Community Care Hub – A Path to Dignity and Independence
Our Vision
Good Neighbour Church England (Charity Registration No: 1195452) believes in providing homeless and low-income individuals with pathways to dignity, community, and independence. Our Birmingham-based Community Care Hub empowers participants through a variety of essential services and opportunities, fostering a supportive environment where they can work towards self-sufficiency and renewed self-worth.
(Good Neighbour Church England's community visit in Birmingham)
Building Financial Resilience through Self-Sufficiency
Aligned with Aviva’s focus on improving financial wellbeing, our program addresses not only the immediate needs of those in crisis but also their long-term financial futures. By offering opportunities for community involvement and skill development, we help participants regain a sense of ownership over their lives. This, in turn, fosters self-esteem, employability, and the ability to break free from the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Our program does more than provide short-term relief; it creates pathways to sustainable self-reliance. Participants engage in meaningful community work that strengthens their connection to others, and through their participation, they gain tools that prepare them for employment and financial independence.
(Good Neighbour Church England's community visit in Birmingham)
Why Your Support Matters
Homelessness is a growing issue in Birmingham, with 1 in 71 people facing this dire situation. Many are caught in a cycle of dependency, unable to access the resources they need to escape poverty. Our Time Coupon Program is designed to change that by offering both immediate humanitarian support and a pathway to financial independence through meaningful engagement.
We are seeking £49,800 to run the project for one year, which will allow us to maintain our Community Care Hub, support staffing costs, provide vocational training, and offer essential materials to participants. This funding will directly impact the lives of Birmingham's homeless and low-income populations, helping them transition from a state of crisis to one of empowerment and stability.
Transforming Traditional Approaches
(Food aid service in the UK)
While traditional services like food banks provide critical short-term aid, they often don't address the root causes of homelessness. Our program goes further by helping individuals develop long-term career and life skills, preventing them from falling back into poverty. Through the program, participants contribute meaningfully to the community, gain skills, and build confidence that opens doors to lasting change.
(Food aid service in the UK)
How the Community Care Hub works
Our program reaches homeless individuals through street outreach efforts, implementing three key operational levels:
1.Immediate Support
The Hub provides critical resources including weekly overnight shelter, access to free hot meals, twice a week family dinner meal services, gender-specific support for women, and shower facilities in partnership with ShowerBox. Additionally, a Mailing Address Service allows homeless individuals to maintain connections for employment, benefits, and personal correspondence. These services, available through our Community Living Room, create a safe, welcoming space for rest and connection.
2.Skill Development and Empowerment
By earning Time Coupons through volunteering, participants gain access to vocational training and essential resources while rebuilding self-esteem and social connections. These Time Coupons can be exchanged for necessities, creating a foundation for skills and habits that support long-term employability and independence.
3.Homelessness Prevention
Our focus extends to preventing homelessness by empowering individuals close to financial stability with job training, structured volunteer programs, and a supportive network. This includes a Job Matching and Mentorship Service to connect participants with employers offering suitable opportunities. Through a six-month mentorship program, we provide career guidance and on-the-job support, coordinating between newly employed individuals and their employers. This service helps stabilize employment, encouraging resilience and greater job retention, ultimately reinforcing their journey toward long-term stability.
Our Core Service
1.Weekly Overnight Rest Stop
Operating one night per week, the Rest Stop serves as a secure, respectful overnight shelter, where guests can rest in safety and dignity. It offers homeless individuals a peaceful break from street life in a comfortable, community-oriented setting.
2.Free Basic Meals and Hot Dinners
The Hub provides free, nutritious meals to nourish body and soul. A weekly hot dinner is served twice a week, creating a home-like atmosphere where individuals can gather, feel valued, and enjoy comforting meals together.
3.Shower Service
We providing hygiene services to maintain dignity and wellbeing.
4.Mailing Address Service
A stable mailing address supports identity verification, access to services, and personal communication, restoring a sense of security and belonging.
5.Vocational and Skill Training
Through partnerships with local organizations, the Hub offers skill-building workshops, job training, and access to health services. These resources help equip individuals with practical skills to enhance employability, regain independence, and transition out of poverty.
6.Gender-Specific Support for Women
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by homeless women, the Hub provides dedicated resources including hygiene supplies, counseling, and safety measures, ensuring a safe, supportive environment for their specific needs.
7.Outreach and Connection Building
The Hub’s outreach efforts actively engage with homeless individuals on the streets, building trust and encouraging participation in Hub programs. By fostering a personal connection, the Hub reaches those who might otherwise remain invisible and underserved.
