<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Shrewsbury Ark]]></title><description><![CDATA[A day centre for the homeless and vulnerable in the heart of Shrewsbury]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 23:43:37 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Homelessness is on the rise]]></title><description><![CDATA[Last week, the Government published its annual Rough sleeping snapshot in England : autumn 2025. Key findings include: 4,793 people were estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025. This is a record high and a 3% increase on the total for 2024 (4,667). The figure is well over two and half times (171%) the number of people estimated to have been sleeping rough in 2010 when records began (1,768) and has surpassed the previous highest total of 4,751 in 2017. London recorded...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/homelessness-is-on-the-rise</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a84c9af1929985ec943735</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:23:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_731a6930ee8c43318f5ee161acd047a8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[THE SHREWSBURY ARK STAYS AFLOAT THANKS TO EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY SUPPORT]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Shrewsbury Ark , the award-winning charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people, has confirmed it will remain open for the immediate future thanks to an exceptional wave of community support during its Winter Campaign. Launched in October last year, in just three months, the campaign raised over £250,000. This has been bolstered by an additional £50,000 in match funding from a generous benefactor, and it has enabled the charity to continue its vital services and strengthen its...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/the-shrewsbury-ark-stays-afloat-thanks-to-extraordinary-community-support</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6982fd21aa13a366d93ef99a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:18:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7076c2_b16e500e01df48f883ec77c4c6bfb7e2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_640,h_480,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Make 2026 Your Year of Fitness and Fundraising: Graeme Takes on the London Marathon for The Ark]]></title><description><![CDATA[As many of us set New Year’s resolutions to get fitter and healthier , one inspiring supporter has already taken the plunge and committed to a major challenge for a cause close to his heart. Graeme Tunbridge  is training for the 2026 TCS London Marathon  in aid of The Ark , and his story shows how raising money for charity can go hand-in-hand with working toward a personal fitness goal. Graeme’s decision to sign up came during a festive family conversation last Christmas — and a suggestion...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/make-2026-your-year-of-fitness-and-fundraising-graeme-takes-on-the-london-marathon-for-the-ark</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695eb52802fef142333c7e62</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:05:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7076c2_ea9cea0f7b82432aa8d20f6a96420687~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_371,h_136,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Finding Hope: How The Shrewsbury Ark Helped One Man Rebuild His Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[When Paul (not his real name) first found himself without a home, it wasn’t something he ever imagined would happen.“It really started during COVID,” he explains. “The lockdowns practically ruined my business, then I had a relationship breakdown, and my mental health took a big hit. By the end of COVID, I was kicked out of where I was living after falling out with my landlord. That’s where my homelessness started.” Paul was first placed in a hotel, but that temporary fix didn’t last. “I spent...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/finding-hope-how-the-shrewsbury-ark-helped-one-man-rebuild-his-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69261e528c513b4f51805b79</guid><pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:00:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7076c2_0ff9f867fcb04a84a8aacada0cabf1e8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[THE SHREWSBURY ARK SECURES £50,000 MATCH FUNDING FROM ANONYMOUS DONOR FOR WINTER CAMPAIGN]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Ark, Shrewsbury’s award-winning charity providing vital day-centre services to homeless and vulnerable people, has announced a significant boost to its ‘Save the Ark’ Winter Campaign; thanks to an anonymous donor offering a pound-for-pound match funding, every donation given will be doubled, up to a total of £50,000. Anton Goodwin, The Ark’s Charity Director, says: “This is an incredible philanthropic gift, and we are forever indebted to our anonymous donor’s generosity. It’s vital the...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/the-shrewsbury-ark-secures-50-000-match-funding-from-anonymous-donor-for-winter-campaign</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69261a5b8c513b4f518054b9</guid><pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:00:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7076c2_62dcb3f6e39245a594fbdb399cb8192e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_652,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From life on the streets to a New Beginning: Charlie’s Story]]></title><description><![CDATA[When Charlie first came to The Ark in August, he was 19 and living in a tent in Shrewsbury. He’d lost his job, his confidence, and very nearly his hope. “I was terrified to come into the Ark,” Charlie says. “I thought it would be embarrassing — being a young lad and asking for help. But from the moment I walked in, everyone was so welcoming. I felt at home straight away.” At The Ark, Charlie found more than just a safe space. He found people who believed in him. Staff helped him look for work...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/from-life-on-the-streets-to-a-new-beginning-charlie-s-story</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69171117de9a886a61e44aaa</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:35:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7076c2_5a0e1cfb559647328db7277de4469975~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_555,h_544,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Celebrating our Trustees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Outstanding trusteeship recognised in Trustees’ Week 3-7 November 2025]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/celebrating-our-trustees</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690e123ea4bf691873e8b6d9</guid><pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:51:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_ad183821601d4a27bc9aac214ac7a9c9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Press Release: Shropshire's business community gets on board as CMYUK &#38; Hollywood Monster rally behind the Shrewsbury Ark]]></title><description><![CDATA[Independent homeless charity, the Shrewsbury Ark, has received support for its fundraising campaign from Shrewsbury-based CMYUK and long-time customer Hollywood Monster. CMYUK, which has its demonstration and training facility in Shrewsbury, has pledged a donation to support the Shrewsbury Ark, the town’s leading homelessness charity, in response to its appeal for local business contribution.     The Shrewsbury Ark recently launched a fundraising campaign to help cover rising operational...