Dear Friends
The sky outside my window is clear and blue. Spring has sprung and it evokes memories of days from my late teens walking Welsh country lanes with a girlfriend and rejoicing at primroses in hedgerows, hoping to see baby lambs and revelling in the hope that spring can bring. Lucky me to have those things coming to mind.
There is something about spring moving into summer, lighter mornings and the sun staying out late that makes life feel lighter. Those things that stay perpetually difficult about life seem a little bit further away, or maybe they become almost invisible.
Traditionally, that’s what happens to homelessness.
People sitting on the side of the street in winter are suffering but in summer they might just be enjoying the day.
We notice it during the winter months because of the cold and wet, but overlook the sunburn,
dehydration, and other dangers that come with life on the street in summer.
At The Archer Project, we want the care, support, and awareness of people experiencing homelessness to be year-round. Actually, it would be more truthful to say that we need it to be year-round.
need
Our upcoming summer campaign will be about the particular hardships of warmer weather, and we invite you to think how you can enjoy the season and raise funds at the same time.
Have a great summer.
Tim Renshaw Chief Executive Officer
Behind the Cover
Behind each of our covers is a real person with a unique story. Anna is a creative builder and maker, who loves nature and animals. Anna works at Printed by Us, and has experience of homelessness, sofa surfing, and drug addiction.
You don't end up in a situation like I did without serious problems that have excluded you from societ so Archer Project is a place to include the excluded. I’m glad it’s there, even if it can't solve all your problems.
I've always found it difficult to ask for help. It's debilitating for your selfesteem to feel you can't function because you don't have a home or job, so you have to ask for help with things that seem fundamental to being an adult. You’re constantly getting all these messages about how you failed at life.
I’ve always had issues because of undiagnosed autism. Seven years ago, I was assessed in a way that was really inappropriate. When I joined [Archer Project Enterprises] they encouraged me to get re-assessed, and now I’ve got my diagnosis. It’s taken a long time but The Archer Project and the people I work with there have given me a lot of support.
Before, I felt pressure to accept any job, even if it was unsuitable, and that's possibly caused a lot of my mental health problems. Now I'm quite anxious about what making a leap into a proper job will mean.
If you’re someone who finds barriers to working, taking the risk of getting a job and it not working out is too risky. That's why people don't – they’re in a benefits trap. I don’t want to be in that trap, but at the moment I am.
A lot of people in my position probably feel this way – we ended up in hostels and crashing on sofas, insecure, having mental health and addiction problems precisely because we don't feel we have the right to be ambitious. It's actually quite a leap to get to a point of feeling you have the right to want something.
I’ve made progress in the last decade, I think I could successfully have a job, but I do need support in that. I’m interested in trauma cleaning, or crime scene cleaning – I can handle things that are grim. I’m hoping to go to college and get the qualifications I’d need to move up to being a scenes of crime officer or forensic scientist.
More recently, support from my [Archer Project] peer mentor and things like bunny therapy have helped me try to find ways out into the community. I've tried to do a few more things I wouldn't have otherwise, like going to an art group for autistic adults and volunteering for a community greenhouse. 3
Art Therapy
Our Stabilisation services are designed for people wanting to progress further away from chaotic lifestyles and continue practising positive routines. We deliver a range of therapeutic activities, including Art Therapy, delivered by Daisy – a trainee Art Therapist from Sheffield Hallam University.
Daisy tells us: “Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy using art as the primary mode of expression, alongside talking. It aims to reduce distress and improve social, emotional, and mental health by promoting insight, self-compassion, and a sense of agency and confidence.
I’m eager to contribute to The Archer Project’s important work. It’s such a rewarding environment in which to develop my skills.
Art therapy allows individuals to express complex emotions like trauma, frustration, and fear in a
non-verbal way, which can be less intimidating than traditional talking therapies. Creating an art piece that is tangible and meaningful can enhance people’s sense of self-worth.
“Having these sessions at The Archer Project offers a space to pause and get lost in an activity that can be mindful and soothing. It can provide a sense of grounding and relief, away from daily challenges people are facing that are overwhelming. In our group setting, it can help to foster friendships and connection too.”
