Jimmy  Darts

SB Mowing

Pattie Gonia

Little Miss Flint

Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

Samuel Weidenhofer

Patriotic Kenny Foundation

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

The Dogist

Peter Bond

Amy Jandrisevits

Ask Uncle Jack

That Good News Girl

Tess Bohne

FowlMouthFarmer

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

Flavor Flav

John Wolfe

Khloe

<div><strong>Consistency in Compassion: Because being there, week after week, changes lives.</strong>
</div>
<div>In a world that too often looks away, we make eye contact.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Every week, in every kind of weather, our volunteers walk the streets of London, Edinburgh and Newcastle bringing friendship, essentials and dignity to people experiencing homelessness. Behind every face is a story — often one of childhood pain: neglected children who have grown into abandoned adults.
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<div><br />
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<div>Under One Sky is there every week, building connection, trust and hope. Because when life feels unsafe in a chaotic society, being the friend who never stops showing up is the most powerful act of compassion there is.
</div>
<div><br />
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<div><strong>The Challenge</strong>
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<div>Homelessness across the UK continues to rise — and behind every number is a person whose life could have gone differently. This winter, thousands will sleep on pavements, under bridges, or in doorways. Most won’t just be cold; they’ll be <em>invisible</em>.
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<div><br />
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<div>About <strong>80% of people who experience homelessness suffered significant trauma in childhood</strong>. Most were failed long before they lost a roof over their heads.
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<div><br />
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<div>At a time when public services are stretched and compassion fatigue is real, Under One Sky stands as a reminder that we cannot afford to stop caring.
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<div><br />
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<div><strong>Our Response</strong>
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<div>Under One Sky is powered by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Each week, 11 teams — representing more than <strong>2,500 volunteer shifts a year</strong> — head out on our Skywalks to connect with our homeless friends across the three cities.
</div>
<div><br />
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<div>Every Skywalk delivers what we call our <strong>Skywalk bundles</strong>: food, snacks, drinks, socks, underwear, toiletries — the basics of dignity. But more than that, they deliver human connection: a conversation, a name remembered, a reason to feel seen. We will do this more than <strong>30,000 times in the next 12 months</strong>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Why Consistency Matters</strong>
</div>
<div>In the last year Under One Sky has maintained a <strong>100% completion rate</strong> for all planned Skywalks. That consistency builds trust. It turns “see you next week” into a promise that means something.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div>In chaotic times, our consistency is hope made visible. It’s what transforms moments of kindness into a movement of belonging.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>How Your Donation Helps</strong>
</div>
<div>Every pound donated goes directly to frontline support.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Historically, <strong>100% of private crowdfunded donations</strong> have been spent on direct outreach — not administration — and we intend to continue that way.
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<div>•	<strong>£3.60</strong> covers one <em>Skywalk</em> bundle — food, drink and essentials for a person in need.
</div>
<div>•	<strong>£10</strong> provides three bundles — warmth and care for three people.
</div>
<div>•	<strong>£20</strong> buys a <strong>sleeping bag</strong> for someone to survive the cold.
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<div>•	<strong>£50</strong> supports <strong>3 nights of emergency shelter</strong> for a person at high risk.
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<div>•	<strong>£100</strong> delivers <strong>meals for 200 homeless</strong> friends.
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<div>Your donation keeps people alive, connected, and hopeful through the hardest months of the year.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Real People. Real Connection.</strong>
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<div>We know their faces and names. Many of our homeless friends greet us like old friends — because they know we’ll be there, no matter what. We believe that human connection is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Our teams don’t just serve; they listen. They celebrate birthdays, share laughter, and remember stories. These are small moments — but together, they change the narrative of what it means to be seen.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>On Christmas day, we’ll once again partner with the <strong>Thomas Franks Foundation</strong> to serve more than <strong>500 Christmas lunches</strong> on the streets across London. And while many services pause for the holidays, Under One Sky will be on the streets most days between Christmas and New Year, ensuring that no one is forgotten.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Looking Ahead</strong>
</div>
<div>We are preparing the launch our Life Transformation Programme <strong>The Lighthouse</strong>, co-created with people who have lived through homelessness. It’s a bold new step — to not just ease homelessness, but to end it one life at a time.
</div>
<div><br />
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<div>When you give to this campaign, you’re not just helping someone survive this winter.
</div>
<div>You’re standing for a society that remembers its humanity.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Get Involved</strong>
</div>
<div>You can help in more ways than one:
</div>
<div>•	<strong>Donate today</strong> — every pound counts.
</div>
<div>•	<strong>Host a mini fundraiser</strong> with friends, schools, or your workplace.
</div>
<div>•	<strong>Join a Skywalk</strong> and experience the power of connection first-hand.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If you’ve been looking for a way to make a difference in uncertain times, this is it.
</div>
<div>Be the friend who shows up. Be part of a <strong>community that never stops caring</strong>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>With love and gratitude,
</div>
<div>Under One Sky
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img class="text-editor_textEditorImage__43_GE" alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/95706989_1760656565300129_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>

