Warner Goodman Employment support Two Saints Big Get Together

Homelessness is a continuing concern within Hampshire, and unfortunately numbers carry on rising with each year.  Figures released early in 2017 from the Department for Communities and Local Government show that in 2016, 4,134 people a night were forced to sleep rough across England; an increase of 16% from 2015.  It’s for this reason that the Employment team at Warner Goodman are supporting an upcoming event organised by Two Saints, a local homelessness charitable organisation.

Who are Two Saints?

Two Saints works across Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Poole and West Sussex to rebuild the lives of the homeless, or those at risk of becoming homeless, in our society.  They offer accommodation to those who need it, and community support offering advice on topics such as housing issues, mental health, learning and physical disabilities and budgeting. 

Sarah Whitemore, Employment Partner at Warner Goodman, begins, “Two Saints are a growing charity in Hampshire, and we have worked with them for a number of years, mainly in offering employment law support for their managers and staff.  From a personal perspective, homelessness has always struck a chord with me as it is something that could so easily happen to any of us.  Our homes are such a key part of our safety, wellbeing and even define who we are and our family life, so to be without a home must be one of the hardest situations to be in.  That’s why I am now particularly delighted to be able to build on our relationship with Two Saints and offer help to their clients through the Big Get Together.”

What is the Big Get Together?

The Big Get Together is an annual event organised by Two Saints for those who they have supported, and are supporting, to come together and participate in a day of inspirational, fun and education activities.  Sharon Smith, HR Director at the charity, explains, “The event is a fantastic opportunity for our clients to spend a day away from homeless hostels, meet new people and widen their social networks. The theme for our 2017 event at Ferny Crofts Activity Centre is ‘My Health and Wellbeing’.  The aim with this theme and location is to encourage our clients to take part in a variety of pursuits and challenges requiring them to work as a team and develop trust.  There will also be other activities based around promoting a healthy mind by reducing depression and stress, and yoga sessions to tackle certain physical issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease.  We’re so pleased that Warner Goodman has agreed to sponsor the refreshments and lunch; something that is always a popular part of the day!”

Sarah concludes, “These days are obviously a vital part of life for those living on the streets, giving opportunities that would not exist if it were not for Two Saints.  Last year’s event was a huge success, focussing on skills to enable those in attendance to improve their CV, look for job opportunities as well as other things we take for granted, such as setting up a bank account.

“As a firm, we regularly support local charities with events and awareness campaigns, whether that be through dress down days, taking part in sporting or extreme challenges or working with the charity to promote them on social media platforms.  A few years ago I took part in a ‘Sleep Out’ to raise funds for the homeless in Southampton, so to be able to work with Two Saints in this way, as well as through our commercial relationship, is extremely rewarding and we look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of the event.”

To find out more about Two Saints you can visit their website here.  To read more about the charity work that Warner Goodman undertakes, visit their news pages here.

ENDS

This is for information purposes only and is no substitute for, and should not be interpreted as, legal advice.  All content was correct at the time of publishing and we cannot be held responsible for any changes that may invalidate this article.