Freedom Community Alliance – Transforming Lives

Crowdfunding begun by James Scott in Barnstaple, England, United Kingdom

My connection to Freedom Community Alliance is in its relative infancy – however the mark it has left on me personally, and my colleagues is profound as the issues they deal with recently landed close to home.   

In 2023 one of our team lost his father, and his life quickly fell apart – mental health problems, addiction, job loss and homelessness. In a very short amount of time, we witnessed firsthand someone lose everything they cared for and we were helpless to stop the decline.

The Freedom Centre stepped in when their outreach team spotted their tent, and since then have given him all the support he needed since his decline but couldn’t find, either through lack of support services or simply not knowing what is available.  Within a week of first contact he had been given use of a Rough Sleeper Pod (temporary accommodation unit), fed 3 meals a day, had a shower and his clothes washed, been checked by a nurse, seen a mental health nurse, and switched GPs to the in-house GP service at The Freedom Centre.   He is now being supported in secure housing and on the way to getting his life back on track to continue what had been a very promising career.   Our own team are trying to support in any way we can, but through this experience, we now see not only the wider problem in our society but the problem solvers who are fighting against this.

I personally cannot express how grateful we are there is a service like this in North Devon.    “James Scott, Crowthorne Insurance - Roundswell, Barnstaple”

At The Freedom Centre we provide vulnerable people with a place to be heard, to be seen, and to be safe.  

Some of those people have experienced catastrophic life changes, like James’ friend; others find themselves homeless as a result of redundancy, broken relationships, or eviction.    

The last few years have been tough on us all, and the rising cost of living and a shortage of affordable housing have left lots of people unsure where their next hot meal will come from, or worse – where their next safe sleep will be.  More people than ever are facing the brutality of sleeping rough, and demand for our support is increasing - especially now that winter has arrived.  

The Freedom Centre offers drop-in sessions with a nourishing hot meal, hot showers, clean warm clothes, the internet, healthcare, mental health support, a food parcel, housing and welfare advice, access to the internet and a place to charge a phone, and a safe place to sleep if that’s what’s needed.

Our outreach teams are out daily, finding people sleeping rough and helping them into warmth and safety at The Freedom Centre where our multi-agency team are waiting to help.

We supported just under 500 people last year, served over 7,000 free hot meals, and helped more than 100 North Devon people off the streets, and back on their feet.   

It costs the charity around £268,000 annually to run The Freedom Centre with its drop-in services and support staff.  With your help we can make sure The Freedom Centre stays open to anyone in need this winter, and thanks to James, every £ donated by you (up to £250) will be match funded by Aviva until the end of January 2025.    

Here’s how your donation could directly benefit the people we support:

£3 can provide a hot shower, toiletries, and fresh clothing

£5 can serve a fresh, hot, nutritious meal in our day centre

£15 can provide laundry services for rough sleepers and rough sleeper pod users for a day

£100 can cover the costs of one of our support workers for a day