Under One Sky: Winter Homeless Support 2025–26

<div><strong>Our winter 2024/25 will be a very important for 2 reasons…</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>1)	Tragically <strong>street homelessness will increase by about 20% in 2024</strong>. In response we are expanding our operations. We expect to support individuals on the streets of London, Edinburgh and Newcastle 15,000 times between Nov 24 and Mar 25.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>2)	Under One Sky will be <strong>launching a pioneering life transformation program in 2025</strong> to end homelessness one person at a time for good. It is being co-developed with (formerly) homeless friends. Hear from one of our advisors Andrew who spent nearly 20 years on the streets in the film above (made by students at London Screen Academy with support from NBCUniversal).
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>OUR WORK &amp; IMPACT</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Mission:</strong> Through friendship, human connection and trauma-based support, we transform lives affected by homelessness, empowering individuals and communities to build compassionate, sustainable futures.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>When the winter 2024/25 ends we will have <strong>supported our homeless friends with life necessities and connection close to half a million times</strong> since the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020. Since that time our teams have consistently been on the streets most days each week.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Our terrific family of <strong>3000 volunteers across 5 years</strong> have made this possible together with support from a growing group of supportive companies.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Private donations made up 46% of our total funding 2023/24</strong>. This campaign is critical to the continuation of our efforts.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>HOW WE SPEND YOUR DONATION</strong>
</div>
<div>Historically Under One Sky has spent <strong>100% of private crowdfunded donations directly on frontline support activities</strong>. We intend to continue that way.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We expect to provide our Skywalk bundle of essentials (food, drink, snacks, socks, underwear, toiletries) to<strong> 15,000 homeless friends from Nov 24 to Mar 25</strong>. The supplies cost per bundle is £3.60 resulting in a total cost of £54,000. The remainder of our target £21,000 is allocated to the services below.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>On-demand items:</strong> Our teams take orders from individuals and deliver the following week for items such as shoes, clothing, coats, sleeping bags and tents.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>High-impact items:</strong> Some items can make a big difference, such as glasses, wheelchairs and travel tickets to reconnect a person with family and friends.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Emergencies:</strong> When someone is deemed exposed to high risk, such as hyperthermia, sexual abuse or pregnant women, we provide emergency overnight stays in hostels.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We constantly seek out opportunities for supplies donations from our volunteer network, social media channels and partners to keep our costs down and recycle preloved items. In the last 5 years we have worked with more than 100 companies and several schools/universities.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT</strong>
</div>
<div>•	Sleeping bag: to donate, use our <a href="https://amzn.eu/19x9YSS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Wishlist</a>
</div>
<div>•	Share our campaign: use the “Share” button (below the “Donate Now” button at the top of this page).
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>OUR HISTORY</strong>
</div>
<div>Under One Sky started as a small winter community project in 2012. In 2020 we stepped onto the empty streets when our homeless friends had been abandoned at the onset of the Covid lockdowns. In a matter of weeks we had more than 1000 volunteers who served up to 600 homeless friends per day. Out of this emergency effort grew Under One Sky as an organisation. In 2022 we became a registered charity. <strong>This transformation was captured in the documentary award nominated documentary </strong><a href="https://youtu.be/NIxqIER2dpk?si=tjMCY_lMbQpMAX-W" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>I'M STILL HERE</strong></a> (click to watch) or check out the trailer below.
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</div><iframe media_type="0" media_id="T-d3Jqm2fTY" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/T-d3Jqm2fTY/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
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<div>Your <strong>support is crucial to continue our efforts</strong> to keep people alive and to keep changing lives.
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<div><br />
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<div>With love and gratitude
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Under One Sky
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img class="text-editor_textEditorImage__43_GE" alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/84117335_1731592493469717_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>