We are always looking for new ways to empower people to build their self-esteem. If you have any ideas or would like to offer your services, please contact us (details on page 16).
Update from The Archer Project
Thanks to our supportive donors and volunteers, the community in Sheffield, and grant giving bodies, last year we:
Supported 27 individuals volunteering in the Partnership Programme
Partner Volunteers contributed 5,909 hours of volunteering
Served 24,445 meals
Highest meal service on a single day in 2024 was 86 for breakfast and 106 for lunch
Delivered 205 activities
94 individuals attended a variety of sessions including regular groups and days out
Supported 1,223 individuals
457 people visited our Project 10+ times
450 people were new to our Project
In 2025 we have already:
Supported 554 individuals
Supported 13 volunteers in the Partnership Programme
Served 4,985 meals
Delivered 33 activities
What is Schema Therapy? What is Schema Therapy?
Therapist Sam Chu has been working with The Archer Project since 2017. As part of a commissioned service from Sheffield City Council, she provides invaluable one-to-one therapy sessions primarily for women experiencing homelessness or at risk of it.
Sam mainly offers schema therapy, a particularly effective approach for people who have experienced lifelong trauma and attachment issues. Clients can access up to 15 hours’ worth of therapy, and this might take place at The Archer Project or out for a walk or coffee.
Sam explains: “A lot of the people we work with have had poor relationship histories, so building trust is really important, and takes time.
“It might be a very fleeting 5-minute introduction, and sometimes people can't sit for very long because of their mental health, neurodiversity, or substance misuse. We wanted to offer a therapy service that was really flexible and responsive to that.
“If clients can’t attend every week they won’t be removed from the service. And if people aren’t ready, we keep the door open for when they are.”
In addition, Sam helps ensure our services are trauma-informed by meeting with our front-line staff for a monthly reflective practice.
Sam’s work with clients and our team plays a crucial role in supporting people making progress towards stability and autonomy.
Upcoming Events
2nd Jun –
30th Aug
Archer Project Summer Campaign
We need your help to raise funds this summer. Please see pages 8-9 for more details.
13th Jun
Archer Project Golf Day
An exciting day of golf, great food, and friendly competition with lots of prizes to be won! Abbeydale Golf Club provides a memorable experience for players of all handicaps and retains some of the best views of the Derbyshire countryside to be seen anywhere from Sheffield.
Email lucy.wilks@archerproject.org.uk to book your team.
28th Sep
Sheffield 10K
We're running in sleeping bags until a sleeping bag is no longer considered a home. Whether you run in a sleeping bag or one of our charity vests, join Team Archer to make a difference at this fantastic race. With a city centre start and finish, you’ll be cheered on by a crowd of enthusiastic supporters.
9th Oct
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Legends Night
An incredible night at Hillsborough with legendary Owls Big Ron Atkinson, Carlton Palmer, and John Sheridan! There will be live entertainment, pie and peas, plus raffles and auctions too.
Email kevjohnson519@yahoo.co.uk to book your tickets.
more events and details.
Summer is on the horizon – a time most people will associate with longer days, pub gardens, barbeques, festivals, ice cream and holidays.
However, for people experiencing homelessness, it offers only a mirage of hope. As the temperature rises, the awareness of homelessness drops.
Heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburns, social isolation, and heightened risks of abuse are all prevalent in summer for people experiencing homelessness.
We provide life changing support year-round.
We’re asking for your help as we work to raise the funds needed to cover the costs of our vital services.
Donate or fundraise today, because no matter the season, no one should experience homelessness.
Please visit our website to find out more and view our summer fundraising guide. www.archerproject.org.uk
Peer Mentor Discussion Group
It’s a place where we’re all on an equal standing. Egos are dropped...
Since August 2024, we have been hosting discussion groups for people we support, with an average of five attendees each session. The group, led by Peer Mentors with lived experience of homelessness, provides a space for people to share what's on their minds and experience a sense of community.
One Peer Mentor let us know how much people appreciate the initiative:
“Allowing people the freedom to vent, or air whatever they wanna talk about, sometimes people can get emotional, but it gives people a safe space to open up.
