Our news
SSJ Featured in PCC Update
SSJ Operations Director Nicky Wilsenham has been featured in an update by the Association of Police Crime Commissioners Office. Nicky said: “The support received from the PCC’s office is invaluable and allows staff to offer a trauma-informed, strength-based approach to individuals with a history of…
Interview with Senior Managers on COVID-19
Earlier this year, Dennis Jones, turned the spotlight onto our Senior Management team and asked them to reflect on what has happened since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They discussed first reactions to lockdown 1 and their initial fears, shared stories from the frontline,…
Christmas Appeal a Success Thanks to Local Support
In November 2020, we launched our Christmas Meal Appeal to provide a hot meal to people affected by homelessness. When approaching winter, we started thinking about what service users think about the festive season and asked them to talk about what they felt when it…
SSJ featured on Homeless Link Member Blog
SSJ Feature on Homeless Link Blog Homeless Link today published a blog by Nicole Forster and Bev Alder from SSJ. We secured funding from Homeless Link’s Ending Women’s Homelessness Fund and commenced the Horizon Project in November 2019 – and this blog focuses on the…
Thank you from all at SSJ
We would just like to say a thank you to everybody who has supported SSJ in 2020. It has been a challenging year for everybody – but the support from people and businesses from across Hampshire has meant a great deal to SSJ staff and…
Irwin Mitchell Charites Foundation supports SSJ
We would like to thank the Irwin Mitchell Charites Foundation for supporting SSJ this Christmas. Michelle Jeffery, Business Development Manager at the Society of St. James, said: “Christmas is not a time of joy for all, as our recent campaign demonstrates. “For many of the…
Christmas: Behind the scenes
It’s been a busy few months as we go from another lockdown and into the Christmas season. Across our projects we are putting in an effort to make Christmas as joyous as possible for people who have a history of homelessness and addiction.
Draper Tools support SSJ New Maintenance Unit
Draper Tools Support New Maintenance Facility With Donation We would like to say a huge thank you to local family business Draper Tools for the amazing donation of robust metal shelving for our exciting new maintenance unit in Southampton. This new facility will help us…
The Rotary Club of Southampton help spread Christmas Cheer
Christmas Cheer for SSJ Care Homes Thank you to the Rotary Club of Southampton for sharing festive cheer with the delivery of 40 Christmas hamper to our Care Homes this week. Donations like this make a big difference to our residents at Christmas, especially in…
Christmas Appeal Update
We are aware that times are hard for most people right now and that is why we are delighted that we have been able to meet our first target of £5,000 for our Christmas Meal Appeal. The first week saw unprecedented support from supporters across…
Sikh Sewa Society provide delicious curries for SSJ
Sikh Volunteers Put Smiles on Faces with Curries There is something incredibly special and warming about a curry – and vulnerable adults across Southampton have been able to enjoy this feeling thanks to support from local Sikh Sewa Society. Lovingly prepared by volunteers from the…
HSBC Staff Choose Hat, Scarf and a Laugh for SSJ
Hat, Scarf and a Laugh We are grateful to all the staff from HSBC in Hampshire who chose to support SSJ for World Homeless Week. I will leave you with words from Sue Young, a Retail Branch Manager for HSBC. “To support World homeless week…
New Mountain Bikes thanks to Grant Award
Grant for Mountain Bikes will Benefit Service Users My Journey Community Grants and Southampton Council have awarded £4,000 to the Society of St James and Saints4Sport which will help pay for much-needed mountain bikes. Saints4Sport offers vulnerable people who have been affected by complex issues…
Jamies Computers – Helping you get Connected
Get Connected with Jamies Jamies Computers is proud to announce our collaboration with our Community Partners SO:Linked, TWICS, Drop The Mask Productions and more, to launch the “SO:Let’s Connect” project. The pilot is funded by SO18 Big Local and is therefore initially covering Townhill Park,…
SSJ supported by transatlantic law firm
Law Firm Support Makes a Difference Here at SSJ we are extremely lucky to be supported by so many socially minded local businesses and included in this are the wonderful team at the Southampton offices of transatlantic law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson. Last year the…
Grant means SSJ can continue to help key workers
The Society of St James has received funding to provide bikes for key-workers, as well as training for vulnerable adults in bike maintenance. The grant from My Journey Community Grants and Southampton Council means the team at Re-Cycle Bikes can continue refurbishing and delivering bikes…
2020 in review
2020 – The Strangest Year It’s been something of a strange year for all of us across the world. As a charity, we have faced many new challenges and had to adapt to what some are calling the ‘new normal’. Since our update in March…
New Van helps combat COVID-19 Impact
With thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, SSJ has been able to buy a new transit van that will help combat the impact on service users who have been forced to isolate. The previous van was prone to breaking down which would…
Stories from Lockdown
In our recent newsletter, we wrote about the impact of COVID-19 on our service users. We think these stories are too important not to share have turned them into a blog to help you our 4-months of lockdown. Read part one of this blog by…
Behind the scenes – my 12 months at SSJ
My year of learning at SSJ Twelve months ago I started working at the Society of St James as their Social Media, Communications, and Marketing Officer. I remember my first day in the office like it was yesterday – turning up as early as I…
Lockdown – How Life Changed for SSJ
Covid-19, A true community partnership On 23rd March 2020, life changed immeasurably in the UK as it had been doing and would continue to do so across the rest of the world. For those living on the street or without a secure place to live,…
Can you help with a ‘Raised Plant Bed’ project?
SSJ Hostel looking for garden bed donations: Now more than ever, we are realising the benefit of being outdoors. Many of us have spent the past few weeks and months tending to our gardens and becoming reacquainted with nature. The same has been happening at one…
Live Music Event in Aid of SSJ
Livestream Event in aid of SSJ On Saturday June 13th, SEMSU (Society of Electronic Music – Southampton University) – a society focused towards the student and young adults population in Southampton, will be hosting a livestream of exciting music in aid of SSJ
First Place for Southern Co-op Partnership
Our Partnership with The Southern Co-op has been recognised with a national award at the Third Sector Business Charity Awards. Announced on Wednesday, May 27th, the award saw SSJ and the Southern Co-op succeed in the short-term partnership award for the Love Your Neighbourhood programme….
New funding for bike project helps key workers
New funding from the Bike Bike Revival (Cycling UK) and Southampton City Council helps Re-Cycle Bikes get key workers moving during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Social distancing – from service users to supporters
Louise Bolton, manager of the Family Support Project, has written a blog to help people cope with social distancing. Louise has been putting content together for our service users to help them cope, and we thought it might help our supporters too.
Working co-operatively results in national award shortlisting
The Society of St James and Southern Co-op have been shortlisted for a national award at the Third Sector Business Charity Awards 2020. The two organisations have been shortlisted for the Short-term Partnership category, which recognises the work done by SSJ and Southern Co-op as part…
New grant helps SSJ support the vulnerable during Covid-19 outbreak
The Society of St James is delighted to have been awarded a £10,000 grant from the National Emergencies Trust (NET) fund by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation. The funding aims to support local charities and grassroots organisations that have been impacted by…
Help brighten up every day for St James Care
It’s that time of the year when the blossom is falling from trees in the park, daffodils are filling gardens and hanging baskets are blooming with the bright joys of spring. At St James Care, our service users are vulnerable – and are isolated away…
Social Distancing – keeping a healthy mind
Staying healthy and positive Due to restrictions set in place by the UK Government to combat Covid-19, some of our services have gone into hibernation. Projects such as ReFit help our service users the chance to find their way to a healthy and active mind….