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On Sunday 9 April, I'll be running 13.1 unpleasantly hilly miles in order to raise money for Ben's Centre - a place of sanctuary for vulnerable people in Sheffield.
The project provides a “damp” day service to street drinkers, some of the most vulnerable and excluded citizens of Sheffield, and as such is unique in its provision. Ben's Centre offers a drop in day service on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10.30am and 2.30pm, providing a hot meal and access to clothing and washing facilities, as well as internet access and activities. They also use this time to support people trying to link with services, and provide practical help to achieve this.
There has recently been a big increase in the number of homeless and vulnerable people in Sheffield, and across the UK more widely. The dismantling of the welfare state in the UK means that the sorts of everyday tragedies that will likely affect so many of us throughout our lives - long-term illness, redundancy, and family breakdown - are now putting more and more people on the streets.
I think this state of affairs is, to be frank, horrendous, illustrating a horrifying lack of humanity on an institutional scale. And only big, structural changes, on a government level, will ensure that this rise in homeless and vulnerable people doesn't continue.
However, I'm not an MP yet, so I'm going to do what I can while I can, and try and raise some money for Ben's Centre. They do brilliant work with vulnerable people in Sheffield, providing a vital source of support. They are functioning in an (at best!) uncertain funding landscape, so any money you can donate will really, REALLY make a difference. Please give whatever you can - even a little can help make someone's life better. Thank you!
