Burton YMCA services help the low income in Staffordshire

The YMCA in Burton provides assistance across Staffordshire from multiple centres as well as charity shops. The organisation also partners with other agencies as well in the Burton upon Trent and District, such as local food banks and shelters. Together they offer support for single people as well as the vulnerable.

The YMCA depends on donations and volunteers from the community to keep their programmes running. Without the support from these other individuals and businesses they will not be able to provide items such as furniture or a parcel of food to the low income.

The housing schemes in Staffordshire include access to beds at local shelters. All of the accommodations are in the Burton area and are for single, homeless residents. There are 3 different sites which can accommodate people. Each has a limited number of beds for the homeless to use.

Not only will an individual be able to have one of the over 70 beds available, but the YMCA provides the client with supportive services too. The programmes cover all of the issues which may have caused the individual to be evicted to begin with. The staff from the charity will also help the person find a new home to live in.

The assistance from the Burton YMCA is holistic. It will not only help the person apply for a rent deposit scheme, but the services from the staff at the organisation will provide general support, such as health check ups from a GP, advice to tenants, information on electricity connection schemes, and job programmes. This will build confidence on the formerly homeless person. The phone number to call for information on emergency housing or to be signposted to other agencies is 01283 547211.

Burton upon Trent and District mediation services is for both young people and the vulnerable. Sessions held can address a number of issues that the client may be threatened with. The aim is to help the person create a stable life by resolving conflict and other situations.

All mediation is at a neutral environment. So whether the person needs help in fighting an eviction or is have a crisis with a family member, the location will be at the Burton YMCA centre. This mediation can help lower homelessness in Staffordshire and just in general improve relationships in the community.

They also signpost people to other counselling and financial sessions. This includes everything from organisations that help people reduce their debts to programmes for electric bill arrears and mental heath issues. There are many agencies in Staffordshire that work with the YMCA to help the vulnerable with their basic needs, such as programmes for electric and energy bills.

Free parcels of food are provided by the Burton YMCA to the low income and vulnerable. In most months, about 100 boxes of groceries and non-perishable food items are passed out in the area. There are parcels given to dozens of senior citizens as well as pensioners as well.

The food bank at the centre is for a crisis only. The volunteers will try to provide help, but only as a last resort. So the service can be considered a lifeline for families that have no where else to turn to for a meal. Clients are given enough groceries to last up to 3 days, and referrals are not needed. It can also only be used up to 4 times per year. Call 01283 547211 for information.

The last programme provided is the furniture scheme. Hundreds of households in Staffordshire receive items each month. Anyone can shop at the store for furniture, and this is not only for the low income. The goods are sold at a lower cost.

There are stores in Burton (phone 01283 547133), Tamworth (phone 01827 67759), Swadlincote (telephone 01283 220202) as well as Derby (phone 01332 363010). Each location of the YMCA will have items such as beds, washing machines, white goods, heaters for a home, kitchen items and more for a new home.