Corporate Sponsors Sought for New Homeless Centre

YMCA Lincolnshire is offering businesses and individuals the chance to sponsor a room in the new Nomad Centre in Lincoln, which is due to be completed this autumn.   

Each donation of £5,000 will fund one of the 22 en suite rooms for three years, providing accommodation with added specialist support for over 40 people.

Work began on the new centre in April on the site of the former YMCA Lincolnshire gym on St Rumbold’s Street in Lincoln and the charity has launched this appeal to local businesses to raise the final 20 per cent of funds needed to reach its £1.6m target.

YMCA Lincolnshire has already secured seven £5K room sponsorship packages – two of which are from the newly formed Lincoln-based BNA charity.

Herman Kok, Trustee of the BNA charity, said: “We’re grateful to able to put some of our funds to good use and are delighted to be supporting YMCA Lincolnshire in its efforts to eradicate rough sleeping from the streets of Lincoln. The cause was unanimously backed by the BNA board of trustees.”

Another two organisations – Lincolnshire Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) and Investors in Lincoln – have each donated £5,000 towards the development of the ground-floor day centre, which is a new offering from YMCA Lincolnshire.

The existing Nomad shelter on Monks Road in Lincoln is open between the hours of 8.30pm and 8am only, meaning residents have nowhere to go in the daytime and are left vulnerable, isolated and at risk.

Therefore, the new Nomad Centre will be open during the day and will include a fully equipped catering kitchen plus consulting and meeting rooms so that residents have direct access to proper meals as well as essential specialist services and wraparound support 24 hours a day.

David Rossington, Chief Executive of both LEAP and Investors in Lincoln, said: “By being open during the day as well as overnight, the new Nomad Centre will provide a positive alternative to life on the street.”

Rachael Baxter, Community Engagement Manager at YMCA Lincolnshire, said: “By investing in this new facility you will help to significantly improve the lives of those who use the accommodation and so desperately need our help.

“We are grateful to everyone who pledges their support to help tackle the growing issue of homelessness in our area.”

Recent government statistics show that rough sleeping in Lincoln is now three times higher than in 2010.

The new Nomad Centre will provide private and dignified overnight accommodation to those who have no other home and facilitate easier access to essential services.

Room sponsors will receive regular updates on how their donation is helping to change lives for the better and their support will be acknowledged in the new building.

They will all be invited to an opening event before the doors are officially opened to the public in the autumn.

Those wishing to pledge their support or find out more about the new Nomad Centre can contact Rachael by emailing rachael.baxter@lincsymca.co.uk or calling 01522 508379.        

Pictured is Caroline Killeavy with Herman Kok from BNA Charity, which has sponsored two rooms at the Nomad Centre.