po I can't wait to see my mates and tell them about my job; felt like that since I've started. I'd rather we not be needed at all, but there's a lot of things that’d have to be in place before things like Archer Project aren't here anymore.
Homelessness NATIONAL vs SHEFFIELD
The government’s reporting on homelessness provides statistical insights into rough sleeping.
From 2022 to 2023*, the number of people sleeping rough increased drastically:
The highest number recorded nationally was during Nov 2023, reaching 8,714, which is a
In the same period, Sheffield recorded 143 people; a increase compared to the same month the year before. increase when making the same comparison with 2022.
Increased in Sheffield by
From 2022 to 2023, cases of new individuals presenting as rough sleepers:
Increased nationally by Nationally, the month with the highest number of new recorded cases was Nov 2023 with 3,220 which is a
Decreased in Sheffield by Sheffield saw a
Increased nationally by ncrease compared to Nov 2022. increase in new cases that month alone.
What’s been happening at The Archer Project?
OurProjectisthebusiestithaseverbeen,andgetting busieratanunsustainablerate.Theimpactofrisingliving costshasseenthenumberofpeopleseekingsupport continuetorisebeyondourcapacity.
Thedemandforemergencycareinparticularhasreached unprecedentedlevels,meaningwearestrugglingto progresspeoplethroughourstabilisationprogrammes.
Pressure on
ASSIST Sheffield work with people seeking sanctuary, but whose asylum claims have been refused. As well as having no legal right to work, people in this situation are abruptly left with no access to benefits or housing. ASSIST provides clients with emergency and longer-term accommodation, regular cash payments, bus passes and a bespoke casework service.
March 2023-2024: supported 87 people from 30 countries, 67 of whom were accommodated.
The former government’s drive to clear asylum backlog by end of 2023 led to an increase in evictions from Home Office-provided accommodation; this contributed to rising demand for services.
“We are among the many organisations that have been put under pressure by rises in the cost of living. For example, our accommodation service has become more expensive to run, and in April, we made the decision to increase the amount of cash we provide to each client by £5 per week. As a result, we have needed to adjust our budgets and redouble our fundraising efforts.” – Will Scott, Communications, Events & Fundraising Coordinator at ASSIST.
Levels of demand remain high: since the start of 2024, 32 clients have joined the service, which exceeds the number of clients leaving it.
“Prevention work is essential for invisible homelessness.”
NOMAD focus on providing innovative housing andsupportand support services to help people transform their lives and there and achieve independence.
Average monthly referrals are usually around 20-30 people, but received 179 referrals in November 2023 alone, whilst working to a maximum of 75 bed spaces; this meant that – for the first time in their history – NOMAD was forced to suspend intake assessments altogether.
“I took a phone call about a 19-year-old, and it made me think of my own son who was the same age at the time. The caller said, “If you don’t take his case, he’ll be on the street” and we were unable to take him in due to being completely inundated! That was the turning point for me.” – Karen Awdhali, Head of Services at NOMAD. Assessments were able to resume in May 2024, since then average monthly referrals have almost doubled compared to pre-November figures.
Local Services
Framework works to prevent people becoming meless ddddin the first homeless in the first place, and support people who are rough eping sleeping into accommodation as a first step towards a fulfilled life. Included in their services are support with mental health, employment skills,andaccesstodigitaltechnology,benefitsandbudgeting.
March 2023-2024: Sheffield Street Outreach Team supported 798 individuals,ofwhom545wereroughsleeping.
March 2024, Sheffield’s monthly headcount of rough sleepers was 53 compared with 28 in the same month last year – that’s an 89% increase.
Street Outreach Team has recently been re-commissioned by Sheffield City Council and will continue to be on the city's streets for thenextfiveyears.
“Notonlyisthenumberofpeoplereceivingsupportincreasingbutsois theextentandcomplexityoftheirneed.Thenewcontractisavoteof confidence in our team’s ability to make a difference and continue theiroftenlife-savingworkinextremelychallengingcircumstances,as they have done so successfully for the past seven years.” – Steve Watson,DirectorofHomelessnessServicesatFramework.
Framework need public support to help be eyes and ears on the street. Pleasecallthefree24-hourhotlineon08000665358ifyoufindsomeone sleeping rough or think someone may be at risk of rough sleeping –perhaps sofa surfing or living ininsecureaccommodation.
