Support the Ark

AdoptaBed

All are invited to support us in helping homeless people to get back on their feet, by adopting one of our 25 beds.

We intend to make a stay in our hostel a life changing experience for a resident, where assistance is readily to hand to make the journey towards mainstream society.

The idea is that making a monthly payment of £5 (or more or less) by banker's order gives us the necessary funds to help, over and above the essentials.

Adoptabed support enables us to do more than looking after the physical needs of residents. It allows us to develop training- starting with reading and writing if necessary, and then living skills of cooking, cleaning and communicating. This training base leads to more formal recognised training and a job.

In addition, it allows us to go the extra mile - for example, when people get their own place, we can help with a second hand bed and cooker, or spend time sorting out electricity and gas - and we rehouse 60 people a year.

We will allocate you a bedroom number (1 to 25), and you will be supporting the people who occupy that room. The average length of stay for a resident is about 3 months.

From time to time we'll let you know who occupied the room, when they came in when they left, and whilst we're obliged to change their name for confidentiality, and give general information only, they are real people with real issues. We'll let you know how they are getting on.

Take room 5:

This was occupied by Tom (real name - he's given his authority). He worked as a glass maker. Lost his job, and slept on friend's floors for 4 months. He came to us on 14th June 2008. "New lease of life" and "opened doors" is how Tom describes the help he's received. On 29th August he moved into one of our 6 Arkangel supported houses, and has started a college course. He'll stay in the Arkangel house for about 9 months and then we'll help him move into his own place and support him afterwards. He's on his way.

The Ark, as a charity, puts every penny received into working to help homeless, vulnerable people back onto their feet.

Anyone interested in learning more is invited to ring Bob Jarvis at the Wirral Ark on 0151 651 2200, or write to us at:

Wirral Churches' Ark Project
Mary Cole House
6 Sandford Street
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 1BN

You can also download a Standing Order Form and a Gift Aid Form which you can complete and send back to us at the address above.

We'd be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to come, look around and learn more about what we do.