A special event was held at Sheffield’s Winter Garden yesterday (Tuesday 25th March) where members of the public could meet professionals who work to support those experiencing homelessness. As well as raising awareness with the public, people learned who to turn to if either they may be at risk of homelessness in future, or if they are concerned about somebody they know.
Here, they could also pick up a copy of the brand new edition of the Help us Help ‘newspaper’, which has been brought back into print. Developed in partnership with Supertram and the Help Us Help Steering Group, its mission is to raise awareness about homelessness and the efforts being made to support those in need.
The event ran from 1pm to 5pm, and featured many organisations involved in supporting those in need. These included, amongst others, Framework, Shelter, South Yorkshire Police, The Archer Project and Ben’s Centre.
Visitors could learn about the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness and the multi-agency approach to providing support, as well as the signposting on where to turn to get people support.
Thanks to support from Sheffield BID, 4,000 copies have already been distributed to more than 220 outlets across the city centre, Broomhill and Kelham Island, from cafes to independent shops, libraries and cinemas.
“It was great to be in attendance at this launch event to see the finished product that has been brilliantly put together by partners coming together.
“Homelessness and rough sleeping has been on the increase nationally. Helping people who need support is a complex issue, and only by working together can partners continue to offer that support and drive homelessness figures down.”
Cllr Douglas Johnson, Chair of Sheffield City Council’s Housing Committee
“Supporting the launch of the Help Us Help newspaper is more than just raising awareness—it's about fostering a safer, more compassionate community.
“By amplifying the voices of those experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, we are building a community where everyone feels safe and supported within Sheffield – particularly those who need us when experiencing difficulties.”
Cllr Kurtis Crossland, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee at Sheffield City Council
“We met with our colleagues at Sheffield City Council to discuss the work that they do and we were quite happy to support.
“We’re based in the city centre, so it’s important to us to help the communities we serve in the areas that we operate in.”
James Stewart, Supertram’s Head of Customer Service and Operations
“Help Us Help performs crucial work daily, supporting individuals who find themselves sleeping rough on the city centre streets. Through our partnership, a variety of services are offered to assist those most in need.
“The newspaper plays a vital role in spreading the message that support is available. We urge the business community to review the updated newspaper and visit the Help us Help website for the latest information on how to support those experiencing homelessness.”
Diane Jarvis, Head of Business Operations at Sheffield BID
Now the ‘newspaper’ has been launched, it will be distributed across multiple channels to maximize reach, as well as being available to download from the Help Us Help website.
