NottinghamLIFE: Nottingham’s homeless services put on their running shoes for women’s refuge

Nottingham CityCare Partnership’s Homeless Health Team is teaming up with services from across the city which support homeless people to run the Robin Hood Half-Marathon, to raise money for Nottingham Central Women’s Refuge.

Staff from twelve organisations who work in partnership to support homeless people in Nottingham are coming together to join the team ‘Striding for Central’ which will be running the Robin Hood Half-Marathon on 25 September.

The organisations involved, including the Health Shop, Framework’s street outreach team, Emmanuel House and Opportunity Nottingham, are all part of a fortnightly multi-organisational forum which is led by CityCare’s Homeless Health Team.

All the money raised from the team’s marathon efforts will be donated to the Central Women’s Refuge, run by Nottingham Central Women’s Aid.

Suzey Joseph from CityCare’s Homeless Health Team said: “I’ve been working very closely with Nottingham Central Women’s Aid for a research project and delivering specialist CityCare clinics in the refuge, which is dependent on charitable funds.

“I am so passionate about integrated working and bringing teams together and I felt such a worthwhile project would give me the opportunity to reach out to our partners. It is fantastic to see these organisations and charities come together because we can make a difference if we all work with each other.”

A spokesperson from Nottingham Central Women’s Refuge said: “We are delighted that so many people are passionate about raising money for the refuge. We’re a charitable organisation which offers safe temporary accommodation for women and children who have suffered from domestic abuse.

“We work in partnership with most of the organisations represented by the ‘Striding for Central’ team who are committed to helping us to support women and children to achieve the best possible outcome.”

The team have received lots of support from CityCare’s partners, local businesses and organisations.

Suzey added: “Capital One has generously donated £1,000 to kick start our fundraising and pledged to make Nottingham Central Women’s Refuge their charity of the year, so hopefully this firm foundation will see us raise lots of much-needed funding for the refuge.”

Lou Wilkinson from the Health Shop on Broad Street, will also be taking part in the run along with her family.

She said: “My whole family are coming along with me to take part in the family race – including my partner, my mum and my seven-year-old son. Domestic abuse is an issue that effects the whole family so I think it is really important that I have my family taking part too.

“None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for some really dedicated people getting all the services together. In particular Suzey from CityCare and my colleague Donna Stenton-Groves who have really got everyone working together.”

The aim of the Homeless Health service is to address the specific healthcare needs and improve health and social care of local homeless and vulnerably housed people by providing them with access to community nursing services.

The service also aims to provide clinical treatment, advice and support to homeless and vulnerably housed people and to increase the number of homeless people accessing mainstream health and social care services.

In addition, the CityCare Homeless Health Team now provides weekly specialist clinics at the Nottingham Central Women’s Refuge and is able to refer patients to other appropriate services.

The organisations involved in the ‘Striding for Central’ team are: