In 2021, Berkshire Community Foundation awarded multiple grants totalling £20,000 to Renova Trust which has allowed Renova, in partnership with Green Pastures, to purchase two houses to help shelter homeless men in Berkshire. Renova was founded in 2020 and aims to support and recover men who are experiencing homelessness. By putting a roof over their head, Renova has transformed people’s lives; providing a stable and safe home, counselling sessions, therapy, mentoring and befrienders and has supported the residents in finding permanent jobs so they can get back on their feet and become independent again.
Renova is a charitable organisation that provides holistic, long-term solutions to the needs of homeless men, helping them to become self-sufficient, contributing members of the community. Renova offers supported accommodation for up to 24 months and life coaching, and tenancy sustainment support for a further 3 years.
The houses are an opportunity for those who perhaps have not been given an opportunity before, to turn their lives around. It is a helping hand for those who have not been reached out to. A motivating quote by CS Lewis Renova follow as a charity is “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start from where you are and change the ending”. This reinforces the idea of giving people hope and inspiration to progress into starting a new life.
"Before living here, I was an alcoholic and homeless. Rough sleeping was scary. Living with Renova has changed me as a person! I can sleep safely now. I now work full time at a local restaurant and am training to be a chef.”
At Renova, they saw there was a never-ending ‘homelessness trap’ and wanted to prevent the loop that was endangering lives. Their homes provide shelter and accommodation for residents and remove them from dangerous situations that could occur when sleeping rough or coming out of prison without any accommodation. In the Renova homes, residents are safe and are looked after by trained staff and volunteers, so they feel they have people around them that care and want the best for them and are available to give them the necessary support they need to rebuild their lives. In the Autumn of 2022, a lot of us are worrying about how we will pay our bills; a homeless person worries about where they will sleep, how they will stay safe and what they will do to keep warm.
In 2022, Renova held an Open Day where the Mayor of Bracknell Forest Borough Council attended to acknowledge the impact Renova is making in Berkshire. The Mayor personally congratulated the Renova team and awarded the residents who have returned to employment certificates of commendation.
"Our residents report that what distinguishes Renova is that it is a safe and homely house, where they get on well with each other and they appreciate it being an environment that fosters their recovery. I am proud to say that in the last 6 months 80% of our residents have achieved returning to employment or education as well as establishing better links with people in the community. The residents start with volunteering, which helps them build the confidence and skills to return to return employment or education. Below is Jonathan Hanbury, one of our befrienders, supporting Colin as he volunteers at the Foodbank”
Be part of something great.
If you would like to know more about how you can support causes like this, to change lives for the better in Berkshire, please get in touch.
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Email: info@berkshirecf.org
Phone: 0118 945 0255
If you would like to know more about philanthropy in Berkshire please contact Rebecca.biggs@berkshirecf.org
If you are a wealth advisor interested in partnering with Berkshire Community Foundation please explore https://www.berkshirecf.org/professional-advisors/
If you need funding support, take a look at the grants we offer here: Available Funding
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