West Sussex homeless charity to be awarded by the Queen

“Turning Tides”, a charity supporting homeless people throughout West Sussex, has won Britain’s highest award for organisations of its type, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

To explain its significance, it’s sometimes called the MBE for voluntary groups.

According to the charity, Turning Tides is the largest provider of homeless services for single people in West Sussex.

It runs 21 projects across the county and has over 300 volunteers and 140 paid staff supporting its mission to end local homelessness.

But the coronavirus pandemic has brought new pressures for the group.

When announcing its award, it also said it’s seen a steep rise in the need for their services.

Prior to Covid-19, the charity already supported 200 clients in residential projects and 245 homeless people through outreach work.

But as the pandemic spread, staff claimed they began supporting as many as a further 150 homeless men and women who have been temporarily housed in hotels to protect them from the virus.

They believe the number is set to grow as the virus escalates financial hardship, leading the charity to launch its first ever Emergency Appeal, asking for support from the community.

As the award was revealed, “Turning Tides” praised its voluntary workforce, saying they  have had a big part to play in responding to the crisis; and they continue to find new ways of supporting homeless men and women by batch cooking meals and delivering essential food, clothing and hygiene supplies.

The charity’s volunteers also said they offer much-needed warmth, support and friendship to homeless people.

According to the group, Paul, a former client who received help in Worthing, told them:

“I had been living on the streets for 2 years.

“I was profoundly distressed, scared and alone when I came for help… I recall the warmth and humanity of the volunteers in the kitchen.

“These memories still move me today at a time when I’m so relieved to say, my life is in good shape now.”

Community development manager Alison Nicholson added:

“The volunteering spirit truly thrives in our charity and we are thrilled to have this acknowledged by the award.

“In the last financial year (2019-2020) almost 300 volunteers collectively gave over 18,000 hours of their time to support our charity.

“For our volunteers to be recognised nationally for their outstanding energy and efforts in our community is wonderful.”

Turning Tides said its representatives are looking forward to receiving the award from West Sussex’s Lord Lieutenant Mrs. Susan Pyper (the personal representative of H.M. The Queen) later this summer.

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