Finn’s Fundraiser
Finn is hiking solo from Bude to Exeter and aiming to raise £1000 for Southampton City Mission!
He says… “This past year I've been on a placement as part of my degree, working as a social prescriber and I've seen the incredible work you do firsthand. When my friends and colleagues suggested that I do my hike as a fundraiser, I could think of no-one better to do it for.“
Thank you Finn and thank you to everyone who is able to donate.
Your gift helps someone in hardship who doesn't know where to turn.
Southampton City Mission provide food, clothing, and other essentials for the most marginalised in the city of Southampton who either suddenly find themselves in hardship and need help, or who need some extra support to get back on their feet.
Every donation supports local individuals and families in this position, not just with food and supplies but also a place to go to talk and find hope.
Thank you for giving what you can today.
Some of the situations your support will be directly helping…
“I just don’t know where I’m going to sleep tonight“
On a visit to one of our Basics Banks in the city, I came across a young man standing outside the main entrance who was clearly distraught. I introduced myself and he proceeded to convey his story which had only just taken shape. He was 30 years old with a partner and 3 young children under 10 years old, and until that day was working on a building site.
He explained to me that the reason he was coming to ask for food from SCM was that his life has simply fallen apart in the previous 48 hours. Following a major argument his partner had told him to leave their flat and never come back, she took charge of the children and he feared that he might never see them again. As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. To add to his worries, his building job was working alongside his partner’s father, who owned the company. That morning he lost his job.
He turned to me and said “I just don’t know where I am going to sleep tonight”.
Sadly, this was just one of many situations that we face every day in Southampton as we try to support people in desperate need; so why was this different for me?
Well, here was an articulate young man, well dressed and very polite. As I stood and listened to his story, the one thought that rushed into my mind was ‘this could be me tomorrow’.
“I thought there was no point asking for help, people like me don’t get help.
But someone cared enough to sit beside me and talk, to help me make tomorrow look different from today.”
Last week at the food bank in St Mary’s Church Hall in Sholing, I met Mick, their church warden, who showed me around. He was pleased to be able to share about the journey that had been on from starting 13 years ago to the present day. We got chatting about a particular memory that has never left him.
St Mary's food bank had only recently opened. One day, a man walked through the door looking completely defeated.
He had spent his working life in a manual trade and had always earned his own living. He'd never imagined he would ever need to ask anyone for help, especially not a food bank. But work had dried up, money had run out and he had reached the point where there was simply nothing left.
Coming into the food bank, he felt embarrassed and uncomfortable. For someone who had always been independent, asking for food felt like admitting failure. Mick stepped forward to talk to him. It became clear as they talked that the man might also be entitled to some financial support while he looked for work but Mick’s suggestion was met with little hope, convinced there was no point applying. People like him didn't get help, he said. He was certain he would be turned down.
After putting together some food for him to take home, Mick didn't just wish him well and send him on his way. Instead, the two men walked outside and sat together on a tree stump in the churchyard. Using Mick's laptop, they worked through a formal welfare support application together. It took about half an hour. Mick helped him answer the questions, complete the form and submit it. Then they said goodbye.
A little while later, the man came back. This time he wasn't looking for help. His application had been successful, giving him enough support to steady things while he found work again. He was back on his feet and wanted to say thank you. He arrived carrying two bags of shopping. "…for the next person," he told Mick.
Thank you for your support.
Anything you can give will make a big difference in stories like these and can completely turn lives around.