Under One Sky Winter Homeless Support 2024-25

<div>Hi, my name's Ken Wells, I've set this GoFundMe up to help my friend Eddie. I've known Eddie and his wonderful family his whole life, he was born with cerebral palsy, when he was 1 year old I joined a team of volunteers (amateur physios basically) that helped him with his physio to give him the best chance of mobility as he grew up. I fell in love with this little fella, when he got a little bit older, he would come and sit on my wall, waiting for me to come home from work, sometimes with his pals, sometimes on his own, and then the adventures began. I would push him down the road on a skateboard or down the stairs on a mattress...anything that had a little flavour of danger and was the antithesis of his regimented daily life that had to be due to his disability. I've stayed close friends with Eddie all these years since, over the years I've managed to get him on a surfboard in Portugal and a horse, we've also been cinema buddies and seen a fair share of films together, some atrocious and some a little bit less atrocious.
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<div>Eddie is never one to shy away from a challenging situation, he put himself through college and University, spent several months in Tanzania, helping to raise awareness and profile for disability in Africa.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div>It's fair to say we've had a lot of hilarity over the years, however in more recent times the mood has really changed, about a year ago Eddie fell into a serious depression, his usual effervescent and hopeful self, gave way to a much more sombre state, a kind of hopelessness set in. There seemed to be a realisation that this 'normal' life that he had always strived for, wasn't arriving. In actual fact things were getting worse, after a bad fall and undiagnosed fracture of his spine, Eddie developed osteoporosis. As you may know, this is a deteriorating condition that weakens the bones, they begin to fracture on their own accord. An opportunity has come up for treating this with surgery.
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<div><br />
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<div>I've often been shocked at the cost of living with disability, it's been such an eye opener to me, an hour of essential physiotherapy costs him £200 and a similar cost for other types of therapy that he needs.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div>I wanted to do something to help put a smile back on Eddie's face so I have decided to cycle as far away as I possibly can from him (to Scotland) with a friend. I leave tomorrow (I will be late guaranteed) on (Sunday the 21st January 2023) and I would be incredibly grateful if would join me in my effort to contribute anything you can to this fund for my friend Eddie. Thank you so much on behalf of me and Eddie, i'll keep you updated on facebook on the way.
</div>

