Your chance to help the homeless

Aaron Probert, founder of Parkgate-based Labre’s Hope, said a “perfect storm” was putting more people at risk of being pushed onto the streets.

Labre’s Hope in Rotherham pays people experiencing homelessness a living wage to create planet-friendly and luxury soaps or candles but their government funding will run out this month.

They believe their work is more important than ever as figures showed the number of households with children in the Sheffield region facing homelessness more than doubled last year, with high energy bills, the cost-of-living crisis and end of the Covid eviction ban all expected to take a toll.

Aaron (pictured, below) said: “There is a perfect storm of factors all hitting people simultaneously which can only lead to more homelessness nationally.   

“We’ve seen some of our workers being asked to pay six months rent in advance which is impossible, even for people in high income jobs.

“It’s been incredible to see how we’ve helped people break the cycle of homelessness and change their lives through employment, but we need to do more.   

“We want to continue our work in South Yorkshire and eventually expand right across the country.  

“People who are able to back our Crowdfunder will become part of our journey and have a powerful impact on the lives of vulnerable people in society.”  

The Crowdfunder aims to raise £50,000, with donations of up to £250 match-funded by insurance company Aviva.  

Hand-made vegan soaps and soap or candle-making experiences will be among the rewards available in return.

Danny Wathall, who is formerly homeless but now teaches soap making, said: “Anybody can become homeless — I should know, it happened to me.

“In 2019, I ended up homeless, sleeping in sheds, sometimes beds.

“I got in touch with mental health services who put me in touch with some support then everything changed thanks to Labre’s Hope.”

The Crowdfunder is now live at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/labres-hope—-ending-homelessness-sustainably.