We will provide 2 new weekly S.A.F.E. drop-in sessions over a year. This will help ensure that individuals experiencing hardship, crisis or emergencies can access all of the SUPPORT, ADVICE, FOOD & ESSENTIALS (S.A.F.E.) that they need. One of the sessions will be on an evening and food and refreshments (and recipes!) will be served at both sessions for all attending. We will also display a new warm-coat rail and access to recycled donated clothing for anyone in need. We will employ a sessional S.A.F.E. support worker and also make changes and improvements to our community spaces including: *Expand our SUNDERLAND CLOTHES BANK at FISCUS *Buying a new 20ft SHIPPING CONTAINER to enable us to take in, store, recycle and distribute far more adult and children's clothing donations and small household items *Re-locate and expand our BUNDLES FOR BABIES BABY BANK (est. in 2016) to a bigger room at the Co-op Centre *Develop new branding to raise awareness of crisis support available

What we'll deliver:

• Deliver 104 Help Through Crisis S.A.F.E. sessions over 12 months
• Buy a 'MORE THAN FOOD' Shipping Container and shelving for our crisis clothing storage
• Expand, Develop and Improve our Community Room to create a new S.A.F.E. space
• Facilitate weekly SAFE space drop-in sessions every Monday evening and one day per week
• Recruit 2 new volunteers to support S.A.F.E. for Sunderland people in crisis

Why it's a great idea:

S.A.F.E. Sunderland will help people in hardship or crisis to *Reduce anxiety *Increase good mental health & well-being *Reduce loneliness and isolation *Increase participation in therapeutic, social & confidence building activities; *Recycle & reduce waste going to landfill *Access healthy food *Increase new skills and confidence via volunteering *Access a SAFE space to drop-in, socialise and rest *Alleviate and reduce the effects of the current cost of living crisis *Reduce poverty and inequality *Ensure people are aware of and able to access emergency and crisis support available The project will target and benefit people who are the most vulnerable and less able to cope without support including: -Teenage Young Parents, their babies and children -BAME Asylum Seekers and Refugees -Foreign students in crisis who can receive charitable items -People struggling with their mental health -Women survivors of domestic and financial abuse -Single people struggling on Universal Credit

Steps to get it done:

• Design new publicity to raise awareness of S.A.F.E. Sunderland
• Recruit the first 2 new volunteers
• Get a sessional worker in place to help with project delivery and support
• Deliver 100 S.A.F.E. sessions - 50 daytime and 50 evening drop-ins

FISCUS recently piloted a Warm Space (unfunded) with over 120 attendees since December 22. We have learned that people experiencing hardship and crisis are often lonely and do not know where to turn or get help and are often embarrassed to ask for help and support. S.A.F.E. will support some of Sunderland's most vulnerable people and families including babies and children living in poverty and experiencing hardship and going without basic items, clothing, shoes and food. S.A.F.E. will 'reduce and remove' the need to 'ASK for help' taking away any stigma and enabling people to feel confident to access the help and support they need. S.A.F.E. will also help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mental health and well-being. We will listen to what people want to see at the drop-in's and develop community social activities, training and volunteering in response.