700 mile for Eddie's smile

<div>We are at a critical moment in time. We all feel the squeeze. Homelessness caused by “the cost of living crisis” is already a reality, and the outlook for the coming months is beyond worrying. Our campaign aims to get our homeless friends through Autumn and Winter.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Under One Sky already supports people affected by street homelessness nearly 30,000 times yearly. We need your support to continue our service as we face a human tragedy on the streets.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Our Approach</strong>
</div>
<div>Human connection and problem-solving are at the core of our work. We make people feel seen, heard and cared for. Our teams walk the streets to connect with our homeless friends, and we are on a first-name basis with most.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We serve our friends 500-600 times each week across Central London, Brighton and Durham and provide food, hot and cold drinks, snacks, socks, underwear, hats, gloves, hand warmers and toiletries (our skywalk bundle). Ten thousand support items are provided weekly– more than 500,000 items a year. Most of these items are purchased, not donated to us.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We refer our homeless friends to physical and mental health services, other homelessness organisations and emergency services.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Our three priorities are:
</div>
<ul>
<li>Change the public’s relationship with homelessness
</li>
<li>Build broad community support
</li>
<li>Change lives
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>How We Spend Your Donation</strong>
</div>
<div>Historically Under One Sky has spent 100% of private crowdfunded donations directly on support to those we serve. We intend to continue that way.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The weekly Skywalk bundle we provide costs £3.60 per person or £61,000 to serve 17,000 people from Oct 22 to Mar 23. The remainder of our target £14,000 is allocated to the services below.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong><em>On-demand items</em></strong>: Our teams take orders from individuals and deliver the following week for items such as shoes, clothing, coats, sleeping bags and tents.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong><em>High-impact items</em></strong>: Some items can make a big difference, such as glasses, wheelchairs and travel tickets to reconnect a person with family and friends.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong><em>Emergencies</em></strong>: When someone is deemed exposed to high risk, such as hyperthermia, sexual abuse or pregnant women, we provide emergency overnight stays in hostels.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We constantly seek out opportunities for supplies donations from our volunteer network, social media channels and partners.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We work with many partners to keep our costs down while expanding our service. Examples include Barings Bank (food), Rohan/Levis/Stand4Socks/4BYSIX (clothing), urb-it (deliveries), The Crown Estate/Punjab Restaurant/We Are Waterloo (storage space), Harley Street Specialist Hospital (medical support).
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Other ways to help</strong>
</div>
<div>Sleeping bag: to donate, use our <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/13EEFVN6X3TQU?ref_=wl_share" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Wishlist</a>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Personal message: send a message of hope. We will share your message with several hundred homeless friends over Christmas. To do this, contact the campaign organiser below with your message.
</li>
<li>Share our campaign: use the “Share” button (below the “Donate Now” button at the top of this page).
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Our Manifesto</strong>
</div>
<div>Together, we can rewrite the narrative
</div>
<div>To thriving. No longer just surviving
</div>
<div>With conversation, with compassion, with collaboration
</div>
<div>It starts with just you
</div>
<div>And ends in a growing compassionate community.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you for reading. Your support is crucial to our continued service.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>With love and gratitude
</div>
<div>Under One Sky
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/68282237_1663860599955201_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>

2022-23 Autumn & Winter Homeless Support

<div>The harsher weather is now with us and we need your support to continue our work on the streets throughout Winter. <strong>We expect to serve our homeless friends 10,000 times from November to the end of February 2022</strong>.
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<div> 
</div>

<div>The situation is dire and the <strong>outlook bleak</strong> with the end to the eviction ban and the furlough scheme while Covid19 support funding has dried up.
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<div> 
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<div><strong>Compassionate about Change</strong>
</div>

<div>Ending homelessness starts with a conversation. We focus on making those affected by homelessness <strong>feel seen, heard and cared for</strong>. Our teams walk the streets to connect with people where they have made a “home” for that moment, and we are on a first name basis with most of the friends we serve.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div><em>"Under One Sky provides assistance to those most vulnerable through a never ending fleet of volunteers from all walks of life.  While the generosity of food, clothing and basic survival tools are appreciated by all, it is the intangibles which make the difference.  The non-judgement.  The deep listening skills.  The problem solving.  The willingness to see a positive vision when too many of us cannot. Under One Sky is the embodiment of this other reality.   For as long as I breath on this earth I will be forever grateful to this crew of human beauty in what they sacrifice and provide." Paul (currently homeless in London)</em>
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<div> 
</div>

<div>Skywalkers are on the streets at least <strong>12 times each week serving between 400-500 people</strong> covering Angel/Islington, Brighton, Dalston, Kings Cross, Soho/Embankment, Victoria/Westminster and Waterloo/London Bridge. Our activities will increase during the Winter months.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div>Our 1000+ volunteers provide food, hot and cold drinks, snacks, socks, underwear and toiletries (skywalk bundle). On demand we provide specific items such as shoes, coats, sleeping bags and mobile phones, ensuring our funds go where the greatest needs are. When someone is deemed high risk, e.g. vulnerable to hyperthermia, or sexual abuse, we <strong>sponsor emergency accommodation</strong> to get them off the streets immediately.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div>Where we can make a <strong>big difference in someone’s life</strong>, we always go the extra mile. Our volunteers have sourced wheelchairs, bus and train tickets to reconnect homeless friends with family and have sourced bicycles to enable uptake of delivery jobs. At this stage, we have <strong>assisted several people out of homelessness</strong>.
</div>

<div> 
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<div>During Winter we also collate and hand out <strong>messages of hope</strong> written by people from all corners of the world.
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<div> 
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<div>Being on the front line we refer our homeless friends to physical and mental health services, other homelessness organisations and emergency services.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div><strong>How we use your donations</strong>
</div>

