‘We thank you all for helping Julian House to pass target’

Homeless charity Julian House has smashed its challenging fundraising target during this year’s Christmas Appeal and raised nearly £200,000.

The charity has announced that its highest ever target for the annual Christmas Appeal has been passed.

With just a few pledges still to be included, the final figure will exceed £191,000.

In late November Julian House kicked off the campaign with a daunting target of £170,000.

Although 2020 had already been a difficult year for most good causes to raise funds, Julian House knew that it had to be ambitious if it was to carry on funding its frontline services for those without homes and other vulnerable groups.

Cecil Weir, inset, has been running the campaign for the last 20 years and said: “I can honestly say that every year I am filled with apprehension about how it’s going to go.

“Yes, we have a good many loyal supporters, some of whom have been with us since we began as a charity in the late 1980s but 2020 was very unusual, for everyone.

“Once again the wider community in Bath and North East Somerset and beyond has demonstrated that it cares about those who are marginalised and vulnerable in our society.”

One direct result from the successful Christmas appeal will be to support the provision of 13 extra bed spaces for those without a home until the end of March.

Covid-19 has provided the charity with many unique problems which it has continued to battle as it supports some of Bath and North East Somerset’s most vulnerable people.

Mr Weir said: “Our charity shops have been closed for a significant part of the year and a number of key fundraising events cancelled. We simply didn’t know how individuals, businesses and community group would respond.”

The Julian House Christmas Appeal helps to fund services throughout the rest of the year but with coronavirus affecting every aspect of their work, they need the support more than ever.

Supported by the Bath Chronicle and Bath Live, Julian House has sought to demonstrate to the wider community that the men, women and children which it supports are just ordinary people who find themselves in very difficult situations: victims of domestic abuse; many who are affected by mental health issues; family breakdown; impacted by childhood trauma and addiction issues.

Mr Weir said: “Our clients’ stories often have similar themes, but everyone is different and there is no one size fits all solutions.

“Like the rest of society Covid has caused extra stress for them too but in among it all they have shown reliance, and the dedication and commitment of my colleagues to carry on delivering support and keeping services open for them has been humbling.

“However, despite all my colleagues’ efforts their task would be immeasurably more difficult without the support of the public and other organisations.

“Some of the messages in letters and on our online fundraising pages have been really heart-warming and when circulated to my colleagues have given them a great boost.

“From everyone at Julian House, staff, clients and volunteers, a huge thank you. We couldn’t do what we do without you.”