Shelter Housing Aid and Research Project

"Shelter Housing Aid and Research Project (SHARP) was setup in the early 1970’s by a group of volunteers who were deeply concerned about poor housing and homelessness and wanted to do something for local people who were suffering bad conditions...

"Until the mid-1990s SHARP relied upon a small number of annual grants – from national Shelter, Leicester City Council and the then Department of the Environment – to fund most of its housing aid work, although local fundraising remained important. From 2000 onwards these grants were steadily reduced in real terms. By 2007 they were no more although the City Council has provided a one off grant for the current financial year. Offsetting some of these reductions until recently has been support from the Legal Services Commission (from 2000 to 2011) and substantial gift aid from SHARP’s two trading arms, SHARP Training Recycling and Income Development Enterprise (STRIDE) and the Leicester Social Economy Consortium (LSEC)...

"On the income side financial support from the public sector has been severely cut back. STRIDE, despite a £2m. turnover last year, made no profits (and thus there was no gift aid to SHARP). LSEC revenue is down due to unlet spaces in the Phoenix Yard and Phoenix Studios developments. Thanks to a special appeal, SHARP was able to raise £100,000 during 2011 which helped to keep the charity going. However, SHARP still faces major financial challenges and needs to raise funds to continue its much needed work."

• David Brazier - CEO

Contact

Web: http://www.leicestershelter.org.uk 13 Welford Road Leicester LE2 7AD