<div>The<strong> skywalk bundle</strong> we provide costs <strong>£3.60 per person</strong> adding up to £36,000 for the 10,000 servings we expect across winter.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div>With our £50,000 target, that leaves £14,000 for <strong>on-demand items</strong> (sleeping bags, emergency clothing, specific hygiene products), <strong>winter items</strong> (gloves, hats, hand warmers), <strong>extra mile items</strong> (travel tickets, glasses, wheelchairs), <strong>emergency accommodation</strong> and event related costs (mainly transportation).
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div>We are <strong>100% volunteer led</strong> and have no employees, no office space, spend zero on advertising and our warehouse facilities are sponsored by social impact partners.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div>Under One Sky is a non-profit organisation in the process of becoming a charity. For that reason, we are heavily reliant on private donations as most grants and other forms of funding support require charitable status.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div><strong>Other ways to help</strong>
</div>

<div><strong>Sleeping bag</strong>: to donate one use our <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/13EEFVN6X3TQU?ref_=wl_share" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Wishlist</a>
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div><strong>Personal message</strong>: send a message of hope, copies of which we will hand out to several hundred homeless friends. To do this simply contact the campaign organiser below with your message.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div><strong>Share our campaign</strong>: use the “Share” button (below the “Donate Now” button) or this link: <a href="../" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/manage/2021-homeless-winter-aid-london-brighton" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.gofundme.com/manage/2021-homeless-winter-aid-london-brighton</a></a> 
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div><strong>Our Manifesto</strong>
</div>

<div>Together, we can rewrite the narrative
</div>

<div>To thriving. No longer just surviving
</div>

<div>With conversation, with compassion, with collaboration
</div>

<div>It starts with just you
</div>

<div>And ends in a growing compassionate community.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div>Thank you for reading. We can’t continue to serve without your support.
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div>With love and gratitude
</div>

<div>Team Under One Sky
</div>

<div> 
</div>

<div><em>"When the community comes together to address social issues we are unstoppable" Darlington (formerly homeless)</em>
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<div> 
</div>

<div> 
</div>
<img class="m-text-editor-image" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/61110355_1636419654125747_r." alt="" width="100%" media_type="3" />
<div> 
</div>

2022 Homeless Winter Aid - London & Brighton

<div>As many of you will know, Brian and Jean have been two of DLAG’s biggest supporters. From standing on stalls in the rain to collect food, driving around day and evening to gather the food collected and deliver it to the hub and even collecting food parcels from the hub to take to those who need them most in our local communities. They have been hugely committed and loyal members of the team.
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<div> 
</div>

<div>Very sadly Brian passed away suddenly last week at the age of 60 and team DLAG really want to support Jean with the costs of Brian’s funeral.
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<div> 
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<div>Brian was a loving dad to three children and had recently become a grandad - he adored his family and they adore him too.
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<div> 
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<div> 
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Support Brian’s family with funeral costs

