This weekend 455 runners took on HARP24 – Essex’s very own running festival, organised by our fundraising team with the HARP24 committee. Not even the scorching weather could stop participants as they continuously ran the 4.2 mile lap around the beautiful Cherry Orchard Country Park across a 24-hour period. The event, which is in it’s seventh consecutive year, saw a record number of runners come together to help HARP raise funds to support homeless people in Southend. An incr

HARP have said farewell to Gill Garwood after 14 years as Chief Executive, and welcome new Chief Executive, Jackie Bliss, to continue the charity’s good work in the town. Originally just a small group of volunteers, HARP was founded to help homeless people in Southend find shelter and support away from the streets. Over the years HARP has evolved to become a trusted and credible charity helping 5,710 people over the last 5 years. HARP have developed many services, including

Molo Lounge on Southend High Street spent last month fundraising for HARP, as part of a nationwide Lounge Aid campaign by the restaurant chain. Each lounge across the UK chose a local charity to support during this month long fundraising campaign, and customers of Southend’s branch voted to support HARP. The team spent the month of May fundraising in creative and challenging ways, including hosting a quiz night. Staff also challenged themselves to ride the distance from Land'

Budding artists who have been supported by HARP to overcome homelessness are inviting people to 'think outside the box' with a free Art Exhibition in Southend town centre, in collaboration with the Cultural Assembly who have kindly provided the free exhibition space. After a prolonged period of homelessness it is not uncommon for people to report a loss of confidence, self-esteem and motivation as their strength has been spent overcoming crisis. Local homeless charity HARP pr

Year 6 pupils at Kingston Primary School in Thundersley went above and beyond to raise money to help local homeless people recently as they set up their own soup kitchen in support of HARP. The school, who take a proactive approach to community matters, wanted originally to make soup for HARP, Southend’s leading homeless charity. After some thought provoking discussion they realised that fundraising could help make a real and lasting change to those fighting to overcome homel