May - 2018

Art that explores homelessness

HARP are proud to be involved in an art exhibition being held in Southend Town Centre next week that has enabled HARP service users to think differently and express their thoughts and feelings through art and sculpture. Thanks to funding from Serving the Homeless, HARP have been able to purchase supplies to create sculptures and arrange days out to enable the running of art sessions. The project has given those involved a chance to ‘think differently’ both creatively, and vi

It runs in the family

Seasoned runner and grandmother to four grandchildren, Sarah Jackaman, has not only achieved phenomenal running achievements since starting her new hobby at age 40, but has seen her family literally following in her footsteps too. Sarah started running when her son was 10 and she pays tribute to the friends she made at Castle Point Joggers who played a huge role in her running successes over the subsequent years. Of all the achievements Sarah recalls, completing the London Ma

Fitness enthusiasts raise £800 to help local homeless people

Fitness enthusiasts Scott Blackham, Gary Bultitude, and Peter Morcos recently organised a day long fitness festival in partnership with Fusion Lifestyle at Clements Hall Leisure Centre in Hawkwell, raising over £800 for local homeless charity HARP. The event saw members of the public join in with a variety of fitness classes throughout the day with one 58-year old participant taking on all 7 classes! Dot Hutchings, 58, from Benfleet said “I love the gym and this fundraiser is

Pupils at St Georges Catholic Primary School collect for HARP!

St George’s Catholic Primary School in Shoeburyness recently held an assembly focusing on homelessness which inspired pupils to arrange a collection for HARP. Pupils learned about the best ways to support charities like HARP, and they spent time researching the items HARP most need before arranging the collection. A Year 6 pupil said “I think it would be quite devastating to be told you have to sleep on the streets”. Another pupil added “we were inspired by the homeless assem

New books donated to HARP

Southend-on-Sea Borough Libraries want to share their love of reading by giving out books to people who don’t usually read for pleasure, or own books of their own, and they recently donated 30 copies of ‘My Everything’ by Katie Marsh to HARP. The books were donated by publishers and distributed by the library in partnership with The Reading Agency as part of their World Book Day celebrations, and they will be used by HARP service users as part of a Meaningful Activities progr