Local bus companies Compass and Stagecoach are teaming up to provide free travel to Turning Tides’ clients accessing St Clare’s Community Hub in Worthing. The annual bus passes donated by both operators will help homeless men and women to attend vital appointments such as job interviews, doctor’s or hospital appointments and more.
A group of local Christians established the charity in 1992 as Worthing Churches Homeless Projects (WCHP) to help those sleeping rough in Worthing. 27 years on they are providing a wide range of services to support clients towards a sustainable, fulfilling life within the community of Worthing, Littlehampton, Horsham, Mid Sussex and surrounding areas.
St Clare’s Community Hub supports local men and women who are rough sleeping and insecurely housed. The Hub offers a breakfast drop-in session Monday to Saturday and holds various drop-ins throughout the week. Between January 2018 and 2019 there were 4,039 breakfast sessions held at St Clare’s from over 250 different clients.
Charlie Chesman Individual Giving Fundraising Officer from Turning Tides was delighted to receive the passes and stated:
“Supporting the social inclusion of our clients is fundamental to our work. Attending appointments which support their mental health, physical health needs, wellbeing or employment empowers our clients. We really appreciate the support of our local bus companies and we know the passes will make a big difference”
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Edward Hodgson Managing Director of Stagecoach South say’s ‘It’s great to be able to help Turning Tides with the donation of bus passes, we’re aware that travel is a barrier for some to assist in progressing with employment opportunities or gaining health care, we hope they’ll find the passes a valuable asset’.
Chris Chatfield, Managing Director of Compass Travel says ‘As a company we are very keen to be involved in the local community and have been a supporter of Turning Tides for several years. Everyone deserves their own home and we are pleased to work with Turning Tides to help those who are homeless by giving them free bus travel to help them in getting back on their feet and attend appointments and interviews.’