Alternative Giving Toolkit Developed by Robbie Cowbury Real Change Campaigns Manager The Riverside Group [email protected] 07976 924 793 # Real Change Toolkit Setting up alternative giving in your area About the Real Change ‘alternative giving’ model. Real Change Toolkit Real change is a model of ‘alternative giving’. Funds raised are used to cover essential costs which Setting up alternative giving As homelessness and visible rough sleeping have help people to move away from the streets or avoid in your area increased in the last decade, public desire to do homelessness altogether: things like a deposit for a home, something about it has also grown. Alternative giving travel to key appointments, or ID to register with a landlord. About the Real Change ‘alternative giving’ model 2 is a method of encouraging people to give money to end homelessness in a way which will have the biggest This toolkit is the result of the learning from that pilot. A. Principles of the possible impact. The intention of Riverside, GMCA and Homeless Link is that Real Change Campaign 3 anyone who wants to launch an alternative giving campaign B. What impact does The Real Change approach has been developed by in their area can use the approaches, resources and brand Real Change have? 4 The Riverside Group alongside the Greater Manchester which has been developed for Real Change to do so. C. Is it the right time for Combined Authority with support from Homeless Link. alternative giving in our area? 8 It is based on the Big Change MCR model which has been The rest of this toolkit will help you identify whether D. Scorecard 22 running in the City of Manchester since 2015, raising alternative giving is right for your area, key people to over a quarter of a million pounds to directly redistribute involve, the key components of an alternative giving to more than 1,000 people. programme, and how to keep them going. It is a guide only and above all you should be sure to adapt the approach to Over the course of the first year, Real Change your own area, according to the specific context and ideas projects raised over £50,000 and supported of people locally. more than 100 individuals across four locations and 31 frontline organisations. Developed by Robbie Cowbury Supported by Real Change Campaigns Manager The Riverside Group [email protected] 07976 924 793 2 Real Change Toolkit Setting up alternative giving in your area A. Principles of the Real Change Campaign The principles which underpin the Real Change approach are integral to its delivery and the only condition of using the brand and model. They are informed by consultation with people who have been homeless alongside learning from multiple similar campaigns across the UK (both positive and negative). They are: 1. Co-produced with people who have been homeless and local partners 2. Locally owned by the community and partnership, not any dominant partners 3. Positive about what people can do to help, not what they shouldn’t do 4. Positive about ending homelessness, avoiding negative terms or imagery 5. Lean and efficient so the public’s donations go to the people who need it 6. Simple and quick approval process so person in need gets support they need 3 Real Change Toolkit Setting up alternative giving in your area B. What impact does Real Change have? “All partners felt that Real Change What difference has Real Change made? Ex-army Sean, 31*, was sleeping at a night shelter was satisfying a need…for flexible, having exhausted the generosity of his friends personalised grants that filled gaps following the loss of his own tenancy. Although holding down his job, the lack of somewhere to wash, in funding from existing services. change and get a proper night’s sleep was seriously They also felt Real Change addressed affecting his work. a need to change the way the public The shelter and the Council’s housing team applied to Real Change to get Sean the ID required to apply give to people who are homeless.” for private rental accommodation. They then went to various national organisations for funds to help him Real Change Pilot Evaluation Report pay the deposit and first month’s rent on a flat. Falling short of just £100, they asked Real Change to cover the remainder to get Sean his own place. The small top-up Real Change provided meant local partners could take advantage of what was available Real Change Wigan & Leigh was the first Real Change outside the area, at the critical time for Sean. For project to launch in October 2018. The following quotes want of £100, Sean’s stay at the night shelter would and statistics are taken from an internal evaluation have continued, increasing the risk of him losing his looking at the first six months of the programme. job and spiralling further – as well as increasing the pressures on public services. *Names and details have been changed to protect the individual and his family 4 Real Change Toolkit Setting up alternative giving in your area Figure 1. Sleeping situation of grant recipients Figure 2. What were applications for at application (%) 35 Own home (30) 30 Key statistics – Wigan & Leigh 25 • 54 applications submitted Don’t know (2) 20 • 47 approved % 15 Supported (21) • 44 individual recipients Rough 10 sleeping (23) • 11 Registered Partners 5 • £11,223 raised Unsupported (2) 0 ID ETE Travel Prevention Sofa surfing (11) Furnishings Engagement • £9,860 given out Night shelter (11) Accommodation Personal Dignity Figure 3. Accommodation type Figure 4. Change in sleeping situation 80 100 60 90 80 Own home 40 70 Supported 20 60 0 % Sofa surfing 50 -20 Night shelter 40 -40 30 Rough sleeping -60 20 Custodial Supported Custodial Own home Sofa surfing Night shelter 10 Rough sleeping 0 % at % at After one month After six months application six months 5 Real Change Toolkit Setting up alternative giving in your area What kind of needs can Real Change Impact grants meet? There are four areas where alternative giving schemes can 3. Addressing street begging in town centres… have a positive impact on ending homelessness in your ID to start the process of finding a home: applying for … by enabling people who are homeless to access cash area: accommodation, opening a bank account, securing for essential costs without jumping through hurdles utilities, etc. 1. Directly on individuals who are experiencing … by creating more touch points for people who are on Smaller grants to pay for mobile phones which helped homelessness… the streets to connect with support facilitate the rehousing process … by covering essential costs … by offering a positive way for the public to give if they Needs which are less about rehousing and reflect the … by overcoming barriers are worried about homelessness need for personal dignity e.g. clothes for a funeral … by restoring hope and trust that things can get better … by targeting the ‘supply side’ of people who give in Smaller grants to cover the cost of temporary the street (without taking punitive measures against … by supporting people’s recovery, progressions and accommodation and aid the transition to rehousing people begging) transition into better housing or environment Larger grants to cover essentials related to rehousing – rent deposits, white goods and furniture 4. Change public perceptions about homelessness… 2. Building stronger partnerships amongst local providers… … by inviting them to get involved in the answer before they complain about the problem … by providing a focus for joint working and understanding other’s work practices and internal … by offering positive stories of people who’ve been “It has made partners aware of pressures homeless what other partners do, where … by identifying where activities complement and … by providing a platform to people with real experience their activities overlap and how overlap of homelessness … by sharing a neutral, non-competitive project they complement each other.“ which benefits all 6 Real Change Toolkit Setting up alternative giving in your area Figure 5. Flexible Funding Theory of Change Person is homeless: lacks belief that life can get better Connects with Item purchased outreach groups that builds trust and and food offers develops relationship Ready to move into temporary or safer accommodation Supported to address Fortified by items immediate challenges and activities which such as housing, mental sustain recovery health and drug use Something goes Ready to move into wrong and person own permanent is at risk again accommodation Items bought to Supported with items help person feel improving long term Intervention comfortable and prospects, employment prevents escalation maintain tenancy and relationships and restores hope No-one needs to be homeless or beg in the streets Personal Key recovery Fast grant circumstances event intervention 7 Real Change Toolkit Setting up alternative giving in your area C. Is it the right time for alternative giving in our area? If there aren’t the right conditions and right people in place 1. External context then embarking on an alternative giving scheme is unlikely to be the best use of resources for anyone. Key Question What does this mean? What might have a bigger impact? There may be the need for alternative giving but not the Is there are significant Alternative giving raises funds by selling • Develop good practice principles for conditions for it to be effective, or vice versa. If one or concern about the public a different way to give to end outreach groups so that when people other is absent, then you should seriously ask yourself begging and street homelessness, other than in the streets. do end up on the streets, they are whether it is the best use of time and resources to end activity? more likely to get the right support.