Soroptimist Caryn Hewitt; Head of Housing, Stafford and Cannock League of Hospital Friends, Zoe Pyatt; Soroptimist June Bould
Zoe Pyatt, Head of Housing at Stafford and Cannock League of Hospital Friends, was welcomed by Soroptimist June Bould to the club’s first speaker meeting of the new year.
Zoe talked to us about the work the charity does to help prevent homelessness by supporting adults with mental ill health. The charity currently houses 76 people in the Cannock and Stafford area, most of those are men, this is due to the fact that the charity doesn’t house families and most of the women who are homeless have children with them.
We learnt more about the issues of women and children’s homelessness, something which is often hidden as they could be in temporary accommodation or else ‘sofa surfing’. Shelter Figures state that there are currently 164,000 children in England alone who are living in temporary accommodation. This type of accommodation is always intended to be short-term, but often isn’t. The placements are frequently overcrowded, hazardous, or located out of the local area, posing severe risks to children’s health, education, and development. It is very easy, in these situations, for children to ‘fall under the radar’ and then no-one can be sure what is happening to them or where they are.
It was a situation about which everyone present felt very strongly – ALL children have a right to be educated and cared for properly. Cannock Soroptimists were very keen to know what they could do to help – the prime thing initially seems to be to raise awareness of the issue – amongst friends and colleagues, with Councillors and with MPs. Club members intend to do exactly that.
Soroptimists Caryn Hewitt gave the vote of thanks and told Zoe that Cannock Soroptimists will do all that they can to improve the situation for these children and their mothers, a prime focus of the work of Soroptimists all over the world.
Zoe Pyatt, Head of Housing at Stafford and Cannock League of Hospital Friends, was welcomed by Soroptimist June Bould to the club’s first speaker meeting of the new year.
Zoe talked to us about the work the charity does to help prevent homelessness by supporting adults with mental ill health. The charity currently houses 76 people in the Cannock and Stafford area, most of those are men, this is due to the fact that the charity doesn’t house families and most of the women who are homeless have children with them.
We learnt more about the issues of women and children’s homelessness, something which is often hidden as they could be in temporary accommodation or else ‘sofa surfing’. Shelter Figures state that there are currently 164,000 children in England alone who are living in temporary accommodation. This type of accommodation is always intended to be short-term, but often isn’t. The placements are frequently overcrowded, hazardous, or located out of the local area, posing severe risks to children’s health, education, and development. It is very easy, in these situations, for children to ‘fall under the radar’ and then no-one can be sure what is happening to them or where they are.
It was a situation about which everyone present felt very strongly – ALL children have a right to be educated and cared for properly. Cannock Soroptimists were very keen to know what they could do to help – the prime thing initially seems to be to raise awareness of the issue – amongst friends and colleagues, with Councillors and with MPs. Club members intend to do exactly that.
Soroptimists Caryn Hewitt gave the vote of thanks and told Zoe that Cannock Soroptimists will do all that they can to improve the situation for these children and their mothers, a prime focus of the work of Soroptimists all over the world.