<strong>This campaign was set up at the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020. Prior to that we were a small organisation doing a handful of events each winter. Since March 2020 we have been supporting our homeless friends on the streets of London and Brighton daily. In that period we have served our homeless friends more than 75,000 times.</strong><br /><br />The projection is that <strong>homelessness will continue to rise</strong> in the economic aftermath of the pandemic and as temporary protective measures such as the eviction ban comes to an end.<br /><br />Our focus is making those affected by homeless <strong>feel seen, heard and cared for</strong>. Our teams walk the streets and connect with people where they have made “home” for that moment. We provide <strong>food, clothing, toiletries, sleeping bags, mobile phones, emergency accommodation</strong> and the like.<br /><br />Through our interactions we get an understanding of individual challenges and attempt to find solutions. <strong>We go the extra mile</strong>. Examples include sourcing wheelchairs, train tickets to reconnect homeless friends with family or sourcing bicycles to enable uptake of delivery jobs. <strong>We have assisted several people out of homelessness</strong>.<br /><br />Under One Sky is a collective of more than 1000 private individuals. Nobody is employed by Under One Sky. <strong>Our work is 100% volunteer based.</strong> Under One Sky was founded in 2012 and had since then supported 4000 homeless friends until the first lockdown in March 2020. By the end of 2020 that figure will has exploded to 50,000 (lockdown video).<br /><br />Uses of funds for 2019 Dec to 2020 Dec: £190,000 spent / 200+ outreach events / 43,500 served / £4.4 cost per serving. Items provided includes food, drink, clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries, £30 gift cards to Argos, mobile phones, train tickets and emergency shelter.<br /><br />Our teams are that light in the darkness for all those who remain abandoned on the streets. We meet people affected by homelessness in a spirit of compassion and have established many personal friendships out there. Our aim is to <strong>make everybody feel they belong in this world</strong> and to let them know <strong>they have not been forgotten</strong>.<br /><br />If you are not able to donate, then we would love for you to share our campaign using the “Share” button (below the “Donate Now” button) or using this link: www.gofundme.com/f/underonesky-homelessaid2020<br /><br />It is also possible to support by donating sleeping bags using our <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/RH89G2E43Q1S?ref_=wl_share" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Wish list</a> <br /><br />Finally, you are welcome to send us a message for us to share with the homeless – simply contact us on this page.<br /><br /> “<strong>At least we are under the same sky – you and I</strong>.”  Ranata Suzuki<br /><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/34684142_160833776429192_r.jpeg" alt="34684142_160833776429192_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /><br /><strong><br /></strong>

Covid Relief for London's homeless

2020 was a difficult year for so many of us, but there was at least one bright moment. In November, our friend Meg heard that the Home Office were no longer going to contest her asylum claim and that she and her son would be granted leave to remain in the UK. We are Lynda Castle and Jenny Baker, two friends in Ealing who have got to know Meg over the last three years. Meg is smart, funny, compassionate and determined. She has the opportunity for a fresh start this year and we want to make sure she has what she needs to make the most of it. (For reasons that will become clear, Meg is not her real name. The photo is of Lynda and Meg's son with his face obscured.)<br /> <br /><strong>What we’re raising money for</strong><br />For the last year, Meg has been living in a refuge for female asylum seekers who have experienced domestic abuse. When her papers come through she will be given 28 days’ notice to leave. Her local council will provide accommodation, and she may be placed somewhere temporary for a while, but eventually she will be given a place to live. If her experience is anything like the other women at the refuge, she will need to provide all the basics to make it habitable – flooring, a cooker, fridge freezer, furniture, bedding and so on. All the money raised through this campaign will go directly to Meg so she can make her new home comfortable and safe for her and her son. We know that these are difficult times, and any amount will be gratefully received.<br /> <br /><strong>Meg’s story</strong><br />Meg first came to the UK to study at university. While she was here events happened which meant that if she were to return home, her life would be in danger. We’re telling her story in a way that protects her identity for her own safety, but we can absolutely vouch for her and the truth of her story. She has no other family she can turn to. <br /> <br />Meg paid for legal advice to support her initial asylum claim, but she was taken advantage of and her claim failed. We met her when she needed a new place to live. Jenny offered Meg her spare room to live in and welcomed her into her home. Around that time, Meg’s case was taken up by a legal organisation who support asylum seekers. They believed that she had a strong case to be granted asylum, and they resubmitted her claim to the Home Office with fresh and compelling evidence.<br /> <br />Meg gradually settled into living in London, and we got to know the real person behind the shy exterior. Unsurprisingly, because of all that she experienced she has been diagnosed with PTSD and suffers from depression. In the past she had got involved in campaigning and worked as a community organiser, but threats from her home country meant that she had to go under the radar. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work or earn money, but they can study. Meg applied for a scholarship to do a Masters at a prestigious London University and was delighted to be successful, one of only three asylum seekers in the UK to be awarded a full scholarship.<br /> <br />The next year was very difficult for Meg. While studying for her degree, the relationship she was in turned very abusive. She had a baby son and because the abuse increased, they were moved to a refuge for their own safety. Her baby is now an active, curious and demanding toddler who is the centre of Meg’s world. And just before Christmas, Meg heard that she has been awarded her Masters after she persevered with her studies through all the upheaval of the last year - a fantastic achievement.<br /> <br />The refuge is the 17th different place Meg has lived since claiming asylum and while she has been there, Meg has used her community organising skills on behalf of the other women. She has alerted the council to the poor and dangerous state of the accommodation, which is managed by Serco, and as a result the council has stepped in to demand that Serco put things right. Meg is a natural leader who is passionate about justice and wants to use her skills and experience to help other women who have experienced similar things to her. She just needs an opportunity to build a safe home after the trauma of the last few years, and then she can use her passion, skills and determination on behalf of others.<br /> <br />Meg’s asylum claim was submitted afresh in November 2017. For the last three years, the Home Office have repeatedly denied Meg asylum and it has been clear that they haven’t even read her claim properly, at one point referring to her as a man. The legal organisation have been tireless in their support of her case and brought a judicial review against the Home Office. Jenny went to the hearing with Meg in November 2020 to be a witness. Her lawyer was briefing us on what to expect, and went to say hello to the Home Office lawyer. He came back into the room to say that they had (at last) considered her case properly, and they were going to withdraw from the case and to grant her full asylum. As you can imagine it was a joyful and emotional moment! Because of Covid, all we could do to celebrate was drink peppermint tea in the rain. After seven years of living in limbo, Meg has a fresh chance to start her life again and provide a positive future for her son, and we are behind her all the way.<br /> <br /><strong>About us</strong><br />Jenny Baker is Chief Operating Officer for a youth work charity and has lived in Ealing since 1995. <br /> <br />Lynda Castle is an interior horticultural technician and has lived in Ealing for 20 years.