“Rough sleeping is just the tragic tip of the homelessness iceberg. It is what happens when people run out of options.”
Ananonymousrepresentativewhosupportsadultsatriskinthecitysaid:
“A positive for us is the breadth of help that’s available to vulnerable people whoneedit.Therehasbeenasignificantincreaseinthenumberofpeoplewho needhelpsinceCovid.Weallwishthereweremoreresourcestopreventissues happeninginthefirstplace.
“The depth of peoples’ vulnerabilities is a challenge, it’s never just about one thing, so professionals need to be alive to providing a ‘package’ of support across disciplines. This isn’t always easy, with agencies finding it increasingly difficult to deliver their core services, as well as have in mind what other servicesmaybedoingandwhatimpactthatmighthave.”
The importance of healthcare outreach programmes
Access to healthcare is critical for people facing homelessness – whether they’re on the street, sofa surfing or in temporary accommodation. But there are so many barriers to accessing this care.
That’s why delivering medical services in a safe environment is an essential provision at The Archer Project. People receiving support at our centre can book in with the visiting GP, Dentist, Acupuncturist and Podiatrist.
Our on-site podiatry clinic is delivered by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH) Podiatry Service, a team who are dedicated to breaking down barriers to health inequalities.
When experiencing homelessness, the condition of someone’s feet can severely deteriorate, particularly when surviving on the street. The clinic delivers care for a variety conditions, ranging from ing toenails to wound care for foot ul
building trust, and connecting with those who may not access healthcare services for a variety of reasons.”
Healthcare outreach programmes like the podiatry clinic are extremely important for engaging with our beneficiaries in familiar and safe surroundings.
Andrew was experiencing homelessness for six months before finding temporary accommodation, and has been accessing the services at our Project over the past year. He has visited the podiatry clinic several times, and says: “It’s good that podiatry offers this service, I often find it difficult to access healthcare services, the podiatrist has made my feet feel more comfortable and reduced my pain.”
Saul Hill, Professional Head of Podiatry at STH, said: “At a time when resources
community teams is essential g a holistic approach to care. ke to extend our sincere o the STH Podiatry Service he medical professionals n outreach programmes to eople at The Archer Project.
all ponies, g impact
Just to sit there and be able to pet them, you forget other things in your mind and what’s going on around you. They make you feel calm cause they’re so calm.
– Andrea Fowler, Just Clean & Printed by Us Staff
y from DACT,
distributed by SYHA. Rescue ponies Harry and Leo help to reduce stress and anxiety, encourage enthusiasm and communication, and improve wellbeing.
Our Comms Officer, Talya sat down with Stability Manager, Alicia to hear about the positive impact of pony therapy for people we’re supporting.
T: What has been the biggest benefit of having these sessions?
A: I think it’s the engagement from people who wouldn't normally get involved in this kind of stuff. Having ponies has brought the people from the far corners, the people who are in crisis, who are harder to reach just because things are so chaotic for them. It's just really balanced them and provided them with a zen. And people have really absorbed the calm c
e wellbeing side of it, lking to Kath and Lynn erapies), learning about what they do.
T: When they took them out to the grass outside Sheffield Cathedral that was really wonderful. Some of the beneficiaries who’d spent time with the ponies were introducing them to passers by and explaining how they’d been rescued and why they were there to help The Project.
A: Exactly, the sessions have been so free flowing! Everyone can just do little bits, there's no pressure to stay, it’s easy to come in and out and that suits people – especially the people we're working with who can't necessarily commit or find it hard to sit for a while.
T: It was quite a nice, natural way for staff and beneficiaries to be engaged together as well, I sat with people I'd not necessarily met before.
A: It's definitely enabled more mixing together of everyone.
– David Myers, Beneficiary Before the ponies I was very depressed, but the ponies helped bring me up.
