Appeal more vital than ever in crisis

One of Bath’s most important charities, helping victims of homelessness, addiction and domestic abuse is opening its Christmas appeal today.

After enduring two years of significant challenges caused by Covid, Bath-based charity, Julian House was hoping that things would get back to some sort of normality again. Instead, 2022 has been anything but normal.

The charity is very concerned that 2023 is going to be even worse.

Launching its annual Christmas appeal, Julian House is calling on the public to support the work it does with some of the most vulnerable members of society – particularly those impacted by homelessness and domestic abuse.

This year the appeal target is £190,000.

“A perfect storm” is an oftoverused description but right now that’s how the future looks for Julian House and the individuals that it supports.

A chronic shortage of affordable move-on accommodation; rising rents; more people ending up on the streets; crippling rises in the cost of important basic commodities, both for its clients, for staff and for the charity have overlapped with a squeeze on benefits, when beneficiaries need them most.

All this presents a grim backdrop for people who are already vulnerable.

Traditionally Julian House runs an annual Christmas appeal which asks for support at a time of year when members of the public and organisations become much more aware of those on the street.

Even though homelessness is very definitely a year-round issue, the winter months bring the challenges of homelessness into sharper focus.

Monies received during December and January support the charity’s work all year round.

Julian House will need more support to keep all its services running in the year ahead.

Cecil Weir (inset), from Julian House, said. “I know of clients that we have worked hard to get into accommodation who are now actively considering going back onto the street because of utility bills.”

In fact, in 20 years working in the sector, the fundraising director has never seen anything like it. “We’ll do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen but that’s the stark choices they are facing – even though the street is a damaging and dangerous place.”

Last year Julian House provided meaningful support to over 1,600 vulnerable individuals across the South West. This included workplace experience and training in its busy social enterprise bike workshops. Its outreach teams also supported more than 600 people on the streets. Across these and its other projects the charity has not only changed many hundreds of lives for the better, it has also saved many. Together, with the public’s support, it wants to carry on rebuilding lives. ■ Please give generously by visiting: www.julianhouse.org. uk/christmasappeal