On Friday 30th November a group of Fortem employees from all across the business will be sleeping outside our Rotherham offices to raise funds for the homeless community in Barnsley.

Barnsley Churches Drop-In Project is a small local registered charity launched in April 2002 to provide support and comfort to the homeless, addicted and impoverished. The project began after a young man died in a Church doorway from a drug overdose. A need was recognised by the Churches in the town to help people sleeping rough, many with addiction problems. Since their launch in 2002, the charity have seen a wider range of people in need of their help throughout the town, from homeless people, substance users, alcoholics, many on treatment programs, people in poverty and asylum seekers. The charity opens three times a week, Monday 10am-12pm, Thursday 12pm-2pm and Friday 12pm-2pm. Sessions are run by Volunteers, and one paid Coordinator. Supported by Committee and funded through obtaining much appreciated donations and grants. At the sessions, volunteers provide a social eating space, a warm room where people come to find a hot meal, a hot drink, and a sandwich, yogurt and fruit to take away with them. It’s a place where they are treated with respect, where they are listened to and not judged, where they can advise and signpost on for further help. Often they have donated clothing, socks, hats, gloves, bedding, sleeping bags and toiletries to hand out. Each week the charity serves around 450 meals to people in need of help, they don’t turn anyone away!

The number of people visiting the charity has increased phenomenally and they can see up to 150 people a session.

Already this year they have served over 14,000 meals. Almost 18,000 meals were served in 2017.

The money raised by Fortem will be used to purchase warm clothing, rucksacks and thermal flasks.