Joanna Orpin-Hatton
Dean & Jo run Brighton 10k for Justlife on 12th Sep
Fundraising for Justlife
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Justlife is a Brighton and Manchester based homeless charity. They prevent local people living in temporary accommodation from falling into rough sleeping by addressing their health, housing and wellbeing needs, alongside research & policy work to identify long-term solutions to homelessness. Justlife's mission is to make people's stay in temporary accommodation as short, safe and healthy as possible.
One of Justlife's projects in Brighton is called the Social Connection Project which is a befriending project. It pairs someone moving away from homelessness with a volunteer who supports them in overcoming social barriers, isolation and loneliness. The project consists of a team of volunteers, including Jo, who meet with a Justlife client, on a one-to-one basis to do an activity of their choice. Even when individuals find themselves in more secure accommodation, the isolation and social barriers that existed when they were homeless can persist long after they’ve been rehomed. For those that have been homeless for a long time, adjusting to life in a new home can be challenging, so it’s important to continue supporting people as they acclimatise to a new way of living.
Dean found himself in temporary accommodation after a routine operation for Crohns disease went terribly wrong. He had to fight for his life and with months of recovery on the horizon, he also lost his job and his home.
Jo was matched with Dean through the project and after several weeks of chatting over the phone they met in person. Sharing a love of fitness and the feel good factor that working out brings, they factored this into their weekly meet ups in the park or over zoom.
Dean and Jo decided to choose the Brighton 10k run together to celebrate how far Dean has come after such a tough 18 months. Dean has faced numerous challenges, but always comes out the other side more positive than ever, a true inspiration. The run also marks the end of their Justlife befriending relationship, after 9 months of weekly chats and workouts. However, both have decided they will stay in touch and update each other on life after their run!
Thank you for donating to Justlife and helping us thank the charity that really makes a difference
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.