Who you have helped

Llamau received funding from Give DIFFerently to support Sally* in purchasing bus tickets. This will allow Sally to travel to their college where they are completing a course in Complimentary Therapies. After completing this course, Sally will have the necessary qualifications to enable them to work and become financially independent. This increased income will safeguard Sally and their young daughters' home. Thanks to your support, Sally is moving away from homelessness for good. *alternative names have been used to protect their identity

The Huggard Centre received funding from Give DIFFerently to support Ann* by purchasing second-hand furniture for their new accommodation. Without funding, Ann would be forced to give up their accommodation and return to homeless services as they are unable to live in this new accommodation with no bed, white goods or kitchen equipment. In the long run, Ann will be able to live a more stable life as they will no longer be bounced between various accommodations. Thanks to your donations, Ann is moving away from homelessness for good. *alternative names have been used to protect their identity

Following a relationship breakdown, Jack* became homeless for 3 months, sleeping on floor space and staying temporary accommodation. The Wallich received a £75 grant from Give DIFFerently to support Jack by purchasing documents of identification. Securing ID documents will allow Jack to apply for secure private rented accommodation. This is essential for establishing Jack back into the community and providing a safe space where their daughter can visit. Thanks to your donations, Jack is moving away from homelessness for good. *alternative names have been used to protect their identity

Following a breakdown in family relations, Mark* was homeless for 3 months, sleeping on floor space and staying in temporary accommodation. He was referred to The Wallich who was able to rehouse him. Mark is engaging with support services and managing his tenancy well, despite lacking some essential provisions and furniture for the house. The Wallich received a Give DIFFerently grant to purchase a gas cooker for Mark's house. This gas cooker allows Mark to cook for his daughter, instead of relying on costly microwave meals. It not only saves Mark a lot of money but it also allows him to become self-reliant and live comfortably in his new home. Thanks to your donations, Mark is moving away from homelessness for good. *alternative names have been used to protect their identity

Lily* was made homeless following a relationship breakdown. They were sleeping on floorspace in Cardiff before moving into The Wallich Nightshelter, where they were referred to The Wallich solutions team. The Wallich were able to place her into a shared house and she is now claiming Universal Credit. However, their poor financial situation means they live extremely frugally to make rent and therefore are at high risk of going into rent arrears and losing their accommodation. The Wallich received a grant from Give DIFFerently to support Lily by funding a rail refresher safety course. Lily already has a valid track induction license and other rail qualifications, and so, this refresher course would allow them to return to employment and reduce their risk of becoming homeless again. A stable job and routine would also be beneficial for Lily's mental health and would make a long-lasting change to their life. Thanks to…

Ben* became homeless after a relationship breakdown. They have no issues with drugs or alcohol and have consistently engaged with The Wallich's reconnections and solutions team. Ben is currently being supported to sustain a tenancy at a shared property but due to their financial situation and lack of a support network they are at risk of homelessness. The Wallich received funding from Give DIFFerently to support Ben by funding a forklift training course.Gaining a forklift license would be a huge step towards secure employment and financial independence. Thanks to your donations, Ben is moving away from homelessness for good. *alternative names have been used to protect their identity

Jane* became homeless after leaving a violent long-term relationship in which children were involved. She sought support from The Cardiff YMCA for support and is currently awaiting a housing placement from the local authority. The Cardiff YMCA received funding from Give DIFFerently to support Jane by purchasing interview clothing and a bicycle to travel to work and access local amenities. These items will not only help her to gain employment but they will also help increase her confidence and improve her physical and mental health. If Jane gains employment, it will be easier for them to find permanent accommodation and become independent. Thanks to your donations, Jane is moving away from homelessness for good. *alternative names have been used to protect their identity

Sam* has faced housing challenges since leaving care at the age of 17. He struggled financially and sofa-surfed with family members for a number of years before seeking help from the local authority. Sam was doing well in temporary accommodation but unfortunately there was then an incident which caused Sam to be arrested and sentenced for 14 months imprisonment. In prison, Sam completed GCSE's and vocational courses with the goal of becoming self-employed. To support Sam in his journey away from homelessness, The Wallich received funding from Give DIFFerently to purchase gardening equipment, allowing them to offer garden and tree surgeon services. This funding means that Sam can start their business in early summer when demand is highest, establishing a reputation and building a customer base. Sam has also started working with Gofal and their employment service to gain a chainsaw licence which will allow him to complete larger jobs.…

Isabella* was at risk of criminal exploitation and was experiencing safeguarding issues in their community. They were also experiencing mental health and anxiety issues. Llamau received funding from Give DIFFerently to support Isabella by purchasing them a bicycle. This bicycle allows Isabella to travel to interviews and appointments, widening their career prospects and helping them to access local amenities. Being active and exploring the local area will do wonders for Isabella's wellbeing and help them to overcome their anxiety. Thanks to your support, Isabella's quality of life is significantly improved. *alternative names have been used to protect their identity.

