The Lighthouse

The Ken and Hilda Farr Lighthouse
in the Heart of Evesham

The Ken and Hilda Farr

Lighthouse

Bringing Hope to those in Need

Caring Hands in the Vale has been able to buy a wonderful property in the centre of Evesham which serves as a hub for meeting the needs of those experiencing food poverty, housing needs, homelessness and related issues.

With the help of some fantastic funders - especially the Hilda Farr Charitable Trust, we have now completed the purchase and refurbishment of the building.

The Vision of the Lighthouse

Fundraising


Building Works

We have completed a major refurbishment of the Lighthouse Building, with showers, a Health Hub, a laundry, showers and toilets, a store-room and a dumb waiter for the dining area. The money for these renovations has been raised as a result of the generosity of The Hilda Farr Charitable Trust, John Martin’s Charity, the Eveson Trust, the New Homes Bonus and many smaller gifts from wonderfully generous donors. We moved all major operations there in the early 2023 and celebrated our 20th anniversary of operating as Caring Hands in the Vale in April 2023.

Can You Help?

Are you able to help? We are hoping to complete the works on the building - which will include solar panels, computer equipment, more kitchen equipment, flooring for the loft space, and running costs for the new building as well as the salaries of our 3 employees and a cleaning firm. If you can help, please contact Diane Bennett at Caring Hands in the Vale, or simply use JustGiving if you want to donate.

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Contact Diane Bennett on

07859 892528
or
email: diane@chands.org.uk

About the Lighthouse
and Caring Hands

A Place of Safety and Help
logo
Essential Resources

The Lighthouse Building is a wonderful location and has great facilities for storage as a food bank. However, the vision is much more far-reaching. We see it as a place where people feel safe to explore and discuss the issues they are facing. A place where they can receive targeted help with issues such as debt, budgeting, cooking skills, and addiction issues.

Haven for the Homeless

It is also to be a safe haven for the homeless, who frequently have nowhere to go and receive positive guidance, companionship and help towards accommodation. The showers will provide basic hygiene and self-respect. The laundry facilities will provide temporary help while people get their circumstances in order. We want people to find positive ways out of their diffiult circumstances and support them as they do so.

Diane - Community Outreach Manager
Diane Bennett
An Enduring Vision Finally Realised!

In 2003, Diane Bennett started a food bank resource in Vale of Evesham Christian Centre as a way of showing people that they were not forgotten and to show God’s love to them in a practical way. Even then, Diane dreamt of a drop-in centre where people could be welcomed and helped in their circumstances.

For over 10 years, Diane did all of this in her spare time, working full-time in Care Work to finance this vision. In 2016 she began to receive a salary and she now works full-time for Caring Hands in the Vale, with a part-time deputy in Emma Goodge. The Lighthouse building is the beginning of fulfillment of that vision which first started to form back in 2003.

The Story
How the Lighthouse Began

The search for a building

Diane Bennett had been searching for a suitable buidling for the Drop-in Centre for many years, and the possible buildings in the town were very limited in number. At Harvest and Christmas time the church buidling, then the home of Caring Hands, was swamped with resources because of the amazing generosity of the community. It was becoming very difficult to function as a church and Caring Hands was running out of space for storage.

Finding the Lighthouse

Then in early 2019 we became aware that the building which is now The Lighthouse was being put up for sale. Caring Hands expressed an interest, although there was no money at the time to fund anything like that. The Vale of Evesham Christian Centre had recently received a substantial legacy and although this could not fund the purchase fully, the leaders of the church offered to provide a loan to assist with the purchase.


Buying the Building

The purchase was almost complete when the Hilda Farr Trust offered to pay for the building in its entirety and thus it would become the property of Caring Hands in the Vale. It was a wonderful offer, which was eagerly accepted and the purchase was completed on 3rd March 2021. Now the building has been transformed inside - again with the generous assistance of the Ken and Hilda Farr Trust, Eveson Trust and others, so that it has become a real centre of resources and services for the homeless and those in any kind of need. As a result of many generous donations it was possible to begin building in April 2022 and complete by August 2023!

HOMELESS SERVICES

Caring Hands provides services for the homeless in Evesham and the local area. Working with other agencies - Homeless Outreach by CCP, Wychavon Council, Housing Associations such as rooftop and many others, we provide emergency assistance by referral. Soon we will be able to offer showers, laundry services, healthcare services, a care-of address, storage of valuables, mobile phone charging and, of course, meals. All of this is to assist those without a home into permanent, secure and good-quality accommodation.

IDENTIFYING NEEDS

It is not only the homeless who require help. In recent years, the financial crash of 2008, benefit delays, cuts to support and children’s services, the bedroom tax, Covid and job losses and now the huge rise in the cost of living have all impacted on families in work as well as on benefits. In addition, cuts to drug and alcohol support services, increases in gambling and cuts to mental health services have impacted on the most vulnerable in society. Many of our service users are in work and barely getting by.

RESOURCE BANKS

We provide 5 banks by referral only from the relevant agencies:

  • Food bank for emergency food needs,
  • Household Bank for cleaning materials,
  • Toiletries bank for those in need of personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, shampoo, tampons, soap etc.
  • Clothing Bank for those who need basic clothing - especially those who are homeless
  • The Homelessness Bank - tents, sleeping bags and other necessities for those sleeping rough

MEALS AND SUPPORT

An important part of the work at the Lighthouse, and at Caring Hands in general, is emotional support and encouragement. The meals are the only service which can be obtained without any referral. We welcome the lonely, the hungry, the tired and those in any sort of need and try to make them welcome and valued. The Lighthouse will provide another element of this important service, giving a comfortable and welcoming place for people to gather and meet service providers, getting help to become more independent. Some of the services we already provide are CAP Money - for those with budgeting needs, Shopping and Eating on a Budget - help with maximising the resources we have. We aim to provide simple cookery classes, health checks and other essentials as we support people who just need a helping hand.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

- Jesus