Help Meg furnish her new home

In March this year, my little family of three packed our belongings and moved from Brexit London to Brussels. We said goodbye to the life we built in the UK, the place we knew as home for 22, 17 and 5 years respectively. We moved looking for hope.<br /> <br />This is a story that started a few years before, with the refugee crisis in Europe, which shook my undying faith in solidarity and humanity. Across the EU, it provided the perfect backdrop to a rise in nationalism and nativism. The images of thousands upon thousands of desperate people, with the contents of their lives in bin bags and tiny children in tow made Europeans want to pull up the drawbridges. <br /> <br />We were living in England then and of course Brexit came. Suspicion and division made themselves at home in the UK. Then the reign falsehood and bile began across the pond in the US. It felt like the world as we knew it was unravelling.<br /> <br />When 2019 came, I stopped waiting for change to come from elsewhere. We packed our bags, came to Brussels and Flare came to life.<br /> <br />Flare is a hope project. It brings people together in a world in crisis. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/704035823444284/">#still together #beyondbrexit</a>   is one small example. We need your support though. Please donate so that we can continue to make conversations possible amid the noise and turmoil around us. Our shared humanity, more than ever, must rise to the surface.<br /><br />This is our second Brussels Get Together, hot on the heels of our <a href="https://www.flaregovernance.eu/our-events">brilliant day of music, film and togetherness in June</a> .<br /><br />Please help us cover the costs of this event by donating €5, €20 or €500 - whatever you can afford. <strong>And join us on the 19th of November 2019 at 7:00 PM at The Black Sheep in Brussels. <br /></strong><br /><em>UK friends, whichever way the winds of Brexit blow, our love for you continues, as does our journey together. Let's all come together for an evening with our shared humanity at the forefront:</em><br /><br /><em>- stand-up comedy from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tichecomedyofficial/">Tiche Comedy</a> , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/charliestevenscomedy/">Charlie Stevens</a>  and Mr Beige</em><br /><em>- live music from Scott </em><em>Hamilton, with art by Fanny Badaf, check them out at <a href="http://www.animalsinmotion.ca">www.animalsinmotion.ca</a> </em><br /><em>- ideas for a People's Brexit Agreement</em><br /><em>- art contributions</em><br /><em>- special guests</em><br /><em>- open floor debate</em><br /><br />#brusselsgettogether #stilltogether #beyondbrexit<br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br />With love and friendship,<br /><br />Andreea from <a href="http://www.flaregovernance.eu">Flare</a> <br /><br /><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/43027326_1572468349741798_r.jpeg" alt="43027326_1572468349741798_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />

#stilltogether #beyondbrexit