The Friary
Friary Winter Appeal 2024/2025 - A Brighter Future
This year’s Friary Winter Appeal is seeking to raise funds that will support the physical and mental well-being of visitors to our centre in 2025.
Story
As we reach the end of 2024, many of us will make resolutions for a brighter New Year - one that will bring us health and prosperity. To achieve, this we will rely on being physically and mentally well. We will also need the support of a strong network of friends and/or family.
Our 2024/2025 Winter Appeal focuses on the role the Friary plays in supporting those who are experiencing difficult and sometimes traumatic life events. These events play a significant part in both contributing to their homelessness and in making it difficult for them to progress out of it.
The most common traumatic life events that we see are : relationship breakdown, bereavement, poor physical health or disability, poor mental health, experience of violence, abuse or trauma, being a victim of crime, job loss or low income, high accommodation costs, and shortage of affordable housing.
The Friary continues to work with those who are experiencing these challenges by creating an environment of encouragement and empowerment. This is through practical and emotional support. We also provide visitors with a purpose within our allotment project.
Thomas has received support from the Friary and explains the difference it has made to him:
My bubble burst, the whole structure and stability I had just disappeared into thin air and I found myself like the nowhere man. I didn't know what to do. I was sofa surfing and making bad friends. Somebody mentioned the Friary to me and it was like a sanctuary. I'm rebuilding everything now and see a sort of light at the end. It's given me the confidence to carry on."
People like Thomas are reliant on the Friary services and our mission is help him, and others like him, to find the brighter future that they deserve.
Any donation that you can offer at this time of year contributes to our ongoing work and the services we provide to those who are most in need.