Residents rally to help ‘vital’ service
FREE PRESS REPORTER
ACHARITY that works with single homeless and teenage families has found new ways of working as its work has not ceased throughout the pandemic.
M3 Project works across East Lancashire and has its base in Rawtenstall.
Although the eight full and part-time staff have been working from home since mid-March, just before the lockdown, that didn’t mean work stopped.
Teenage parents were coping not just with new babies, but also the cessation of support groups. M3 stepped in and provided video calls rather than just phone calls; the next best thing to face-to-face contact.
Over the lockdown period, 21 young people were housed – 14 on the teenage family project and seven in lodgings. There were eight move-ons, where young people are helped to move into their own accommodation.
Being a charity, M3 Project raises funds through events and activities and had a charity night planned at Rossendale Players, but Covid forced the play’s suspension.
Charity Development Worker Lynn Haworth said: “We lost a couple of fundraisers but we had incredible support. Jamie Gamble, a former Haslingden High School student, completed a mammoth virtual cycle ride from Haslingden to London and asked for donations for his 21st birthday to go to the charity. He raised more than £700.
“In the summer we also hold a major event both to raise money and awareness called Run out Homelessness – a 5k course around Marl Pits in Rawtenstall where people pay £5 to enter.”
Restrictions meant that could not happen but innovation stepped in and the charity decided to hold the event by asking people to arrange their own 5k challenges.
Lynn said: “It was held between July 25 and August 2 and we had 18 participants and most created their own fundraising page. This year’s event raised £1,344, more than double last year’s.
“Carl Nelson from NCS Services cycled the distance and our project manager, Alan Dorrington, completed his own ‘Round the Hills’ in the Lake District, completing 40k in blistering heat in the mountains.
“Christine Smith ran 34k over several days, including the Marl Pits circuit, and Sandra Wilson completed just short of 60k.
“My own daughter Rachael Mitchell and two school friends from Alder Grange School completed 5k walks at the same time in their different home locations.
“I did my own solo challenge over nine days and walked 73.5k. On one of the days it was torrential rain and that made me think. I could go home and change my clothes, could have a shower, could step into something warm and I knew I was secure - that is what some of our young people do not have when they come to us. Our service is vital.
“We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us during the lockdown and throughout the pandemic and in particular for the support of our first virtual Run Out Homelessness.”
For more information about M3 Project email info@rossendalem3.org