This November, I’m taking on a 7-day, 100km trek and raft challenge through the Colombian jungle – all to raise vital funds for WSUP (Woolwich Service Users Project), a charity that not only supports those facing homelessness and poverty, but also changed the course of my own life.

Organised by Venari Partners, this challenge will be tough – mentally and physically – but nothing compared to what many people go through every day just trying to survive on the streets. WSUP provides life’s essentials that everyone deserves: hot food, showers, clean clothes, laundry facilities, and a safe space to rest for a few hours on drop in days. People experiencing homelessness, or living on the poverty line, these services are often a lifeline.

Alongside this, other organisations use the hub providing their services, such as an NHS outreach nurse, DentAid, and Kings Hospital.

WSUP helped me during a low point in my life. After struggling for 20 + years with my mental health, and low self esteem, I was hit with extreme anxiety and a sense of feeling lost. I had left my job as a stage technician of ten years and wanted to go on to help others.

I started studying mental health and then joined volunteering with WSUP which gave me more of a purpose, and the belief that I could move forward. The service then was completely volunteer led, and I quickly became a Volunteer Duty Manager, and the community felt like a family. I finished my studies in mental health and then did exceptional in my policing diploma. Volunteering really helped me gain confidence back in myself and drove me to do what I wanted to do and show me how capable I am!

Today, I’m very proud to say I now work within WSUP as a Business Relations Manager and Deputy Service Delivery Manager.

This challenge is my way of giving back to the charity that helped me rebuild myself – and continues to support so many others. WSUP is completely self-funded, so donations are essential to keep it running and to expand the support WSUP can offer, especially in health and wellbeing – areas where help is desperately needed.

No one should have to live on the streets or suffer in silence. With your support, WSUP can continue to make a difference – for guests and for the volunteers whose lives are changed through the work that is done.

Please donate if you can – every contribution, big or small, makes a real impact. Thank you so much for your support

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