Recent Work
Check out what we have been up to recently…
Sunday 3rd March 2024
As soon as we arrived one of our regular lady’s begged us to provide her with warm clothing.
We unloaded the tables and trolleys from the van and then searched our bags of suitable clothing, while we did this she climbed into our van to warm herself, we found her 2 pairs of jogging bottoms, and a bigger coat so she could wear over the 2 she already had on. She arrived wearing a pair of shoes 3 sizes to big, we gave her a pair that would fit but she struggled to get them on her feet due to her frozen hands, we helped her into the shoes and tied her laces, there were several people in the same position. Once she had eaten she came over and gave us a hug before walking away with a bag full of food to eat later. We have spoken about this girl before as much as we take from helping her we know things will never change, she has chosen homelessness as it’s the only life she knows since the age of 12, she’s had support and a place to live, but things don’t work out, we don’t blame or judge her sadly it’s her younger years that caused her trauma. We will be there for as long as she needs us. Equally she’s very protective of us.
There was a little bit of unrest in the queue and tempers became a bit heated amongst the service users, so we stood in the queue along side the guys, just listening to their life and the challenges they face, this seemed to calm tensions, sadly a lady told us of her story of escaping 30 years of domestic violence and then found someone that cared about her and looked after her for 5 years sadly he past away, unfortunately this is the reason she ended up on the streets, she drinks and has a defensive front, but we realise it’s to mask her pain. She was angry and hungry but she left in better spirits, thanking us for being there. Giving our time to listen was really important here and it made a difference to the mood in the long queue.
On occasions we are exhausted after working a full week in our regular job and then going on to supporting people after hours, days off and weekends, but it’s humbling to make a difference where we can and part of our own journey and self healing.
This week we supported 3 individuals set up their new homes including a young mum, just sheer excitement to finally receive a washing machine meant the world.
There is so much work behind the scenes going on 7 days a week, with support the St Anne’s breakfast club, the homeless shelters and the B&B’s that accommodate our homeless community. Thank you to the team that organise the deliveries.
As always we are thankful to.
Thank you to The Woods in Chapel for donating us pizza for tonight.
Steve for cooking a spicy bean stew as well as donating non perishable food.
Thank you to Kirsten for her lovely wholesome baking also enjoyed by all.
Thank you Karen we are really grateful for all your support your chicken stew went down a treat.
Thank you to Wheely Indian Food for thier completely unexpected donation of 50 Vegetable Biryani, chickpea curry and Samosas, an additional treats for the homeless shelters this week we were able to support 8 homeless shelters in Leeds and Bradford.
Thank you to the Leeds 11 Sikh temple for supporting us with meals every week and just as important donating much needed disposable cups, containers and cutlery.
As always thank you to Punjabi Heaven for donating Dahl and Rice, really warm and enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Singh restaurant for helping us support the homeless hostels and the B&B’s accommodating our homeless community.
Thank you to Liz and Mal for arranging a delivery of much needed new joggers.
Thank you to Jane for donating new underwear for the ladies.
Thank you to Alpkits for sending us another delivery of sleeping bags.
A lot of the team tonight committed on how busy they found the night, thank you to everyone that supported us tonight 
Sunday 25th February 2024
This seems to be a cold winter, earlier in the day we thought maybe we would be in for a warmer night, unfortunately the guys all felt the bitterness of tonight, the queue for warm clothes was exceptionally long, so many of people just asking for layers.
A young man lay under his sleeping bag at our meeting point absolutely frozen, we provided another blanket and warm drinks and food at the location of his makeshift bed. Once fed and warm he slept as we continued to feed people waiting in our queue.
Unfortunately tonight we noticed how much dirtier and how sore the hands of our rough sleepers are sadly looking, one individual even commented on his hands, made us feel quite sad. We will have to put some thought into this one.
We wrote last week about the gentleman who had been homeless for two months seeking employment. To our delight after making a few phone call, one of our long term supporters that’s been part of journey for several years, not only gave him a job but also gave him a place to stay. We have done the easy bit he now has the hard part to build a better future.
We also moved a young lady that’s lived in temporary accommodation for the last 18 months into her future home, we provided a sofa and some white goods to get her started.