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/press-release-shropshire-s-business-community-gets-on-board-as-cmyuk-hollywood-monster-rally-behi</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68fdecc50b31cbff20f87ff6</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:42:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7076c2_1afef41a46bc45e980b67ad48afa7ecc~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Press release: Don’t let this winter be our last!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Charity launches urgent appeal to save vital homeless day centre]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/press-release-don-t-let-this-winter-be-our-last</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f24b3fe99ba7811821a303</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:05:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2049db_bc50718b64374b748e2b328cbee68bd3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sleeping with “One Eye Open”: Sarah’s Story of Surviving the Streets as a Disabled Woman]]></title><description><![CDATA[At 40 years old, Sarah never imagined she would be living in a tent in the woods near Shrewsbury town centre.  But after a series of devastating health issues that left her with an addiction to prescription medication, a relationship breakdown, and the loss of her home, she has found herself fighting for survival — both physically and mentally. “I’m in a tent on my own,” she says quietly. “There are three other tents near me, all occupied by men who use drugs and drink heavily. There’s been...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/sleeping-with-one-eye-open-sarah-s-story-of-surviving-the-streets-as-a-disabled-woman</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68ef549badba045831156e6e</guid><pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 08:04:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2049db_fca881a6f0294c09902549074619acc8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Verses From The Abyss]]></title><description><![CDATA[A veteran's poetry captures his experiences, including his time with us at The Ark.]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/verses-from-the-abyss</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68c2ee0d761c219f8230c84f</guid><pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:04:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_64a180c2170d43e480a791e2b48cb632~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_295,h_171,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Press Release: Shrewsbury Ark saves the public purse £1.5 million over 12 months]]></title><description><![CDATA[Launch of the Ark’s impact report 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/press-release-shrewsbury-ark-saves-the-public-purse-1-5-million-over-12-months</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b9981e8c49b59a1968d3c4</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:09:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_57d57552efec457fa4e9012db9e1649a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is it like to be newly homeless?]]></title><description><![CDATA["I fell out with my girlfriend and had to move out. I didn’t have anywhere to go. I stayed with my mum for a short while, but there wasn’t space for me to stay indefinitely, so I became homeless about two weeks ago."]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/what-is-it-like-to-be-newly-homeless</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b027ed6297e2dd01fdbb0b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:12:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_e9e3160adc524b4baa049e1ef55d4817~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How a bed has changed lives ]]></title><description><![CDATA["I didn’t expect someone to tell me that having a safe place to lie down helped them step back from suicide."]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/how-a-bed-has-changed-lives</link><guid isPermaLink="false">687a7b3497cd80436ec604df</guid><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:04:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_761981dde41f460c81b85c9056779b8d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Delivering health for all]]></title><description><![CDATA[Health services delivered in the Ark are saving the NHS in the long run an average of £12k per person.]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/delivering-health-for-all</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68558431979ad762df3b1253</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:01:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_d7a56fbd9a394cc1b8c5f14b2f01de64~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Ark welcomes confirmation on rough sleeping decriminalisation – but more needs to be done]]></title><description><![CDATA[After 200 years, rough sleeping will no longer be a crime as the Government confirms  it will formally scrap the Vagrancy Act by Spring...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/the-ark-welcomes-confirmation-on-rough-sleeping-decriminalisation-but-more-needs-to-be-done</link><guid isPermaLink="false">684a9b18def2409d16b9e35c</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:21:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7076c2_95e3a08c56a1435fb8fc0a6a2e6d6fe7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Celebrating our volunteers!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Volunteers' Week Monday 2nd – Sunday 8th June Volunteers’ Week is the annual UK-wide campaign held from the first Monday in June to...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/celebrating-our-volunteers-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6843082b2fc24971ecac5031</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:43:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_637436ea75a1491faf5462d8459ced2a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Over 30 sleep out to support Shrewsbury charities]]></title><description><![CDATA[On Thursday 15 May, 32 people braved a night sleeping out at Croud Meadow, home of Shrewsbury Town FC, to raise both awareness and vital...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/over-30-sleep-out-to-support-shrewsbury-charities</link><guid isPermaLink="false">682f57ac91a7bbb123349f86</guid><pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2025 17:03:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_0a501a925f6b4dfe9aab7563b57766c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Three months on: Simon’s story part 2]]></title><description><![CDATA[Last month Simon* shared his story in this blog post . He came to us in January, when at 56, he found himself living on the streets. We...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/three-months-on-simon-s-story-part-2</link><guid isPermaLink="false">680fce12d70e876a157a68d3</guid><pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:55:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_0657ad7a2b9e4bb89e0debe0d0e4b0b0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_681,h_488,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why do people without a home stay in the town centre?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Whether its politics or football, or discussing life's challenges, we have some really interesting conversations at the Ark. This one...]]></description><link>https://www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/post/why-do-people-without-a-home-stay-in-the-town-centre</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6807f857765eb353ed599e08</guid><pubDate>Tue, 22 Apr 2025 20:25:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2ca046_2f317e1e4d254e1e9a2774b5dd1dd8da~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_353,h_236,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shrewsbury Ark</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>