Member Article

Orchard Square announces 2022 Charity of the Year

Sheffield city centre’s premier shopping destination, Orchard Square has announced that the Archer Project will be a chosen charity for 2022.

The Archer Project is a Sheffield community charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people to change their lives for the better. Based in the city centre within purpose-built premises at Sheffield Cathedral, the dedicated charity team help those in most need by developing their independence through an approach that is split into three broad stages, Engagement, Stabilisation and Fulfilment aimed at increasing overall well-being and chances of employment.

Paul Lancaster, Commercial Property Manager at Orchard Square, said: “As we approach Christmas, homelessness is something that many of us think about. Sadly, the reality is that there are people without a home in our city. Orchard Square has announced a partnership with the Archer Project to help support the charity’s ongoing work across our local communities and people in real need, not least following the recent challenges presented by the pandemic.”

The charity, which has been operating for more than 30 years within the city, offers support to include in-house nurse and dental clinics, and access to hot food and shower alongside a programme of activities for people to learn skills and enjoy new experiences while gaining accreditation. The Fufilment services are delivered primarily through social enterprises, Printed By Us and Just Clean that focus on helping vulnerable adults ready to undertake the challenge to achieve long term employment through the provision of internal paid work opportunities.

The team and tenants at Orchard Square have made an initial Christmas donation to the charity and will be working to raise ongoing profile and funding for the Archer Project into 2022. In addition, Orchard Square will collaborate to support the charity’s regular food and drink service operation.

In 2019 the charity was awarded the Social Enterprise of the Year at the ‘Homeless Link Excellence Awards’. Terry Murphy from the Archer Project who runs the social enterprise comments: “The Archer Project really appreciates the commitment from Orchard Square to support us throughout 2022. It presents a great opportunity to work together to raise essential funds to help the homeless in our city and to develop links with our social enterprise arm. We are also really grateful for the initial donation to our Christmas campaign at this, our busiest time of year.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Isabella Storey .