Homeless charity secures future with £250k

A homeless charity, which staff feared could be forced to close due to rising costs and falling income, will be able to continue its work after raising more than £250,000.

The Shrewsbury Ark provides day care for people living on the streets, including bunks during its opening hours, along with hot food, bathroom and laundry facilities.

The charity launched a fundraising appeal in October as a spokesperson said at the time that they feared for their survival through the winter due to rising costs and income.

"We cannot thank the local community enough – you have literally saved us. It was very tough facing the reality of closure," said its director, Anton Goodwin.

"This surge of support ensures The Shrewsbury Ark can continue offering safety, advice, stepping stones for people towards a more positive future, along with food, warmth, and connection to hundreds of people facing homelessness in Shrewsbury and across Shropshire."

Shaun Le Den used the service in the past and said he had recently got somewhere to stay.

He said he felt like he owed his support to the Ark, after it helped him with paperwork and finding a house.

"I think it is not just Shrewsbury but it is most areas have now realised that, with cost of living, things are getting hard and it's about time we help each other," he said.

"We are a first world country. We shouldn't be in the state what we are, with people having to live how they are."

To cut costs, the charity had to make staff redundant and close down its charity shop on Castle Street.

Helen Mason, a senior support worker with the Ark, admitted they were open about what situation they were in, but she felt very lucky with the fundraising support they had had.

"We had some elderly people who came to our door and handed over envelopes with their cold weather payments and we would be like 'please, keep it'," she said.

"They would be like 'no,no, honestly I am fine, please take it'.

"I'm blown away. I honestly don't have the words from the kindness that has been shown."

The spokesperson said the £250,000 included £50,000 in match funding from an anonymous donor.

They said they have received almost £80,000 in grants, which included £15,000 for roof repairs and the remainder supporting their core services and programmes.

Of the total, there were 20 major donors giving a total of £128,000, including £35,000 for the roof, £10,000 for a new training room and £2,500 towards equipment like new windows, doors and solar panels.

Thousands of pounds were also raised from congregations at local churches, as well as charity events run by the organisation's volunteers.

Individual donations came to £45,000 with more than 600 people also becoming "friends of the Ark", a regular donation scheme which staffs said should provided more than £80,000 annually.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.