WOW! What a month!
We told you last month that we were thrilled to have been selected to pitch to the amazing Funding Network Festive Connector on 3rd December … well it surpassed our dreams and the amazing group of philanthropists and donors there doubled our target and raised over £21,000 for us! We are all over the moon! THANK YOU to the Funding Network and all those who supported us at this event! If you want to watch a video of our presentation, you can access it here.
Our next excitement was the BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE – and that was amazing as well! We exceeded our target for this fundraising campaign too, and our wonderful donors and supporters raised over £10,000 for us! Huge thanks too, to our champion funders, The Hampshire Cricket Foundation – and to The Warwick Trust, whose very generous support got us over the line!
We are also very grateful to the AURELIA FOUNDATION who have awarded us a generous grant of £5,000 to fund activities for our Outreach clients in 2025 – so watch this space for news of what excitements are in store for them, thanks to this terrific grant! This year, some of them enjoyed a great day out on the Solent with Rona Sailing. It was a very popular event and now we’ll be able to offer this opportunity – and all sorts of other treats and adventures – to more of our vulnerable clients!
AND – we heard that our application to the National Lottery Community Grant for an AWARDS FOR ALL grant had been successful, and they have awarded us a grant of £20,000!
A very big THANK YOU from us to all the Lottery Players!
So altogether it’s been a really GREAT month for us, as we end the year on a high note – we’ll all have a great Christmas for sure, and we hope that you will too!
What's in the news?
It’s a very sad fact that Mental illnesses, also known as psychiatric disorders, are often inaccurately portrayed in the media. Films, television programs, books, magazines, and news programs often stereotype the mentally ill as being violent, unpredictable, or dangerous, unlike the great majority of those who experience mental illness. It’s not easy to find news coverage that accurately reports the tragic incidents that can result when crisis point is reached, but this Guardian article – ‘You tried to tell yourself I wasn’t real’: what happens when people with acute psychosis meet the voices in their heads? – explains a lot. It’s a long read, but an enlightening and informative one. And it’s these vulnerable people who we work to support.
Our Public Services are so alarmingly under resourced, and of course we have known that for a very long time. It’s why we, at Hammersley Homes, are doing the work that we are doing, to fill the gap in services by providing long term ongoing support to these vulnerable people who live with enduring mental ill-health. But now we see that some NHS employees in Manchester are striking to protest about the lack of funding and support. They say some people with severe long term illnesses being looked after in the community are stuck on long waiting lists and not getting the help they need. Will they have any effect? We hope so!
Read the full article here.
As Patrick Cockburn said in an excellent Independent article a few years ago:
“Let’s stop pretending people with serious psychosis can be fully independent, and give them the support they need”
And a reminder about our eCards ….. if you have missed the last posting day for your Christmas cards to be delivered on time, you can always send an eCard … Have a look at the range on our Don’t-Send-Me-A-Card page – there are lots to choose from.
Meet the team - Himee Senanayake - Social Media volunteer
Thank you so much! I really appreciate those kind words. My experience in social media began when I was just 9 years old as I made an Instagram account back then! I had gone to Sri Lanka for 3 months so wanted to stay in touch with my friends somehow. I’ve been using social media my whole life, and recently I started content creation on the side to test out making my own content. However, during my digital marketing course with Think Employment that I just completed – I learnt so much about how to really utilise platforms for social media. I developed a strong understanding of building brand identity, engaging audiences, and creating meaningful content. So to be honest, a combination of growing up with social media and learning more about it through coursework has made me feel like an expert!
Can you tell us why you volunteered to help us at Hammersley Homes—what drew you to us? Do you have any particular interest in or connection with the causes we champion?
I was drawn to Hammersley Homes because of its incredible mission to support vulnerable adults living with enduring mental health challenges. As someone with a degree in Psychology, I’ve always been passionate about mental health and the importance of creating safe spaces for those who may not always have a voice. The work Hammersley Homes does is vital, and I wanted to use my skills in social media to help amplify your message and connect with a wider audience.
What are the benefits to you, of volunteering?
Volunteering has been such a rewarding experience for me. It’s allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I’ve been able to enhance my social media skills in a real-world context while also working for a cause I deeply care about. Beyond that, it’s been inspiring to see the positive impact of our work and to be part of a team that’s making a genuine difference in people’s lives.
Have you any words of advice to others who might be considering offering their time to volunteer for a charity?
I’d say, absolutely go for it! Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to your community while also learning new skills and meeting like-minded people. Choose a cause you’re passionate about, and don’t be afraid to bring your unique talents to the table—you never know how much of a difference you can make!
Now something about our plans for 2025
which include an exciting Abseiling event!
How brave are you?
Can we tempt you to join us over the weekend of 21-22 June 2025,
to challenge yourself to abseil off Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth?
We are joining forces with local charity Brighterway,
looking for 40 courageous souls willing to commit to raising £500 each for us
by taking on this challenge. Will you be one of them?
If you would consider abseiling down Portsmouth’s iconic landmark
for Hammersley Homes, please get in touch!
REGULAR DONATIONS are particularly valuable to us – they help us with our budgeting, and with our applications to Charitable Trust Funds and Foundations …. and if you feel able to donate a few pounds a month via DONR – quick and easy donations via text message – we would be enormously grateful. To donate £3 a month, text 3HOMES to 70580. Texts cost £3 plus two standard rate messages and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text 3HOMESNOINFO to 70580. To change the amount of the donation, just change the first number of your text. Thank you!!
