Voluntary and Community organisations play a vital role, alongside the Council and other statutory services, in supporting people in Sheffield. VCS organisations were at the forefront of helping people throughout the covid pandemic and are now dealing with the many issues people face as the cost of living rises, including poor mental wellbeing and increasing poverty.
To help the residents of Sheffield as part of the City’s response to this crisis, work is taking place to find out the services, resources, and assets available across sectors, across the city.
An accessible directory and a map of Hubs and ‘Welcoming Places’ across sectors has been created so that everyone can find a welcoming smile, a place to sit, enjoy a little company, get warm and stay warm.
What can everyone expect in a Welcoming Place?
- A friendly warm welcome and a smile every time they visit.
- Be treated equally, with dignity and respect.
- Feel safe – groups and organisations will be expected to adhere to their own safeguarding policies and ensure that all staff and volunteers are briefed on these procedures.
- Confidentiality – Data protection of individuals details.
- A non-judgemental space; whatever the reason individuals have for needing to come in, they will be treated the same and never judged.
The Map of Support Hubs and Welcoming Places is available on Voluntary Action Sheffield’s website. It is work in progress and will be regularly updated.
