ADVERTORIAL
OPENING DOORS
TO THE FUTURE The past 18 months have been an enormous challenge for almost every sector, especially charities. With an increase in demand, the Nomad Opening Doors team tell unLTD about expanding their services – and how the pandemic was no match for ‘exceptional and dedicated staff’.
Without busy offices, fundraising events, supermarket collections and community gatherings, many charities have struggled to sustain their income and provide the same level of service they did before the pandemic. For some, this has meant scaling back on services. But for Nomad Opening Doors, a global pandemic, a housing shortage and large numbers of unemployed young people meant the number at risk of homelessness is higher than ever. For the past 30 years Nomad has been providing safe, secure, long-term accommodation to those at risk of homelessness. Their support services and dedicated team help 60 people each year
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to transition permanently out of homelessness. With an increase in demand, Nomad expanded their services and learned along the way the pandemic was no match for an excellent team of dedicated staff. CEO Steve Rundell said: “When I joined Nomad in May 2020 we were in the middle of lockdown. The team were having to find ways to support clients and maintain our housing standards in a new environment. I knew then I had the pleasure of leading an exceptional group of people. “I could also see they needed help – they were under so much pressure. We set about bringing in new members of staff to help the current team.” Expanding the work force
was far from the focus for most organisations in 2020. But Nomad took on three full time staff members to join their team of seven, including a finance manager, a fundraiser coordinator, and a lettings agency coordinator to join the Four Trees Lettings Team. The aim was to grow the services offered and increase awareness of the charity. That expansion has already begun, with Nomad’s commercial arm, Four Trees Lettings, increasing its portfolio by 50 per cent this quarter alone. Nomad also has its sights set on helping different client groups. Karen Awdhali, head of operations, said: “For years, our focus has been single adults, with shared accommodation being offered to anyone over the age of 18. But many of our
clients are refugees, who are desperate to reconnect with their families now they have found safety. We realise that many struggle to find a service which can provide support for families with rental advice, education, and community engagement. “This is why we are launching our Family Reunion project, to help families discover each other again, as well as find a safe home – a family housed in temporary accommodation is still homeless. “Sheffield is a City of Sanctuary, and Nomad are proud to facilitate that through our work.” Nomad’s Family Reunion Project is awaiting confirmation of funding, and it set to launch early 2022.
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