Local homelessness charity needs new van to help those in need – how to help

Barnabus is a charity in Manchester that has been bringing hope and transformation to people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in our city for 30 years.

They aim to empower and equip people experiencing homelessness back into a home through our street outreach, support centre, healthcare and resettlement tenancy scheme. 

They offer the life skills they need and encouragement to succeed at independent living.

Now, they need a new van to continue their work – and they’re asking for locals to help if they can.

“Our trusty ’04 reg van is sadly on its last wheels,” they said in an appeal. 

“Driven by our driver Alan, there’s rarely a day when it’s not out somewhere on the potholed roads of Manchester.

“While it may just be a van, it means so much more to us, our friends and our work.

Our van is crucial to our work: it helps our friends make the move into their own homes, and works as a delivery van to bring food to friends who are housed but in need of food.

“It collects your kind donations which then enables us to have clothes and food ready for our friends when they visit.

“Our van also delivered over 40,000 meals to hotels where rough sleepers were housed during the first COVID 19 lockdowns.

“Our van has helped us do our work in a hundred different ways thousands of times and is at the centre of what we do.

“A replacement van will not only future proof our work by being more reliable, it will pollute less and prevent us having to pay every day as the Manchester Clean Air zone comes in to effect. 

“A replacement van is not cheap and we do not want the cost to negatively affect our frontline support services.

“But if we don’t act soon, the van may breakdown for good and we couldn’t afford a serious breakdown.

“We are asking you to please donate to fund our replacement van.

“If together we can raise £30,000, we can afford a 2019 van with a very modern engine and low mileage.

“This will give us another two decades or more of service.

“Please help us to continue our work with people experiencing homelessness in Manchester for years to come.”

The charity has already received over £7,000 with their appeal.

If you would like to donate, click here.