All our normal activities of food supplies into the food banks, the hostel in Leeds and Bradford has continued, we also supplied breakfast items to the resource centre.
Tonight we thank:
Karen for all her support, and cooking a hearty chicken stew.
Thank you Steve for always supporting Homeless Hampers with food donations.
Thank you to Punjabi Heaven for the curry and Rice.
Thank you to Leeds 11 Sikh temple for their Dhal, and vegetable curry.
Thank you to everyone that baked Elodie, Jo and Saul.
Kirsten thank you for your delicious crumble and custard enjoyed by all.
Thank to Monica, Kumar and Maya for donations.
Thank you to Singh’s restaurants for their support every week helps us support the hostels.
A big thank you to the team from Good Gym Leeds for donating us their time to organise our storage area and restock the van, they have committed to supporting us one Wednesday each month. Ladies and Gents you were all amazing.
A very special thank you to everyone that supports use with donations of clothes, furniture and electrical items.
We are desperately in need of the following items only.
- Men’s Joggers
- Men’s trainers size 7- 10
- Men’s Jeans
- Boxer Shorts
Just a humbled by all the support we are given by our volunteers
Sunday 18th February 2024
So many people asking for our to help them off the streets, we taken details for a couple of them and we will follow there housing application up for them.
One individual really broke us tonight, his case is complicated, they only way he sees himself with a roof over his head, is by finding employment and going into a private rental property, he’s been sleeping rough for 2 months and every morning cleaning himself up to seek employment. We offered him a blanket and a sleeping bag and he stated it wouldn’t be a good look him turning up to potential employers with his belongings. He has a bidding number for a council property but has no hope of ever being housed, we can’t help feeling completely helpless in these situations.
This week we managed to offer home support to 2 individuals moving into there new homes. We provided furniture, white appliances and furnishings.
Thank you to Amy and all her staff and customers for donating several filled boxes and bags of non-perishable food, for our food parcels.
We supported several food bank this week, please keep donating food donations it’s helping us to support hundreds of people each week.
We ensured the breakfast club is well stocked with bread, milk, tea, coffee, jam and cereal. This week we also donated much needed toiletries.
Thank you to our teams that deliver meals into the homeless hostels, B&Bs in Leeds and Bradford. If there is anyone in the Bradford area that drives and wants to join the Bradford team with delivery please contact us via our website.
Steve for cooking a spicy bean stew as well as donating non perishable food.
Thank you to Kirsten for providing her delicious crumble tonight, which served with custard.
Thank to Moores Bakery for donating fresh bread and buns all distributed to people struggling but have homes.
Thank you to Penny for donating us to large boxes of cakes and pies.
Thank you Karen we are really grateful for all your support your chicken stew went down a treat.
Thank you to the Leeds 11 Sikh temple for supporting us with meals every week and just as important donating much needed disposable cups, containers and cutlery.
As always thank you to Punjabi Heaven for donating Dahl and Rice, really warm and enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Singh restaurant for helping us support the homeless hostels and the B&B’s accommodating our homeless community.
Busy night support 120 people, thank you to everyone that supported us tonight
Sunday 11th February 2024
So many new faces and so new people not local to the city. A little quieter but still 97 people supported tonight.
Tonight we learnt of 8 people sleeping under a stairwell, to give them some shelter from the rain. Sadly 4 ladies amongst them. Again a lot of people wanting coats, sleeping bags and blankets.
The first homeless friend to approach us tonight was in a wheelchair, he shivered as he only had a thin jacket to keep him warm, first thing he asked for was a hug, which we obliged, its always nice to see this gentleman but sadly we wish it wasn’t under these conditions. We wrapped a warm coat around him and gave him a hot chocolate, followed by a warm meal. Sadly we became busy and he left without saying goodbye. He’s not in the best of health, so we hope he will visit us next week.
From a distance I could hear someone calling my name, the voice was familiar and I have not heard for a few months as soon as she saw me she threw her arms around me. Another young lady well known to us and very protective of us, has been away for a few months, another one we wish life was kinder to her, a lot of trauma in her life, hence the reason she chooses to live on the streets.
