I'm helping raise money for YMCA Burton with a sole belief that no person, adult or child, should have to sleep rough, go hungry or have no support when times are hard.

Homelessness is increasing as is the number families going hungry, even if it's just a few pennies, I'm asking my friends, family and collegues to consider donating to help people in our local community.

Did you know that in April alone (2024), YMCA Burton distributed their highest number of food parcels on record (383), helping over 650 people (169 of those being children). As a result, they’re having to put a temporary restriction on their food parcel due to struggling with incredibly high demand. This is heartbreaking. But, by supporting the YMCA, we make statistics like this possible:

- In 2023, 129 people had a safe place to call home through YMCA Burton's supported accommodation.

- They delivered over 420 hours of counselling in 2023 to help their clients transform their lives.

- In 2023, they facilitated over 480 hours of mediation to families to help them feel secure, respected, heard and valued with each other.

Thank you in advance, for anyone that chooses to give to this cause.

Soph

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YMCA Burton are a lifeline for those facing homelessness and also for thousands of individuals and families living in crisis across East Staffordshire. However, we cannot do what we do without your help.

Why 50 miles?

50 miles is the distance from our main site, Reconnect, on James Street to Yoxall, then Abbots Bromley, Uttoxeter, Rocester and back, as well as the loop around Burton town centre that our Outreach team cover regularly. The area that we is much larger than this, however by highlighting an array of areas, we are emphasising how homelessness isn’t just visible in the towns and cities, but is also in the rural villages too.

Homelessness is everywhere and doesn’t discriminate, whether it be rough sleeping on the streets or hidden homelessness through sofa surfing. This is why we are here to support people from all corners of the borough 365 days of the year, 24/7 and the reason why we won’t ever give up.