”They helped me get my identity back... Become who I am again”
Jay was homeless before spending over over a year in temporary ssssss accommodation. Not only xscx adequate, but appropriate housing ssss . is absolutely vital for recovery andss ...and progression away from homeless ss -ness. Recently having moved into sssspermanent housing, Jay shares their sss ..feelings and experiences with us:
“When I was in temporary accommodation, it was like being pput ut on a bookshelf – you knew that you were gonna move off it sometime but you were just waiting, worrying… I kept to myself, didn’t feel able to be in tthe he shared kitchen… That was really difficult. Things don't seem a lot on their own but all add up together.
“It’s a false economy just to say ‘Oh right we’ll put someone into a property . and that’s the problem solved.’ If you put someone in the wrong property, ‘llyes they’re not ‘homeless’ but they could become homeless again… If I had accepted that first offer it would’ve been an area where older people were worried about going oout ut even in daylight hours. That mmight ight be alright now but I'm getting aabit older… I want to set my roots ddowown. Knowing you're in the right kind oo f place takes away stress having to worry about what’s coming down the line.
“The council agreed to me staying where I was until everything was sorted with the new place, but then someone
else was pushing me to get out .’’’’’’’sss
quickly – so because of misfgcccchjkl;;;
communication you feel bombarded all the time. I’m a person what overthinks things so when something is meant to be sorted
sorted then we find out it isn’t, it brings all that worry back even worse.
“Once I’d moved in, one night I were listening to the radio and started thinking ‘What if it’s too loud?’ then thought ‘Don’t be silly there’s nobody upstairs, it’s okay unless I put it on full blast it’s not gonna bother them.’ I think that worry cycle will relax a little because I’ll settle down and get sorted,
“When I first came to Archer Project I used to just sit, I were an empty shell. The council said because I’d got no ID ‘You
‘You don’t exist.’ I knew two people knew I was telling the truth, I existed: that’s you in the mirror, and me. The Project broke me out, gave me confidence. I would’ve run a mile from this stuff I’m doing now I was so shut down. I’m a different person today.
“When I started volunteering, Tracy w would just be clearing up and the team sorted, I’ll be into a routine… I’ve got to start doing things myself, I want to take control of my life.
didn’t know if I was ready to volunteer... But I offered to help wipe up a bit and it started like that. They helped me get my identity back, helped me become who I am again. I'm still a work in progress and I don't think that’ll ever end, I think we all are like that.”
Lord Mayor Jayne Dunn has produced a limited run of prints titled ‘Steely Resilience’ featuring her illustration of the Women of Steel, in collaboration with The Archer Project’s social enterprise, Printed by Us.
The Women of Steel sculpture, standing proudly at the heart of the city centre, commemorates the strength, resilience and pride of the women who responded to the call to work in the steel factories during the First and Second World Wars. Although dismissed from the factories after each war, the women involved refused to let their impact fade.
People experiencing homelessness have to show extraordinary resilience every day. The will to survive the trauma and pain people experience when rejection, disdain, hatred and disgust are routine is remarkable. The people we support refuse to give up and be dismissed, just as the women of steel refused to have their contribution forgotten. ‘Steely Resilience’ is an apt commemoration for the steelworkers of Sheffield and the vulnerable people we support.
Screen Print your own t-shirt whilst learning how we use the craft to support vulnerable adults!
Updates from rchard Square
We’re now i year of work ship with Or who proudly Archer Projec of ways. Ba Fargate, the centre hub w eat, drink, sho
Orchard Sq
Murray said: “We are proud to be supporting Archer Project again this year, working with our retailers as a collective to help raise funds and awareness for the vital work their team do within our community.
“The care and determination that the Archer Project team demonstrate in everything they do is inspirational, and I am delighted to have had the chance to work with them again this year to offer our support and commitment as a business and a friend to the charity.”
Back in April, Archer Project E t i ’ P i t d by Us store
this space has been
instrumental in czxcxx facilitating the growth f of our social enterprise, partparticularly with creating a screen printing workshop; sessions are open to community groups for wellbeing workshops, and also to the public to try the art of screen printing for themselves.
Danielle, who was one of the first to be supported through Printed by Us, has been working in her new position as an Orchard Square security guard for nearly a year, and is very much enjoying it. She said: "The atmosphere at work is like a family, we can have a laugh together and also go the extra mile for each other. It's a really nice company to work for."
Orchard Square Retailers will be involved in the upcoming Archer Project Rough October (see p14 for more details). Shay told us: “The sleepout was an incredibly eye opening and humbling experience for all that were involved, one that we are imploring even more of our of of our team to experience this year.”
