HCT

West Sussex County Council is always looking for more people to come forward and welcome children in care into their homes, this includes asylum seeking and refugee children and young people; for whom we have a constant and on-going need for family based care provision.  Due to the recent arrival of over 400 asylum seekers in the Kent area, that need has increased. As Kent manages these arrivals, they are looking to neighbouring authorities to help find homes for the…

As you know, Horsham Matters supports Horsham residents experiencing fuel poverty with gas and electric vouchers.  As with previous years they are raising funds for this much needed relief to people who are struggling, and this coming year we are set to experience higher demand than ever before as more people struggle to make ends meet as a result of the pandemic. If you have received your Winter Fuel Allowance and feel that you are able and would like to donate…

MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO A VULNERABLE YOUNG PERSON THIS CHRISTMAS This year has been a difficult one for many of us in many ways, and particularly for those more vulnerable. This Christmas, more than ever, you can make a difference to a young person. As the biggest youth homelessness charity in the South East, every night YMCA DownsLink Group provide a safe home to 763 vulnerable young people. After such a tough year, we want to make sure every young…

Since the lockdown Horsham Matters have delivered food to over 2400 Horsham residents. We need your support as we have seen food donations reducing. We are short of the following items: Sponge puddings Tinned meat Tinned vegetables Rice pudding Tinned fruit You can leave your donations at our Donation Centre; Micah House, Blatchford Road, Horsham, RH13 5QR. We are able to accept food donations Mondays to Fridays, 9.30am – 4.00pm.

Zoom Bingo will take place on Friday 26 June at 7pm.  It will be a traditional round of 6 tickets plus a novelty Foodbank round, and a small prize for every house winner.  Tickets can be bought in the Horsham Matters website on-line shop, at £6 per person to join.  It will be a fun evening and the ticket money will help fund the Horsham District Foodbank. https://www.horsham-matters.com/bingo-tickets

Join us as we shine the light on homelessness, where is the most creative place that you can sleep just for one night, indoors or out? Horsham Matters is raising funds to buy bedding kits for the winter homeless Night Shelter starting in December. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/theglowsleepout

Supporting elderly and vulnerable people – Community Volunteer hubs The community response during the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has been amazing, with hundreds of individuals, groups and organisations coming forward on the ground, and through social media, to offer support: community spirit and resilience at its best. Over 1,300 volunteers have signed up to offer their support so far. It is clear that the most effective delivery mechanism for support lies in local neighbourhood groups responding to requests for support from…

The YMCA DLG has launched a special fundraising appeal to support our vulnerable young people through this national crisis, which is drastically affecting the emotional and mental and physical wellbeing of the young people we support across Sussex. You can access the appeal here: https://www.ymcadlg.org/get-involved/covid-emergency-packs-appeal-web/ Any donations from anyone who is able is hugely appreciated, thank you so much for yourcontinuing support of us here at the YMCA DLG in Horsham.

Have you subscribed to the monthly MESSY CHURCH NEWSLETTER? It is free and easy todo. https://www.messychurch.org.uk/newsletter The latest issue, full of news, is just out! All the Messy Church COVID-19 resources can be found in one place! The Messy Churchwebsite has a brand-new tab for easy access COVID-19. https://www.messychurch.org.uk/covid-19 There are lots of Messy Church Covid-19 HOLY HABITS resources being added to the website.https://www.messychurch.org.uk/resource/bible-fun-family-prayer-time The Messy Church BRF team has created a huge new Pinterest board – MESSY CHURCH AT…

Horsham Matters would like to ask people to continue to donate food through the drop-off points in Horsham supermarkets. They are aware that Tesco in Broadbridge Heath and Pulborough have removed their donation boxes and they are working to address the situation. Food donations can also be made at the Donation Centre on Blatchford Road, Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 4pm each day. Items can be left in the crates provided and a member of the Horsham Matters staff will…

Sleep Easy 2019 is coming and we would love you or your church/organisation to get involved!  YMCA DownsLink Group will once again be staging Sleep Easy sleepouts across our area – and this is our most ambitious year yet, with five events taking place. Four events will be running simultaneously in Brighton & Hove, Horsham, Eastbourne and Guildford on Friday 22 March, and we’re partnering with Crawley Open House to run an event in Crawley on Thursday 21 March. The aim…

The aim of Love in a Box is to ensure that every young person living in YMCA Downslink Group’s support housing projects has a present to open on Christmas morning. This may be all they receive on this day, and every year it is heartening to see how the kindness of strangers has a powerful impact on the young people. People can get involved by making up a shoe box of gifts for a young person staying in supported housing…

Could you help us make Christmas special for those who will have little or nothing under the tree on Christmas morning? If so, please leave a new unwrapped toys or gifts, or toiletries sets at Brock Taylor Estate Agents on East Street or The Salvation Army on Booth Way. Donations towards gift cards can be made as follows: Text HRSA87 £5 (or other amount) to 70070 http://Justgiving.com/fundraising/horsham-sa Closing date: Saturday, 8th December

Horsham Matters has set up a GoFund page to raise money for a new van to be used to transport furniture to needy families within the Horsham District. Please go to www.gofundme.com/new-van-for-horsham-matters if you are able to donate. Thank you.

There will be a number of Light Parties taking place at the end of this month including our own St John’s Night of Light: 5.30-7pm – email stjohnskidsevents@yahoo.com Details of other events are as follows: Wednesday 31st October 3.30-5pm: Southwater Community Methodist Church Alternative Halloween Party @ Beeson House – emailhello@southwatermethodistchurch.org.uk 4.30-6.30pm: St Mary’s Church Light Party (yrs 2-6) @ the Barn, the Causeway – book with St Mary’s Church Office  or families@stmaryshorsham.org.uk 4.30-6.30pm: St Andrew’s Methodist Church Messy Light Party –…

The autumn begins and the holiday period is over. You will undoubtedly become aware of people who are in need of special emotional support and understanding, or who are struggling with mental health issues. Anchor Counselling is a professional counselling service that has grown from Anchor Ministries, a charity that is one of the partner charities of Horsham Churches Together.  Many people have benefited from their services. They are able to offer an initial “no obligation” session for anyone whom…

Horsham Churches Night Shelter will run from the 1st December 2018 to 15th March 2019 Volunteer recruitment starts now! Application form attached. Deadline for applications is the 22nd October Night Shelter Sunday is 7th October Preparation sessions are on the 10th & 14th November All enquiries via nightshelter@horsham-matters.org.uk