Alek* is a Sudanese refugee who came to the UK in 2019. They fled Sudan after losing both parents and being separated from their sister. Alek arrived in the UK alone and was experiencing homelessness.Llamau received funding from Give DIFFerently to support Alek by funding driving lessons. Alek is studying to become a mechanic and therefore driving lessons will be vital in his chosen career path. Alek doesn't have any family support and therefore, without this grant, his chances of gaining secure employment would be significantly reduced. Alek enjoys getting out in nature, especially to the beach, and the ability to drive would allow him to do this more often which would significantly improve his mental health. Thanks to your support, Alek is moving away from homelessness for good. *alternative names have been used to protect their identity

Yasser became homeless when he was given a surprise eviction notice to leave his home immediately in February 2019. He left with just the clothes on his back and slept between friends’ houses and the streets of Cardiff for the next six months, which he describes as the worst time of his life. During these months, he faced a succession of obstacles. With no secure place, important documents were lost, and his benefits were sanctioned. Yasser said: “This ruined my life, and it was really painful until I got to the YMCA. But things are starting to get better now with the help of the people at the service.” Yasser is taking part in the Aspire program at the centre which is a four-week training program to help people experiencing homelessness get back into employment. He is also one of the many homeless people in Cardiff benefiting from the generosity…

Tom* became homeless in 2014 following a breakdown in his relationship with his partner. In September 2018, he was awarded our top grant of £750 to buy the necessary equipment to help him start up a business again. Before becoming homeless Tom operated a well-established construction and building company that he had built from the ground up. A change in personal circumstance and relationship breakdowns had a detrimental effect on his general health and wellbeing. With his self-esteem at an all-time low, his business broke down and he found himself in need of relying on a sickness benefit and frontline homeless services to support himself. He moved into a hostel and then onto Huggard Supported Housing where he was told about the Give DIFFerently fund. The grant has helped Tom to purchase equipment to help start up his business in the local community. This will help him to move away…

For someone experiencing or at risk of homelessness, it’s common to have at least one criminal conviction, which makes it extremely difficult to find a job. Many application forms ask about previous criminal activity and we’re legally required to disclose it because many companies will perform routine DBS checks. An alternative option is to become self-employed, which is why Give DIFFerently have helped two grants applicants out of unemployment. With the full £750 grant, they have been provided with essential equipment to start their businesses. A criminal record can hold back the progress of a person experiencing or at risk of homelessness, leaving them with very few options to earn money. This only increases the chances of them turning back to crime to survive. A criminal past should never stop someone from moving forward. This grant can help people experiencing homelessness gain confidence, motivation for work, and ensure that they…

Something as simple as owning a form of I.D can be a crucial step in escaping homelessness permanently. Driving licences, passports and birth certificates are easily lost or stolen when someone is sleeping rough and are extremely difficult to replace without a permanent address. Give DIFFerently supports access to I.D for people experiencing homelessness in Cardiff and has already provided four forms of identification to those who were struggling without it. Owning a form of identification allows access to crucial government services that we’re all entitled to. It’s needed to get a job, open a bank account, receive benefits and secure affordable housing. Without these vital services, breaking away from homelessness is almost impossible. The main barrier to obtaining I.D for a person experiencing homelessness can be a lack of money. The average cost of a driving license in the UK is £34-£43, depending on whether you apply online or…

After living on the streets, in emergency accommodation, hostels or sofa-surfing, it could be easy to think that being granted permanent housing is the ultimate fix for someone experiencing homelessness. However, in the case of someone being granted housing, it’s quite likely that it will be unfurnished with no basic amenities like a bed, oven or fridge. Several of our large grants have helped individuals and families to secure basic furniture and white goods in order to make their accommodation into a comfortable home. Living in a furnished home can make a real difference for someone moving away from homelessness. Being safe and secure whilst at home helps to build stability in life and could be the deciding factor in them staying away from homelessness for good.

Wayne received the first ever Give DIFFerently grant. His experience of homelessness started at the age of 15, when his parents lost their family home. For the next 25 years, he repeated a cycle of homelessness, addiction and prison until he reached a tipping point which forced him to admit himself into a treatment centre. “I had lost the use of my right leg and left arm due to my substance misuse and was in a bad way. I knew I couldn’t carry on, so went to The Wallich for help, and they put me in touch with The Salvation Army. From there I went into sheltered accommodation. I decided enough was enough and sought help for my addiction.” Wayne has been sober since 2014, and in that time has completed countless courses to improve his employability including qualifications in English, Maths, and counselling. However, despite doing lots of volunteering,…