Chris Lynam guest speaker at Homewards celebration
Representatives of The Archer Project recently attended a special event marking the first year of Prince William’s five-year programme, which aims to demonstrate it’s possible to end homelessness.
Peer Mentor at The Project and supported team member at Printed by Us, Chris said: “It was a pleasure to see His Royal Highness again. I left the event with a sense of optimism about the plan to tackle homelessness over the next four years. It was great to see so many organisations under one roof, and fantastic that this is giving a voice to those with lived experiences.”
Sheffield is one of the programme’s six flagship locations. Prince William heard about the work of each of these locations, before delivering a speech in which he talked about how inspirational Chris was in communicating his own story of lived experience and growth, when the two of them met during The Prince’s visit to Sheffield earlier this year.
Chris then spoke in depth with Homewards advocate, Professor Sabrina Cohen-Hatton in an exclusive fireside chat in front of attendees. Chris and Sabrina discussed their shared experiences of having lived on the street, and the progress they’d each made in the years since.
The visit to a purpose-built development with 33 flats for young people who’d previously been facing homelessness was a highlight for Chris, who said it was “really interesting to see affordable, low-cost housing is available and possible.”
CEO Tim reflected: “The progress report on Homewards activity; businesses speaking the language of compassion; grassroots stories of prevention work and post-homelessness success and growth... It will take hard work. But when you work every day with people who should have better lives, you know it’s a programme worth committing to.”
Archer Project’s month of ROUGH OCTOBER HARVEST APPEAL
We’re getting ready for our donation store’s busiest month of the year! Donations of tinned food, dried goods, sleeping bags and toiletries can ensure continuation of our Project’s services over winter and into the New Year. Without these donations we would not be able to offer basic services such as access to hot meals, food parcels, showers and washing facilities.
What can I do to help?
Hold a collection at work, school, or your local pub, club, or community centre. If you’re having a clear out at home, please consider donating coats, winter clothing and shoes.
As our annual Harvest Appeal returns, we’ll also need volunteers to help with sorting through donations every day in October. Get some friends, colleagues or teammates together and join us over at The Project to lend a hand.
SLEEP OUT
The Archer Project Sleep Out was developed after our CEO, Tim spent 14 continuous nights on the streets during October 2022, to raise awareness of street homelessness. The experience had a profound impact on Tim, which he wrote about further in his book ’14 Nights’.
In just half an hour I’d realised that I needed to stay alert. I wasn’t going to take my shoes off in case I needed to get up quickly. I was going to drape my sleeping bag over me instead of getting in it. I sat up so I didn’t look like I was sleeping, as if that made me safer.
– Tim Renshaw, Archer ProjectCEO
How can I get involved?
We’re asking supporters to choose one night in October to sleep outside and gain a small insight into the challenges of rough sleeping. By raising funds and awareness, your participation directly contributes to helping us support people who are experiencing homelessness in our community.
It’s your sleep out so make it your own – whether in the car park at work, in your garden or a big community event! To find out more in our fundraising pack, please contact our team.
It was wet and windy, the weather was pretty bad… It’s hard work and we’re okay, we’ve got somewhere to go now... But when you haven’t got a home to go this is tough –and it’s tough even when you have the right kit so it would be tougher without it.
– Roland Bolton, DLP Planning Ltd
Dates for your diary
Annual Golf Day
13th September
JoinusatWortleyGolfClubforagreat dayofgolfandfundraising.Tobook yourteamof4,pleasecontactLucyat lucy.wilks@archerproject.org.uk
Breakfast Networker
19th September
Havebreakfastwithusandmake valuable,localandregional connectionswithotherswhobelievein thecrucialworkofTheArcherProject.
Sheffield 10K 29th September
Run,jogorwalk–takeonthe challengeaspartofTeamArcher.
Fire & Ice
Charity Ball
1st November
Aglamorousnightawaitswithlive entertainment,3-coursemeal,prizes andplentyofchancestodance.
Carol Service
13th December
Joinusinsingingalongtosomeof themostcherishedChristmas songs,hearstoriesfrompeoplewe support,andenjoysoupandbread aftertheservice.