“The people that share feel they have benefited from it. There are people that come as regulars that might not mix with the general community of The Archer Project, but in here they have more of a voice. We also invite people who might be alone to join.”
Finding quiet space in a multi-agency hub like The Archer Project can often be difficult due to the amount of people accessing services. Creating space to belong is integral to building the self-esteem needed for progression.
“It’s a mixture of people at all stages progressing away from homelessness. Today we had four people all from different countries. We’ve found this group breaks a lot of barriers down, I think.
“It’s a place where we’re all on an equal standing. Egos are dropped, because of the quietness of the place. You don’t have to have a protective front up. It can be really freeing for people.”
Community Community Corner Corner
Thank you Seven Steps Support!
We are proud to work with wonderful groups in our local community, raising awareness and funds to support people experiencing homelessness.
I first met Seven Steps Support – who provide care for adults with additional needs through a range of activities – at our most recent annual Carol Service.
In February, I visited their centre to talk to their clients about homelessness and how we support people at The Archer Project.
Following a really interesting discussion, Seven Steps Support then visited us to learn more about our space and services. They also fundraised an incredible £170 for The Archer Project!
As we understand the interrelated nature of homelessness, we know how important it is to collaborate with groups promoting inclusivity. We’ve nurtured some great relationships already and are hoping to broaden our network even further.
If you have any ideas, or would like to get involved please contact me at: ella@archerproject.org.uk
Workshops
Need some custom printed garments? We got you covered!
Printed by Us is a Social Enterprise created by Archer Project that uses Screen Printing to create supported employment opportunities for people in recovery from homelessness.
We value sustainable business practices, which is why we only print onto 100% GOTS approved organic cotton garments, made in a Fair Wear approved factory, using eco-friendly water based inks. Everyone in the supply chain from factory to our print room is paid a real living wage.
Support our social purpose project while getting premium, ethically made garments.
Scan QR Code below to begin your quote!
Without us, people end up in hospital or at risk of losing their leg.
People facing homelessness suffer worse physical and mental health, whilst experiencing greater barriers to healthcare. Regular clinics in our on-site medical facility increase access to vital health services for people we support.
The wound care clinic runs twice a week, with Nikki Adams and Joanne Sheldon from Likewise’s drug and alcohol support service. They provide treatment and dressing which prevents complications like severe infection and potential limb loss, reducing hospital admissions.
This is particularly important for individuals who struggle to access
see patients for weeks or months if we ask them to visit Likewise, but because we’re at The Archer Project they make an effort to see us.
“There’s lots of things they can access, and their peers are here as well – they're not judged here.”
Delivering this reliable and specialised service in a safe, familiar environment, whilst working closely with other homelessness organisations and healthcare providers, is essential and has led to significant improvements in patients' health.
For example, Eric, a patient with a severe infection, avoided amputation of his leg thanks to nearly a year of consistent care.
Eric’s wound shrank by 99% in size, from 39 × 13 cm down to 2 × 1 cm!
He no longer uses a walking stick, even managing to run again recently.
Eric expressed immense gratitude for the treatment, which not only saved his leg but also greatly improved his quality of life.
How Businesses Can Help
Answers by Ruby Parker, S2S Group Marketing & Events Coordinator
Why did you choose to support The Archer Project?
We first connected in 2017 through a training programme, where we met Chief Executive, Tim. After learning about the impact of The Archer Project, we knew we wanted to do our part as a business to support such a vital cause – it was an easy decision. We have supported the charity with our winter food bank initiative, donating over 20kg of essential items, and by volunteering on-site to serve breakfast.
What do you enjoy most about working with The Archer Project?
What we love most is the opportunity to get directly involved, beyond just making donations. The Archer Project encourages hands-on experiences, allowing us to see their incredible work in action. We also appreciate how they bring the community together through their initiatives – it’s rewarding to be part of something that makes such a real difference.
What would you say to encourage other businesses?
Supporting The Archer Project has been one of the best decisions we’ve made as a business. Not only do we get to give back to our local community, but it brings our team together in a meaningful way. Through contributing to our bake sales, donating clothes, food, and toiletries, and signing up to volunteer, it’s been incredible to see our staff come together for a shared cause. We highly recommend getting involved – you won’t regret it.