Well we are starting back up deliveries of household items as we are receiving a lot referral each day.
We ensured the breakfast club is well stocked so the guys get a hot breakfast every morning.
Our support into the food banks continues. We are getting a lot requests from other food banks to support them, challenge times for so many people.
Steve for cooking a spicy bean stew as well as donating non perishable food.
Thank you to Kirsten for wholesome baking and the burley brownies for their delicious crumble, which served with custard.
Thank to Jo, Elodie and Saul for donating homemade cakes which the guys love.
Thank you Catherine for cooking up a chicken stew for the guys for the first time they really enjoyed it, we missed you at outreach.
Thank you to the Leeds 11 Sikh temple for supporting us with meals every week and just as important donating much needed disposable cups, containers and cutlery.
As always thank you to Punjabi Heaven for donating Dahl and Rice, really warm and enjoyed by all.
Thank you to the congregation of the LDS Church for making up the sandwiches for our Sunday nights.
Thank you to our team of volunteers that collect and sort our donations.
Thank you to Singh restaurant for helping us support the homeless hostels and the B&B’s accommodating our homeless community.
Sunday nights are about our humble volunteers, without them none of all we do would be possible.
Again a special thank you to our team of volunteers that distribute food donations into the Homeless Hostels in Leeds and Bradford. There is so much precious time given behind the scenes
Sunday 4th February 2024
Sorry for not posting for the last two weeks, it’s been an extremely busy few weeks.
A lot of our street homeless community were grateful that the weather has settled over the last few nights, as sleeping out in the winds has proved to be difficult a few asked for tents as they had lost theirs or they had been removed, as a rule we don’t hand out tents.
One individual turned up to see on a local authority bike and stated they were a blessing for him and instead of walking miles all day, he was able to spend the little money he had just hiring the bike, each of our street homeless community find their own way of survival.
Even though we have plenty of food to go around everyone we always ensure we have plenty of food for everyone. Our street homeless community often complain about people in the queues having homes, we judge no one as a prime example, we had a previously homeless individual show up tonight as he’s finding things and adjusting to life in his new home, with the very little money he has left after all his monthly expenses a real challenge, while he adjusts to his new life we will support as we want to prevent him ending up homeless again.
The team continue to provide warmer clothes, many of them asking for hat and clothes to keep them warm as the night temperatures drop.
Overall people were really pleasant, which makes it a easier night for us. So many people people just thanked us for supporting them. We are just grateful that we can help.
A special thank to our team in Leeds and Bradford that delivers meals into the hostels 6 days a week.
We continue to support the St Anne’s Breakfast club.
We continue to support the food banks and community hubs.
Tonight we thank:
Karen for all her support, and cooking a hearty chicken stew.
Thank you to Punjabi Heaven for the curry and Rice.
Thank you to Leeds 11 Sikh temple for their Dhal, and vegetable curry.
Thank you to everyone that baked Elodie, Jo and Kirsten.
Thank to Monica, Kumar and Maya for donating dog food for our four legged friends.
Thank you to singhs for their support every week helps us support the hostels.
A very special thank you to everyone that supports use with donations of clothes, furniture and electrical items.
We are desperately in need of the following items;
- Men’s Joggers
- Men’s trainers size 7- 10
- Men’s Jeans
- Underwear men’s and ladies
Thank you to all our amazing volunteers.
Team Hampers
Sunday 14th January 2024
In the last 8 years we can’t remember a night as cold this one, we are sure there may have been others, but tonight was painfully bitter. Our hearts and thoughts are with those that have no choice but to sleep out in it. This winter the weather really has been tough for our homeless community, weeks and weeks of wet days and the bitterness of nights like tonight gave us time to reflect on how fortunate we are to have a home to return to.
The queue of people just seemed endless tonight, we had moments where we thought we would run out of food, thankfully Karen had made a hearty piping hot vegetable soup, that we were able to sever as people queued, just to warm them up. We managed to ensure that everyone ate well. Almost everyone mentioned how cold they were so many of them visited the van for extra layers, hats, gloves and scarves.
