Part of our dream at Social Vision News is to discover, promote and champion fantastic local organisations and give them a voice and exposure in the city. And Peasholme Charity are a great example of an organisation that has been doing such good stuff around the city for a long time. When I met the dynamic Martina of Peasholme Charity recently I felt frustrated I hadn’t come across her before.
Peasholme Charity has been empowering disadvantaged people in York for 30 years. Their whole remit is about ending homelessness and reducing social exclusion. Along with other partners in York, they help people to get and keep their homes, go on to find work and learn how to make ends meet. They do this in many ways; Martina helps to provide specialist skills based coaching services.
She helps break down the barriers people come across when trying to get back into employment. She often starts by building up their self confidence and then helps them get new skills through education, training and volunteering, and finally preparing them for what they really need to do to get a job.
Alison, her colleague specialises on guiding people through money matters, essentially teaching people how to live on a budget and managing their universal credit claims. I am going to talk to Alison at a later date and report more on that service in a future issue.
People are referred to the charity through other charities or the local authority, but self referral is welcomed, so get in touch directly by calling them on 01904 466866. You can check out their website for more details , or keep up-to-date via Facebook @PeasholmeCharity.
Get free advice on issues that affect you
Since October Martina has also been providing advice and support via drop ins at three of the food banks in York. She told me how rewarding it was to help people get over a crisis and cited fuel poverty (not being able to afford your gas or electricity) and benefit issues as being key topics that come up time and time again.
She can advise on all sorts of things including housing, budgeting, universal credit and then sign post people to the appropriate organisations that help. She has even got financial assistance for people needed new electrical goods like washing machines and cookers.
These are the Foodbank sessions where she is available:
Monday – Gateway Centre, Front Street, Acomb – 11am – 1pm
Wednesday – Living Word Church, Huntingdon Road – 1pm – 3pm
Friday – Cornerstone, Millfield Lane, Tang Hall – 10.30 – 12.30.
So please pass the Foodbank details on to anyone who might benefit from this advice.
It’s meeting people like Martina, and hearing about the great work she and the Peasholme Charity do, that makes my job telling you all about it so rewarding.
