Skip to main contentEnter
Purposeful journalism for people who care about our town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our journalism
News

Charity helps over 400 people furnish homes in fight against homelessness

Hopestead has provided furniture, appliances and flooring to more than 400 people over the past year as part of its Hope at Home campaign to end homelessness.

The big picture: The charity's impact report for 2023-24 reveals:

  • 418 people in 239 households, including 154 children, received support

  • 88 households got emergency bedding and appliances

  • 160 households received flooring and carpets

  • 462 new whitegoods were supplied

  • Total value of support: £875,825

Hopestead team members Danielle Green, Bethan Bishop and Lucy Parish
Sonya DuncanHopestead
Hopestead team members Danielle Green, Bethan Bishop and Lucy Parish

Why it matters: The campaign aims to help people transitioning out of homelessness set up their new homes, empowering them to break the cycle of homelessness.

Lucy Parish, Hopestead's head of operations, said: "Hope at home is about ensuring that people moving into a property from a route of homelessness have essential items to enable them to thrive, so they are empowered to break the cycle of homelessness."

Between the lines: The charity reports rising demand for its services across the east of England:

  • Over 20,000 people experienced homelessness in the region last year

  • More than 18,000 were living in temporary accommodation

  • The cost-of-living crisis led to increased support needs for household debt, food and fuel

Hopestead’s programme and policy manager Bethan Bishop delivers household items as part of the charity’s Hope at Home campaign
Sonya DuncanHopestead
Hopestead’s programme and policy manager Bethan Bishop delivers household items as part of the charity’s Hope at Home campaign

Other initiatives:

  • Hopestead Place: Two self-contained modular homes in Ipswich for people transitioning out of homelessness, opened by Sir Terry Waite.

  • Hope Funds: £176,000 in grants to 19 charities and groups for projects reducing homelessness.

What's next: Hopestead plans to launch a new Voice of Hope campaign to raise awareness and advocate for policy changes to end homelessness.

Parish said: "Voice of Hope will campaign for better outcomes for the people we support by raising awareness of homelessness and the importance of housing in general. We will urge politicians and policymakers to drive long-term positive changes that can end homelessness for good."

Our content is free to read thanks to the generous support of Ipswich School, ICS and Kingsfleet

The ICS team outside their offices in Henley, just outside Ipswich

ICS

Founded in 1998, ICS has been the trusted IT partner to businesses across Ipswich and Suffolk for over a quarter of a century.
The Kingsfleet team outside their offices in Claydon, near Ipswich

Spend your time and money as you wish

Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.
News

SEN Santa sessions at Buttermarket this weekend

Santa will turn down the music and limit numbers at the Buttermarket Shopping Centre this weekend after parents asked for calmer festive events for children with special educational needs (SEN).
by
Continue reading →
News

Suffolk researchers test whether singing can treat Parkinson's 'poker face'

Researchers in Suffolk are launching what they believe is the first UK study testing whether musical-theatre-style singing can rehabilitate facial expression in Parkinson's patients – addressing a symptom that affects around 9 in 10 people but has limited treatment options.
by
Continue reading →
News

Woman fighting for life after hit-and-run on Burrell Road

A woman is in a life-threatening condition in hospital after being hit by a car whose driver fled the scene on Burrell Road in Ipswich this morning, with a man in his 30s now arrested in connection with the incident.
by
Continue reading →

Ipswich School, ICS and Kingsfleet

The ICS team outside their offices in Henley, just outside Ipswich

ICS

Founded in 1998, ICS has been the trusted IT partner to businesses across Ipswich and Suffolk for over a quarter of a century.
The Kingsfleet team outside their offices in Claydon, near Ipswich

Spend your time and money as you wish

Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.
News

Gym manager's childhood inspires hospital toy appeal

A Martlesham gym manager who spent much of her childhood in hospital has launched a toy appeal that has collected nearly 150 Christmas gifts for young patients at Ipswich Hospital.
by
Continue reading →

Ipswich School, ICS and Kingsfleet

The ICS team outside their offices in Henley, just outside Ipswich

ICS

Founded in 1998, ICS has been the trusted IT partner to businesses across Ipswich and Suffolk for over a quarter of a century.
The Kingsfleet team outside their offices in Claydon, near Ipswich

Spend your time and money as you wish

Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.
News

Police appeal for witnesses after Pearl Road burglary

Detectives are investigating a burglary at a home on Pearl Road in Ipswich on Monday evening, where jewellery and bank cards were stolen and used fraudulently.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our content is free to read thanks to
Our content is free to read thanks to
Our content is free to read thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
6,630+ people are already loving it