These obstacles can be the difference between a person who is hard to reach making a significant step forward, or giving up and reverting back to an old way of life.

 

For instance:

 

A person who is hard to reach has suddenly decided late one night, after months of wet, windy, and falling temperatures, that they are prepared to take the plunge and move away from the street. Providing immediate support to access accommodation like a bed & breakfast could be the one thing that saves this person’s life.

 

Providing literacy support (books, an IT course) for a person who, having stopped drinking, chooses to further their education to help them get a job.

 

Our Hard to Reach Fund allows us to support people at different stages in their journey to help them overcome such obstacles and start their journey back to a more fulfilling life.

 

John’s Story:

 

John hadn’t been seen by his family for 25 years. His four children and three grandchildren thought he was dead. But John was still very much alive. He’d struggled with a marriage breakdown and an alcohol addiction and ended up sleeping rough on the streets of the capital for many years.

 

Three years ago, a home had been found for John at the Thames Reach Robertson Street hostel for older former rough sleepers. His support worker, Nic, found out from John about how broken-hearted he was at having lost contact with his family.

 

It took a bit of work to trace them but then contact was successfully made and with money from the hard to reach fund, John was able to go to Glasgow to stay for a few days with his son and grandson. It proved to be a tearful reunion with his son crying and saying: “We got you back pop, we got you back”.

 

We thought you would like to know once you donate JustGiving will send your money directly to us and make sure that Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation.

 

Thank you for reaching out and donating to the Hard to Reach Fund and for helping people like John.