8.Time Coupon Empowerment Program
Participants can earn and use Time Coupons as currency within the Hub, redeeming them for essential services, meals, and training opportunities. This program promotes self-worth, agency, and self-reliance, providing both practical support and a path towards independence.
The Community Care Hub not only responds to the immediate needs of the homeless but also provides them with a meaningful space to volunteer, where they can earn time credits. Through this initiative, individuals rebuild connections with the community, make valuable contributions, and rediscover their sense of self-worth. It is a place of hope and empowerment, offering a pathway to both personal growth and communal strength.
Your Role in Creating Lasting Change
By supporting our Community Care Hub, you are supporting in a future where Birmingham’s homeless and low-income individuals are empowered to achieve financial wellbeing and independence. Every pound you contribute helps us provide essential services and develop life-changing opportunities. Our proven track record includes running homeless shelters in Hong Kong and successfully delivering the £100,000 BNO adaptation project, which supported thousands of Hong Kong immigrants in the UK. ( https://www.englandgnc.uk/en/bno )
With your help, we can continue to offer dignity and hope to those who need it most. This project will run as a one-year pilot to refine our approach and ensure that we create sustainable, impactful change. Your support will help us measure and refine success metrics such as participant engagement, employment outcomes, and housing stability.
Together, we can transform lives.
A One-Year Pilot for Long-Term Impact
This project will run as a one-year pilot, allowing us to test and refine our approach to supporting homeless and low-income individuals through The Community Care Hub. By focusing on this initial year, we aim to gather crucial insights and data on what works best in fostering long-term self-sufficiency and community reintegration. This pilot phase will enable us to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, assess participant outcomes, and make necessary adjustments for future scalability.
If the pilot proves successful, we plan to expand the program further, increasing the number of participants and services provided. This will allow us to make an even greater impact, reaching more people in need and helping to bring about sustainable change in the community.
(In April 2022, our church dispatched a team to Kharkiv, Ukraine, providing medical aid and humanitarian support, walking alongside the suffering.)
Support for changing life
Your support will enable us to continue providing essential services while expanding our reach to more individuals in need. The total cost of the project is £49,800 for one year. Specifically, the funds will be allocated as follows:
- Venue and Utilities (£2,000/month): To maintain a safe and welcoming space at the Community Care Hub.
- Staffing (£2,000/month): Covering the salaries of two full-time staff members dedicated to outreach, support, and operations management.
- Essential Materials (£150/month): For food, groceries, and hygiene supplies, ensuring that basic needs are consistently met.
- Vocational Training : Supporting participants in building skills and finding stable employment.
- Community Care Hub Operations : Maintaining and enhancing the hub’s services, including the Rest Stop and living room space.
- Volunteer and Participant Engagement : Encouraging community involvement and ownership of the program.
- Safeguarding : Ensuring a safe and secure environment through CCTV, crisis intervention protocols.
Your contribution will make a direct impact on the lives of Birmingham’s most vulnerable, offering them not just a handout but a path to self-reliance and dignity.
Measuring Success
We will measure the success of The Community Care Hub through a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators, ensuring that the program creates lasting and meaningful change:
1.Participant Engagement
- 2,000 visits per year
- Engage at least 30 individuals annually, with 60% actively participating in volunteering or training programs.
2.Job Placement and Stability
- Facilitate employment for 10 participants through job matching and mentorship services.
- Ensure at least 70% retain their jobs for six months, supported by mentoring, career guidance, and employer coordination.
3.Housing Transition
- Help 5 participants move from homelessness to stable housing through improved employability and financial stability.
4.Improved Quality of Life
- Gather feedback to measure an 80% increase in reported well-being, self-esteem, and confidence among participants.
5.Community Reconnection
- Promote social inclusion, with 75% of participants reporting stronger connections and reduced isolation.
£20 Donation Reward
To make this a reality, we are currently fundraising for it. We need your help.
For just £20, you can support this vital work—and receive a limited-edition Community Care Hub Cotton Canvas Bag as our thanks.
Join Us in Changing Lives
(The homeless gather in our church to watch the Paris Olympics, regaining dignity and respect.)
This is more than just a program—it’s a movement to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Together, we can create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. By supporting The Community Care Hub, you are helping to build a future where dignity, independence, and hope are within reach for all.
Thank you for considering partnering with us in this transformative work. We look forward to working together to create lasting change.