The Hope Centre charity has been working with struggling individuals and families in St Helens since 2004 and now, more than ever need your support to helps us continue our work in the community.Over the years we've gained a lot of experience working with people 52 weeks of the year and we know that with upcoming changes people more than ever are going to be reaching out for help - thank you for being part of their story

For over seventeen years, the Hope Centre Charity has been supporting local people across St Helens and continues its mission to bring hope to those in St Helens who need it most.

Through the delivery across five projects, the Hope Centre supports local people in need or crisis - especially those facingchallenges ranging from homelessness, food poverty, unemployment, poor mental health, those struggling to finance the arrival of a baby to those struggling with feeding their children during school holidays.

Our aim is to inspire the people we work with to fulfil their potential and empower them to become active members within their and our community. 

A once thriving mining community and home to world renowned Pilkington Glass, now NSG, the borough of St Helens has seen a decline in its fortunes over the last few decades and in the Indices of Deprivation 2019 report the town now ranks 26th falling from 36th in the previous 2015 report

[https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/media/10731/indices-of-deprivation-2019-summary-briefing.pdf].  The town’s suicide rates are 5th highest in the country.  Homelessness, debt and unemployment are social issues now facing many people.

It is not all doom and gloom, however, as organisations such as ours have a passion and mission to help real people in real need.

Hope House: homeless support, based in Church St, St Helens –over the last twelve months this project offered a vital service to over 450 individuals and operates 52 weeks a year.

This project specifically supports adults 18 years and over who are; homeless or at risk of homelessness, those who struggle with complex needs such as substance misuse, mental health issues, abuse, and debt issues, those who live chaotic lifestyles and who struggle to engage with mainstream services.

Whilst their experiences and support needs are often complex, wefirst look to meet their basic human needs - be it a warm meal, a warm drink, personal care or simply someone to listen to them. Our first priority is to support these basic needs and once met the staff will then assess additional support the person requires andwill work with them to help them achieve both their short and long-term goals.

The project, currently supported by 15 volunteers, works closely with the local authority, other homeless charities and referral agencies, and working together, we are able to offer wrap around support for the individual whilst helping to build future strategies and initiatives to help them move forward – no matter how long it takes.

Beneficiary quote “I feel I’m worth something”

St Helens Food Bank during the last twelve months the project supported over 5000 adults and over 2800 children through crisis with 3 days’ supply of food.  

Working in close partnership with The Trussell Trust and local agencies the project is open 5 days a week.  Alongside meeting an individual or family’s initial need of a balanced food ‘shop’ the project also offers signposting and a listening ear and works closely with local Citizen’s Advice to support those experiencing debt issues.

The project relies on public and private donations for tinned and long-life food & toiletries. We also work with local supermarketsand receive support from local authority regarding storage space. 

St Helens Foodbank is supported by a team of 55 volunteers whose roles range from warehousing duties to “shopping” , data capture, to sitting and listening to the clients and referring onto other Hope Centre Projects or other local agencies as meets the need.

Foodbank voucher holder comment: this is a life-line, I don’t know what I would have done without you

Mental Health developed over many years Hope Centre’sbespoke Breathe Mental Health Course- is a locally respected course supporting small groups of learners struggling with mild to moderate mental health issues – the tutor led course initially discusses and embeds self-esteem & self-confidence then moves the individual forward to look at and understand; assertiveness, effective communication and goal setting. 

Annually we support 70 individuals 

Learner who had previously struggled to take her child to school due to extreme anxiety and depression gained full time work after completing the course

Baby Basics helping families in need with a “starter pack” enabling them to welcome baby home –working with referrals from local social workers and midwives the Moses baskets are filled with items donated from the local community. 

We supported over 85 new additions to the community.

Quote from new mum “I had nothing and nobody and you gave me everything”

Make Lunch: in association with TLG the main aim of the Make Lunch project is to help reduce school holiday hunger.  We welcome children, siblings and parents or guardians to the centre, where our dedicated team of volunteers provide delicious nourishing meals for the whole family to enjoy as well as delivering craft activities –during 2021 we supported over 80children and 50 adults

Quote from a mum: “made us feel part of a family”, many others stated they made new friends

Coronavirus hit our community hard and from the uncertain early days in March 2020, our projects continued to serve people in need and we modified our services to ensure everyone is kept safe. 

*Hope House extended its delivery to ensure those the local authority were housing were in receipt of hot nutritious meals and we gave those in their own accommodation regular food hampers. 

Our service is back to a new-normal and early 2022 the project will move to new town centre premises

* St Helens Foodbank continued to support its voucher holders and worked with the community to ensure those who are in need and are self-isolating had food parcels delivered to their door – we still offer this extended service of doorstep deliveries for those unable to collect

* Baby Basics continues to work with families in need and will deliver items to the supported family

* Make Lunch – provided food hampers for the family and activities for the families to do together at home and continues this approach

I hope this has given you a “flavour” of the Hope Centre’s ethos, where we hold the “service user”, “beneficiary”, “client”, “person”, “individual” at the heart of each project. Our staff and volunteers go the extra mile to support those we work alongside –the CEO is often see welcoming someone into the centre, recognising that that person needs someone to talk to - she will make time to listen to them over a cup of tea, supporting them into our services.

Hope Centre Charity No: 1103903 Company No 05089663​2