It really saddens us to say shortly after leaving us tonight, one of our service users was violently assaulted by a member of the public, who fled the scene, we ended up offering first aid as we waited for the ambulance and police to arrive. It was shocking to witness what we did. The homeless community often mention how vulnerable some of them feel sleeping in the city centre, many have been kicked and punched for no apparent reason, many are urinated on for the sake of a joke as they sleep, we have also known of tents to be set of fire, so regardless of the reason why people end up homeless, it certainly isn’t a choice for many.
So many people visited us to and thanked us for providing the support we and just offering reassurance. One individual mentioned how lonely life is but visiting us gives him the opportunity to talk to other service users and the team, even if it’s just for a couple hours.
During the week our teams in Leeds and Bradford delivered food support into the Homeless Hostels.
We provided breakfast items for the breakfast club and this week they also requested washing powder so the homeless community could wash their clothes and sleeping bags at the resource center.
Thank you to Karen for cooking up a hearty vegetable soup, sausages in gravy and 2 crowns of turkey. Enjoyed by all.
As always thank you to The Woods in Chapel Allerton for donating pizza, the guys love your pizza. We really are blessed to have your support
Thank you to the Leeds 11 Sikh temple for supporting us with meals the Dahl and rice was enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Punjabi Heaven for donating Dhal and Rice, the guys really enjoyed it, your support is always appreciated.
Thank you to Singh restaurant for helping us support the homeless hostels and the B&B’s accommodating our homeless community. They donated us 46 meals, amazing support.
Thank you Steve for your support, you have been with us for a while and really are grateful for all you do.
Thank to Penny for donating cakes and bread and thank you to Dawn for taking the time to deliver to us.
Thank you to Jo, Saul and Elodie for baking delicious cake banana loaves for tonight’s outreach.
Thank you to Vicky for donating carrots cake and brownies all served tonight with piping hot custard.
A special thank to Morrisons and Sonia their community champion for donating us two cages of food, cereal, tinned and packet food, milk, preserves, tea and coffee, this donation will help us support so many people. We are humbling grateful for all your support Morrisons.
As always a heartfelt thank you to our volunteers, in all weathers they are by our side.
Team Hampers
Sunday 7th January 2024
Our first outreach of the New Year and as predicted it was busy, we supported 135 people tonight.
It was cold but people remained patient as the team worked their way down the queue. As we have mentioned we have people from various backgrounds, all reaching out for various reasons but we do try and prioritise our street homeless community first specially on nights like tonight. One of our regulars was so cold, she couldn’t speak, so we gave her a hot drink, wrapped her in a thermal blanket and then layered her in warm clothes, she was hungry and once eaten she started feeling better.
Sadly we had a lady approach us tonight made homeless as she had fled domestic violence, for last 18 months she has relied on paying for cheap hotel beds, sofa surfing or churches, she has been to see local authority but remains on a waiting list. We have taken her consent and details to see if we can access her further support. The sad thing she said to us tonight was she never unpacks her bag as she never knows where her next bed will be.
Although tonight was our first street support, as we like to give our volunteers time away to spend with their families and for us to take a little time away, however we didn’t get the opportunity to have time away, we constantly reminded busy with people seeking support. These are tell times.
Our usual support into the food banks, Homeless Hostels and the breakfast club continued.
As always thank you to The Woods in Chapel Allerton for donating pizza, Paul and everyone at The Woods has supported us for the last 2 years and in the last 2 years they have donated us a 1000 pizzas, the guys love pizza.
Thank you to the Leeds 11 Sikh temple for supporting us with meals the Dahl and rice was enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Punjabi Heaven for donating paneer curry and rice, the guys really enjoyed it, your support is always appreciated.
Thank you to Singh restaurant for helping us support the homeless hostels and the B&B’s accommodating our homeless community. They donated us 46 meals, amazing support.
Thank you Steve for your support, your spice bean stew goes down a treat you have been with us for a few years and really are grateful for all you do.
A special thank you to everyone at the Stainbeck weight watchers club, for donating their sweet treats collected over Christmas to Homeless Hampers. We have had a few individuals do this and we are grateful to you all.
It was lovely to see the team unite tonight and we are grateful to all our volunteers for all their support.
HAMPERS