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the Magpie Project raised £6,144 from 108 supporters
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Closed 02/04/2018
Iʼve raised £6,144 to help women and children under 5 in Newham, who are at threat of homelessness.
- London Borough of Newham, United Kingdom
- Funded on Monday, 2nd April 2018
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Story
There is an unprecedented number of children who are homeless in London today. In Newham the problem is acute.
For a child under-5 having no permanent home can mean:
nowhere to play, nowhere to prepare healthy meals, sharing a bed with siblings or adults, not being able to keep clean enough, struggling to store and keep clothes clean, living in a single room with your whole family.
But the hardships are not just practical and physical - it is the damage that we don't see that is worries us the most. Under fives witness parents in crisis, who are constantly struggling to make ends meet, who are anxious, or depressed. And all before they even reach school...
We can't solve the housing crisis, but we do aim to make life better, practically, materially, socially and emotionally, for families during their time in temporary, overcrowded or insecure accommodation.
We provide a stay and play, a healthy snack and nutritious lunch. A safe space for kids to play, make a mess, get creative, go a bit crazy. While mum sits and has a bit of time to think, to stare in to space, to make essential phone calls or to chat to others who are in a similar situation. A respite from the day to day struggle.
When mums are ready we can offer on-site advice from experts such as Shelter housing advisors, Health visitors, Children's Centre Family support workers, Workplace Newham, Domestic violence workers, and legal advisors to help with immigration issues.
We believe all kids have the right to play, friendships, and a strong bond with their parents - with your help we can make this happen for families in Newham.
In six months we have already seen 63 families. We have offered food, nappies, clothes, support, friendships, a social network, and - more important than any of that - somewhere to be in day.
The level of destitution we see is difficult to imagine. Mums are having to choose between food and sanitary items. laundry and nappies are a constant worry for them. Many have been deemed to have no recourse to public funds - so are subsisting on £37 a week.
The money raised here will go towards paying for travel to and from the project (Many of our mums simply do not have the £1.50 bus fare to get to us). Nappies and sanitary items for families, and the odd treat of a day out or something similar.
At present we are paying out £200 a week in nappies. We are doing it because we feel as though a clean, comfortable bum is the very least any baby can expect. But it is more about dignity, choice and showing mums that there is love and hope in the world.
We want our most vulnerable families to feel that the rest of us care. So please support us if you can.
Updates
5
- 7 years ago
the Magpie Project
7 years agoThis is why we do what we do. Because every baby deserves the best.
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- 7 years ago
the Magpie Project
7 years agoThank you! Your support and interest in the Magpie Project has been incredible over the past six months. All your money goes to helping mums (We have use of a premises for free, 15 volunteers and 1 part time staff member paid via a grant - so you are not paying salaries or rent). Now, we have charity status and a fundraising committee of six volunteers scoping for support. Meantime, we are raising our target on this page as a stop-gap until we get our regular giving set up. The need is not going away, so please keep helping Thank you,
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- 7 years ago
the Magpie Project
7 years agoRosie, This is an incredible amount of money. Are you sure that your fingers did not slip? If they did let us now and we can do something about it. If they did not, thank you! We are utterly bowled over by how much we will be able to do with this money. Thank you, Jane and the Magpie Project team.
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the Magpie Project started crowdfunding
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Supporters
108
Anonymous
Mar 28, 2018
Fantastic work
£30.00
Robert Gordon
Mar 8, 2018
I am.making this donation as I want to support you and. Rokhsana Fiaz for mayor
£30.00
Susie Dunkerton
Mar 6, 2018
So good to hear of your project in times of such unequal opportunity. Best wishes to all your visiting families.
£100.00
Anonymous
Mar 4, 2018
Anonymous
Mar 1, 2018
£30.00
Caitlin Farrow
Feb 26, 2018
In honour of Fred's first birthday!
£30.00
BM Hall
Feb 25, 2018
£30.00
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About CrowdfundingAbout the fundraiser
the Magpie Project
London Borough of Newham, United Kingdom
Magpie Project was set up in 2017 by concerned Newham Mums who knew that there were mums and under fives among us who were not able to access services such as children's centres, etc - because their housing situation was so precarious. We set up a supported stay and play to help.