‘There was just this panic’ – Sheffield centre for vulnerable people lifts lid on a year like no other

As Sheffield city centre emptied out and the city braced itself for an event no one was prepared for, even the most comfortable of people were suddenly aware of the precarious nature of our modern lives.

The stress and anxiety affected everyone, but perhaps none more so than the city’s most vulnerable people: those whose lives depend on the kindnesses of city centre users just to survive.

For them, it must have felt like an existential crisis.

“There was just this panic,” says Daryl Bishop, CEO of homelessnes and addiction charity Ben’s Centre.

“Even people who had a job and a roof over their head were worried.

“Not many of our clients watch the news but they could see what was happening and were wondering how they fitted into it.”

Just before the crisis hit, the Government had announced the ‘Everyone In’ policy, a scheme aimed at housing all those on the streets in temporary accommodation such as hotels and bedsits.

While welcome, this didn’t solve the problem entirely, with many of those who sleep rough or beg in Sheffield struggling with a range of issues beyond homelessness such as addiction and mental health problems.

This meant there were still dozens of very vulnerable people essentially living in the city centre - all of whom had been deprived of their main source of income overnight - while the crisis also plunged the multitude of services which support them into a situation none of them had ever seen before.

Sheffield is well served by such agencies, with the Cathedral Archer Project just one of a well-developed ecosystem of organisations which provide care to those in need.

In response to the unprecedented crisis, a consortium including Ben’s Centre, Harc, St Wilfrid’s, the Wednesday Night Soup Kitchen, the Sunday Centre and St Vincent’s - all coordinated by Sheffield Council’s Help Us Help scheme - came together to make sure they left no one behind.

“All the agencies have pulled together really well,” said Daryl from Ben’s Centre.

“Everyone has been looking out for each other and sharing duties. We’ve all worked really hard.”

Unfortunately, Ben’s Centre’s city centre premises on North Church Street was too small to fit anyone in under the strict social distancing rules that have been in force for much of the year.

They therefore moved to what Daryl describes as a ‘wholesale’ model, giving out items at their front gate but unable to offer the kind of one-to-one support that people really need.

Despite this, they have still supported around 3,000 people since the beginning of the year, giving out hundreds of items of clothes and toiletries to keep their clients feeling as human as possible.

They have also been giving out items like books, games, TVs and DVD players to keep people occupied – especially to those who have been asked to self-isolate after being exposed to Covid-19.

But as the initial panic of the early days of the crisis was replaced by a gruelling endurance test for both the services and those they help, it became clear this wasn’t a long-term solution.

“It was just ‘hiya, what do you want’ – but it was missing that human connection,” says Daryl.

“We had planned to expand in the next few years - but there are just so many people on the streets at the moment we brought it forward.”

The Grade II listed building on Wilkinson Street in Broomhill they moved into last month began accepting clients at the start of December.

It can currently accommodate around 10 people at a time and up to 15 in one day, but once the pandemic is over will be able to fit up to 25.

Daryl describes their new premises as ‘incredible’ and says they have big plans for the future including a drop-in health clinic, growing and cooking classes and Tai Chi sessions.

And he says the move has also allowed them and other agencies to specialise more so that different services concentrate on discrete groups in a more efficient way.

“Being here we’re beginning to see people with less serious substance issues and more who are maybe in a place where they want to improve their situations,” he said.

“The Archer Project can deal with people in the city centre who are in more immediate need and we can concentrate on those from supported living places like Victoria Court and the 911 Project.”

Nevertheless, the problems are still a long way from being sorted, leaving outreach workers like Danny McDonald a mammoth task to meet a growing demand.

“We are noticing new people in the city centre since the crisis began,” says Danny, who has been working at Ben’s Centre for the last six years.

“We’ve seen more people coming down from the estates who may have lost their jobs or been furloughed.

“But some others who we know better have actually used it as an opportunity to engage with services more.”

“Things have improved this year for some but not for everyone,” agrees Daryl.

“The extra accommodation has meant some clients who have never made any steps have done well but others haven’t been interested.”

One thing they know they can rely on, however, is the good will of the people of Sheffield, with donations of clothes coming in by the ton and teams of seamstresses making face masks for them.

“The amount of people who have come forward this year is astounding,” said Daryl.

“When they brought in the face mask rule it just added another barrier for our clients but thanks to these groups who sew them for us we’ve never run out.

“People really do feel for those we help and we’re very, very grateful.”

To find out more about Ben’s Centre, visit www.benscentre.org.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.