Providing Origin Tenants Support Through Grants -2023/24
In 2023/24 in conjunction with Origin Housing, 57 households were helped through provided grants. Cookers and beds were the most funded items but fridges, washing machines , tables, chairs as well as soft furnishings were also required.
Household numbers helped did increase on 2022 and one aim of the charity is to further continue this trend.
Charter School Competition 2024
In June 2024 the Friends of Origin Housing charity was approached by one of the teachers at Charter School in Bermondsey as his class had entered a competition and wished to represent our charity and its aims.
The charity First Give exists to promote a social conscience in the young. One of its activities is to run a competition in which school pupils give a presentation to a panel of judges, and the presentation which is judged the best wins a donation of £1000 from First Give to the charity that the presentation is about.
The Chair of Friends of Origin visited the school and was impressed by the amount of research the Year 9 class had undertaken. Whilst the class didn't win the prize, the value to both the pupils and the charity through this active engagement was very appreciated. More information on this is available here
"We are Ageing Better Together" Project - 2022/23
The aim of this project, which was jointly funded by Friends of Origin Housing, was to reduce social isolation and improve mental and physical wellbeing among both older (over 60 years) and younger (5-17 years) Origin Housing residents in the Somers Town area of Camden in London.
It achieved this by providing a range of activities that brought older and younger people together, encouraging two-way, intergenerational relationships and treating older people not as victims to be helped, but as people who can contribute to their communities. There were 163 beneficiaries from this 12 month Project with volunteers then continuing activities post project due to the value seen and positive feedback received.
Indoor activities held in Origin Housing’s community hall included craft,sport and health sessions. In addition day trips to Windsor Castle, Hastings, Margate, Kew Gardens and a Garden Show were provided.
Our response to the Covid-19 pandemic
As the Covid-19 virus was spreading during March 2020, Origin Housing asked us if there was any way we could help. As a small, flexible body we were pleased to be able to respond swiftly, by providing grants totalling £30,000 from April to June, to help the housing association's tenants who were most in need. This support took various forms appropriate to their needs, including Tesco, Sainsburys or Boots vouchers, and food parcels for those self-isolating. At the time, an Origin Housing spokesman expressed his appreciation on behalf of the tenants: "I cannot thank you enough for the generous grant offered to our residents at this time. Please extend my thanks to everyone at SPH Friends."
Food boxes provided to Origin tenants
Helping Hannah to tidy up
Hannah's room - before and after
Hannah had a broken chest of drawers in her room for many months, if not years. A grant from Friends of Origin Housing provided her with a new chest of drawers, helping with her storage problems.
Hannah said, "Thank you so much for the chest of drawers. I have now been able to sort out stuff that was everywhere, and I have been able to organise my items into the drawers. It makes my room look much neater, and makes the room feel more homely. Thank you so much!"
