From Food Banks to Warm Spaces - A Vital Resource for Kingston's Vulnerable
Our inspirational Community Lead and Grants Manager, Justine Belcher realised there was a need for a leaflet that was up-to-date, and had information on all the places in Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, that provided a free hot drink/meal, laundry, showers and a friendly atmosphere, every day of the week, when first in discussion with Kingston Churches Action against Homelessness about how Kingston Charitable Foundation could support their essential work with grants.
They came to conclusion that whilst there is an awful lot of information about services, but not in one easily accessible place and much of it was out of date.
Justine spoke to Dr Kate Kenyon, Founder of RBKares about it, and they decided such a leaflet needed to be created and fast!
And it should also be included in the 300 Warmer in Winter bags RBKares was putting together; these are brilliant bags that are created by Kate and her incredible team - bags full of practical items to help vulnerable people keep warm, that are made with love. Kingston Charitable Foundation is proud to support the RBKares project that shops for these items and creates these bags with one of our grants, for the 2nd year running.
Further to making these bags, Kate and her tireless team got together and compiled a list of places for the leaflet - the next task was to verify each, and check times and days.
They also knew they wanted to include information on warm hubs in the Borough, this includes Libraries, some churches, and community centres, and links to other services using QR codes - so it would all be in the same place.
Pulling all this information together into an easily accessible A5 folded leaflet, that could be handed out and also placed in the Warmer in Winter Bags and the Rucksacks for the Homeless was the aim, and together they have achieved this and all in the matter of a week.
Our hope is that these posters and leaflets will be also be displayed in Food Banks, and all the Charitable Organisations that support local residents in our shared community, including Citizens Advice Kingston and Kingston Voluntary Action and The Job Centre Plus.
“We love this leaflet, beautifully and clearly designed by Justine in her spare time: partnership working with the very best and most altruistic people in our shared community. Kate Kenyon, her dedicated team and all the other local organisations we all work in partnership with are phenomenal. This leaflet is such an important piece of work. Up-to-date, accessible and expediently produced. Its simplicity and usefulness are a thing of resounding beauty. Thank you!” - Hicky Kingsbury, CEO of Kingston Charitable Foundation
Please share widely - this leaflet needs to reach the right people, and fast.
