BARNSLEY Hospice and the council have joined forces to launch Help Out Barnsley – an exciting collaboration to help address poverty in the borough and provide essential support for residents in need.

Help Out Barnsley will provide essential household items, promote furniture recycling and offer emergency assistance to those who need it the most, including individuals affected by domestic abuse, homelessness, and other emergencies.

Over the past year, the two organisations have worked together to create a strategy and identify the best approach and offer that would benefit residents.

A council spokesperson said: “This partnership underscores our commitment to addressing local issues through sustainable practices, using Barnsley Hospice’s extensive knowledge and experience in the field of helping those in need.”

Help Out Barnsley is driven by several key objectives:

  • Addressing poverty: Help Out Barnsley’s comprehensive services, including furniture recycling, storage solutions and emergency support, will help address poverty in Barnsley.

  • Supporting vulnerable groups: The focus is on providing immediate support to those in need, such as people escaping domestic abuse, and offering secure storage for personal items during transitional times.

  • Transforming spaces into homes: The project is committed to providing the right essential items that help residents in need transform their living spaces into comforting homes.

  • Creating more sustainable practices: The initiative is dedicated to ensuring that quality items avoid landfills and instead reach those in need, aligning with our sustainability commitments.

  • Supporting the local economy and generating vital income for Barnsley Hospice: By purchasing goods from the Barnsley Hospice Retail Hub, it’s keeping local funds within Barnsley and generating vital income for the hospice to enable them to continue the great work they do.

Councillor Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “Help Out Barnsley represents the spirit of community and partners coming together to help those in need. This partnership with Barnsley Hospice is a testament to our collective resolve to not only provide immediate assistance but to foster a sustainable future for all residents.

“By addressing poverty, supporting vulnerable groups, and promoting sustainable practices, we are setting a precedent for community care that we are incredibly proud of.

“This partnership marks just the beginning of a promising and exciting journey. In the next few months, we look forward to sharing the positive outcomes and stories of residents that we supported through Help Out Barnsley.”

Martine Tune, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nurse at Barnsley Hospice, said: “At the hospice, we are committed to serving the local community and are delighted to partner with the council for Help Out Barnsley.

“Importantly, Help Out Barnsley offers a vital source of income which will support the delivery of our services. The promotion of more sustainable shopping practices is also something we are real advocates for with our Retail Hub in Dodworth, so it’s fantastic we can incorporate this throughout the partnership.

“We look forward to seeing the difference Help Out Barnsley makes over the coming months and beyond.”

Last week, we invited our partners to explore the Help Out Barnsley facilities and get to know our operational model. We always welcome additional partners to join this cause, so if your organisation is interested or would like to find out more, please reach out to us at HelpOutBarnsley@barnsley.gov.uk.

The public is also encouraged to support the Help Out Barnsley initiative by donating furniture and goods or participating in upcoming events. More details on how you can contribute will be published in the near future across our social media channels.

To be able to access support from Help Out Barnsley, people will have to be referred by our internal and partner services to ensure the project supports those who need it most.

As well as marking Hospice Care Week, Barnsley Hospice is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. To learn more about the great work they do in the community, please visit their website at barnsleyhospice.org.