St Wilfrid’s Centre: Vulnerable people’s charity in Sheffield faces £50,000 increase in costs

Sheffield charity, St Wilfrid’s Centre, has found their costs to be increasing by £50,000 this year compared to 2022.

The centre in Lowfield, Sheffield, works with vulnerable, homeless, and socially excluded or disadvantaged adults with various needs, helping signpost them to specialist services, and providing them with a space to socialise and build personal skills.

In 2023, the centre will cost £550,000 to run compared to last year’s £500,000.

Ruth Moore, director at the charity, said: “The cost-of-living is a concern, but it worries me more that the gap is going to increase between our clients and other people. Some of the clients have always had a cost of living crisis. 

“We have to completely self-fund at the centre, so we are having to look at new avenues of bringing in money. But, we have to remember to focus on those who don’t speak loudly about [these crises].”

Tickets are still available for St Wilfrid’s auction on September 25, with two SUFC Directors’ Box tickets, Peter Kay tickets, and whiskey from the House of Lords being just a few of the 52 items and services up for grabs.

Ruth added: “We want to make sure we are guaranteeing the future. We are hoping to get quite a lot of money for the centre with the auction.

“Everything is donated for this auction, even the food is donated from Claremont Hospital, so people know their money is going straight to clients. It is really more like people buying at the auction are making a donation, and getting something in return!”

The centre, which has been open for 32 years, helps around 140 clients. Some come in once a week, some every day, and others with less frequency. 28 per cent of them are homeless. 

Ruth said: “We aren’t just a building, we’re a community. There’s a real sense that they all look after each other, and people say you can feel it in the walls, that it’s very friendly here. Obviously I’m biased, but we are very proud of it!”

At the centre, clients can socialise in communal areas, take part in skills sessions and social clubs, and get a two course meal for just £2. 80 per cent say they attend the centre because it feels like a safe space where they are able to socialise.