Operations Manager John says he is “fortunate to have such a wonderful team of staff and volunteers”.
One Tuesday in May, not long before six in the morning, David* – whose circumstances had led to him being temporarily homeless, sleeping outside the entrance to Coopers Square – told YMCA Burton’s Outreach team about his recent abuse by teenagers, saying:
I need to get somewhere. I can’t keep doing this s**t.
John Widdowson-Evans, Operations Manager for the charity, later explained that David had likely chosen this spot “because he’s by a camera”.
It’s quite common for homeless people to be victims of abuse and violence, for no reason. It’s just that they’re easy targets.
David was the only person we came across on this fairly damp morning, but a sheet-shaped gathering of leaves here, and a spread of cardboard there were just as clear indications of rough sleeping taking place in and around the town.
Outreach volunteers head out just before 5am to check the various expected ‘resting places’ every two weeks – unless referrals are made in between, in which case John prides the service’s fast response time, “to make sure people are safe”.
We don’t want them out there, vulnerable.
He tells me that even at this time in the morning, the job of the Outreachers becomes all the more challenging in the summer, when they’re effectively “fighting the sunrise”. As David’s case shows, rough sleepers simply don’t want to be around when other people are up and about.
Most are, however, keen to be greeted by John and the team, so that they can be helped.
YMCA Burton works to guide individuals first into temporary accommodation and, further down the line, into more permanent residencies. They are provided with one of a “great team” of support workers, both to ensure that any relevant benefits claims are set up, and to encourage the development of new skills through training courses.
The aim is for people to be able to move on within two years. Some are able to do so more quickly – perhaps in six months, or less. But John stresses that this is not a process to be rushed: “We want everyone to be ready to live on their own.”
Some of the younger people in particular who engage with the charity have never set up a bill, never mind a home.
We try to empower people and give them all the life skills they need, which isn’t always easy.
Outreach, then, is only the very first step of the turnaround journey. But it is clearly such an important one.
That’s not least because of the dedication of the staff and volunteers who make sure it keeps happening.
There are around five volunteers – all “really committed”.
Coral has been a regular volunteer for about three-and-a-half years, and was there the morning after I enquired about a telephone interview with the Outreach team and was asked: “What are you doing at half four tomorrow?”
She may be retired, but has done so much more to support the charity’s work, too – including a fundraising dance show and (I should stress, separately) a skydive! She drew the line at a wing walk, but I would have drawn it long before that.
Mia got involved more recently, about four months ago now, so has yet to get used to waking up so early!
She is about to finish a course in psychology and counselling at university, and also volunteers for YMCA Burton – including helping out at arts and crafts nights.
Her work with the charity has inspired her to possibly pursue working in the sector full time.
These three properly know their way about in and around the town, and were kind enough, for example, to point out a wobbly slab outside St Modwen’s – which I predictably slipped over on the way back, anyway.
John knows he is “fortunate to have such a wonderful team of staff and volunteers that do what they do day in day out”.
Without them, you’d dread to think what would happen.
But while the team gives up a lot, they get a lot back, too.
To be able to support people and help them, and give them a bit of direction when they’re probably lost at their lowest ebb, it’s quite powerful. It brightens your day really. You go away feeling like you’ve done a little bit.
They also enjoy tracking their steps on every outing – not far off 10,000 this time around!
Even with all this support, the charity could not resolve – or, better put, manage – Burton’s homelessness problem alone. So it is wonderful to discover that it works so closely with so many other groups across the town.
John points in particular to the work of Burton’s BAC O’Connor rehabilitation centre and the Langan’s Tea Room social enterprise (Burton House, George Street), which is staffed by BAC O’Connor graduates and helps fund the centre – plus many other agencies locally.
On a smaller, yet no less important scale, he highlights the work of local religious institutions, such as the Community Church in Stapenhill (Main Street), which offers free afternoon tea every Wednesday, from 2-4pm, and Elim Church (Moor Street), which runs a ‘Celebrate Recovery’ programme.
The local authority also does a “great job” of helping to keep the number of rough sleepers down.
We’re never in competition. The services in the town work really well together to make sure that people aren’t sleeping rough.
But even then, “it’s still a challenge”.
The work is, however, paying off, and John says it is becoming a little more rare to come across rough sleepers on the Outreach walks – and not just because of the earlier-rising sun.
Often, the people John and his team do come across have “incredible” stories.
A lot of them are dealing with a lot of trauma. Their behaviour doesn’t come out of thinking, ‘I’m going to become homeless’. It comes out of something that is happening in their life that is out of their control.
After Outreach is finished for the week, at around 7am, the charity’s housing team sets to work on finding accommodation for those in need. Coral heads straight off to walk her son’s dog – another few thousand steps to add to the daily count. And Mia admits that she’ll probably try to catch up on a few hours of sleep!
*Name changed.
If you would like to report a concern for someone, you can contact YMCA Burton at 0800 130 3415.
And if you’re interested in volunteering for YMCA Burton yourself, the charity would doubtless be grateful for your support. Visit www.burtonymca.org or email office@burtonymca.org.