15 Merseyside charities that need our support more than ever

Local charities and organizations across Merseyside have had a difficult year, with much fundraising difficult or impossible. We look at fifteen helping our communities every day, the invaluable services they offer us when times are tough and how we can support them in return.

Paper Cup Project

Everyone in Liverpool knows about the Papercup Project and the amazing work the outreach programme does for the city’s homeless community. The team of volunteers is led by Michelle Langan and (before the pandemic) they would take to the streets every week with essential supplies for those sleeping rough. The good news for 2020 is that the programme has now become an official charity and plans to launch a new coffee shop in the City Centre from which donations and profits will go back into the charity, and help support more homeless people in our area. Keep your eyes peeled for the launch date and location!

You can find out more and donate here.

The Open Door Centre

Based in the Wirral but serving Merseyside, The Open Door Centre’s aim is to tackle many of the barriers that stop young people from accessing mental health support. Through music and technology, training and volunteering the Open Door help young people confront stress, anxiety and depression, and develop effective methods to deal with these feelings.

The Open Door works on a membership format. Anyone aged 15-30  can become a member and access as many of their services as they want, including Creative Therapeutic Support if feeling down or low, plus numerous different activities within music and the arts, and unique training and volunteering opportunities. Membership is free, with no waiting lists!

Find out more here.

Fans Supporting Food Banks

When blues and reds come together magical things can happen, and that has certainly been the case for Fans Supporting Food Banks. You must have seen their incredible work during the last lockdown when fans travelled the length and breadth of the UK delivering PPE to those who needed it alongside Merseyside PPE Hub (watch above). The mission continues and this joint initiative between The Blue Union & Spirit of Shankly grows by the day.

You can find out more on how to help through Facebook here.

Big Help Project

The Big Help Project in Knowsley supported tens of thousands of people during the last lockdown and the team are continuing the support through this one and well in to Winter. Watch our video above and find out where your donations and food drop offs go.

More info and donation details here.

North Liverpool Foodbank

Part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks, North Liverpool Foodbank supplies a balanced and nutritious three day supply of food to those in need.
You can donate food direct to them during working hours on weekdays, at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday mornings, or at selected branches of Tesco and Sainburys. At the moment they are in need of tinned potatoes and vegetables, fruit juice, coffee, curry and pasta sauces.

For full details of how you can help, visit the website here.

Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service

Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service, LDAS for short, aims to protect, support and empower women and girls who suffer from domestic abuse in order they can live safe and independent lives.

The service has multi lingual staff and volunteers, and access to interpreters and information in different languages. There is information on the site to show victims of abuse how to make sure no one can see what site they have accessed.  As support ranges from a simple chat to getting an emergency refuge place, even if a woman wants to stay in a relationship LDAS can still help.

Info on how you can help here.

Damien John Kelly House

An abstinence-based recovery living centre for adult males on Wavertree High Street, Damien John Kelly House tailors a unique package of support and work with men in alcohol and drugs recovery to reach the next stage of life goals. With activities including boxing, circuit training, group therapy, workshops, cookery classes and more, its belief systems are belonging, connection and purpose through arts, sport and culture.

Check out their Twitter account here.

Claire House

There can’t be many people in Merseyside who don’t know about the incredible work that Claire House does, every single day. The children’s hospice needs our support more than ever as. Earlier this year we spoke to Gillian Nove, its Director of Income Generation, who said: “It’s been quite a challenging time for us at Claire House over the last four months, as it has in so many charities throughout the country. We anticipate that our fundraising income will be down by about £1 million this year. The restrictions have meant that events, community and corporate income specifically have taken a real hit.”

You can support by getting involved with the Claire House Christmas Hat day on 4 December. Info here

The Whitechapel Centre

The Whitechapel Centre during the pandemic brought local rough sleepers indoors, to an aparthotel. Approaching winter, the Centre hopes to safely re-open their centre on Langsdale Street near London Road, to provide an assessment point for people who find themselves newly homeless. Whitechapel’s outreach team is out on the streets every day, responding to calls and encouraging people to come indoors.

Whitechapel runs an appeal which gives you a few different ways to support their work assisting the homeless – volunteering, donating useful things or money.

Visit the website here.

Clatterbridge Cancer Charity

The new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Liverpool is the city’s first cancer hospital and the culmination of an eight-year vision for transforming cancer care in our region, offering pioneering chemotherapy, radiotherapy and proton therapy treatments. In addition, work is due to begin to improve the Wirral centre.
There are a number of ways to help the charity, from donating money or shares, dedicating a Fairy after a loved one, or buying from their online gift shop here.

You can also donate the cost of your office Christmas party with the Christmas Party Heroes campaign here.

WHISC

The Women’s Health Information and Support Centre on Bold St last year celebrated 35 years of improving the health and wellbeing of local women and their families. They achieve this through volunteers and staff, partnerships and referrals to other organisations where appropriate.

WHISC believes women deserve respect and that girls should grow up with high self-esteem. No one should experience barriers to accessing information, support and care to achieve optimum health.

More info here.

Alder Hey Children’s Charity

Picture by Gareth Jones

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Charity is Europe’s first children’s hospital built in a park. It cares for over 330,000 young patients and their families annually and is a leader in research into children’s medicines, infection, inflammation and oncology.
They fundraise in a number of ways. Their online shop selling goods from pocket money prices upwards – toys, face masks, jewelry, t-shirts and more – has something for everyone.

You can also help by setting up a Facebook fundraiser on birthdays, or give a regular monthly gift.

More info here.

Wirral Ark

Another fantastic charity supporting homeless people in our area, this time on the Wirral. Wirral Ark provides direct access shelter and supported accommodation for those forces to sleep rough. The host a  huge calendar of fundraising events normally including their own version Strictly and the now famous, Kip in the Kop. This year they hosted their first ever Kip on the Couch and you can support right now by donating a light on the virtual Christmas Tree, where you can also leave you message of support.

Info here.

Wirral Hospice St John’s

Wirral Hospice St John’s provides free in and out patient care for adults with life-limiting illnesses. They also support carers and families during the patient’s life and beyond. You can help the hospice by taking part in their lottery, sponsoring a nurse or a light in memory of a loved one at the annual Light Up a Life each December.

The hospice will collect and dispose of real Christmas trees for recycling at the end of the festive period each year from central Wirral postcodes, welcoming a donation in return.

Light up a Life info here.

Radio City’s Mission Christmas Cash for Kids

As families unexpectedly face poverty this festive period, more children may be waking up on Christmas morning without any presents to open. Mission Christmas aims to distribute gifts to those without, and you can help by donating to the appeal. Donations can be made online, and from 16^th November onwards new and unwrapped presents can be left at drop off points to be announced. Or you can buy from the Amazon Wishlist here.

Sign up to be a Mission Christmas supporter here.