Looking out for the vulnerable with Hull HARP

With so many vulnerable people out on the streets in Hull, it’s comforting to know that there are several organisations active in the city dedicated to making sure they’re not alone. Our charity spotlight this week is shining on the Hull Homeless and Rootless Project.

As an organisation, Hull Homeless and Rootless Project (often abbreviated to Hull HARP) has been providing support to local homeless individuals for decades, having celebrated its 36th anniversary this April.

The organisation has provided numerous services over the years to people who have found themselves homeless, including delivering services from Dock House and Aspire. Hull HARP has always kept its inclusive approach to supporting people no matter what circumstances they may be in.

Hull HARP was originally established by Senior Probation Officer Howard Tomlinson, who was later awarded an MBE for his work with the homeless. The probation team and a group of volunteers worked with a group of nuns from the Endsleigh Centre on Cottingham Road, taking out soup and other provisions they had made for the homeless community. From these small beginnings, the organisation now supports 75 homeless individuals, not including those it helps through an outreach scheme, and it aims to continue to grow for as long as it's needed.

Hull HARP’s mission statement consists of five goals:

• To benefit all people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• To benefit all people in difficult circumstances: the physically or mentally ill, substance misusers, young people, rough sleepers or anyone otherwise socially excluded.
• To provide a non-judgemental and non-discriminatory service to all its clients.
• To provide a range of services to assist both the immediate and ongoing needs of its clients.
• To actively seek to empower people to make informed choices by allowing them to address their own needs and assisting them in accessing other appropriate services.

Hull HARP often hosts small social events for the benefit of local homeless people. One such event was weekly Chill Out Tuesdays, where they put on a morning of movies, snacks and good company at Dock House. Attendees were treated to tea, coffee and popcorn, followed by a home-cooked lunch and finished off with a relaxation session where they were encouraged to follow a guided meditation led by members of the charity.

Hull HARP delivers a structured volunteering programme across all of its schemes. Volunteers are always needed at Aspire and Dock House, as they form a critical part of the organisation's services. Volunteering opportunities are also available at its charity shop on Beverley Road.

All volunteers are supported, given a full induction, a uniform, regular one-to-one supervision and relevant training opportunities, and the charity is always keen to hear from anone who wants to help out. If you require any more details, you can contact Hull HARP on 07717 725208 or send an email to admin@hullharp.org.uk.

For more information about the work that Hull Homeless and Rootless Project carries out, visit their official website or find them on Twitter and Facebook.