THE SHREWSBURY ARK STAYS AFLOAT THANKS TO EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY SUPPORT

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 foundations for the years ahead.

A Community Effort: How Were the Funds Raised? 

The total reflects contributions from across Shropshire, demonstrating the depth of local commitment to protect essential services for those most in need:

• Grants: Nearly £80,000 was gained from previously submitted applications, which were secured during the campaign. Of this, £15,000 is restricted for roof repairs, with the remainder supporting core services and programme delivery.

• Major donors: 20 individuals contributed a combined £128,000, including £35,000 restricted for the roof, £10,000 for a new training room, and £2,500 towards warm spaces, complementing wider funding for new windows, doors and solar panels.

• Local churches: £3,000 raised through congregational giving.

• Volunteer‑led events: £8,000 generated through community activities including a table‑top sale, carol singing, an open mic night, a well‑being day, pop‑up café, bake sales, and two young supporters busking.          

• One‑off donations: Over 600 individuals contributed a total of £45,000.

• Friends of the Ark: This membership programme has now surpassed 600, collectively providing over £80,000 annually, representing around one‑third of the charity’s running costs.

A Lifeline for Local People

Anton Goodwin, Charity Director, says: “We cannot thank the local community enough – you have literally saved us.  It was very tough facing the reality of closure. This surge of support ensures The Shrewsbury Ark can continue offering safety, advice, stepping-stones for people towards a more positive future, along with food, warmth, and connection to hundreds of people facing homelessness in Shrewsbury and across Shropshire.

“We now have the security to demonstrate that we are a going concern, and can meet our financial obligations without any doubt.  This is vital for our future and in applying for funding via Grants, Foundations and Trusts. Local donors (large and small) need to know that their generosity has a future.”

People experiencing homelessness face some of the deepest health inequalities in our society. Poor mental health, family breakdown and addiction, push people into homelessness, making their situation worse. We need meaningful investment and shared accountability across Government, Councils and all support agencies to treat homelessness as the health emergency it is.

The latest Shelter report shows that over 382,000 people in England do not have a safe place to call home. More than half of that number are in London, but the report shows that sharp rises in homelessness can be seen across the country. The number of people recorded as homeless in the West Midlands has risen by 11 per cent. 

Using data from Homeless Health Needs Audits (HHNA) undertaken between 2022 and 2025, Homeless Link’s The Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2025, show a continuing decline in the physical health of people experiencing homelessness. This data, drawn from local HHNAs, still provides the only national dataset of its kind on this topic.

The Crisis Homeless Monitor, shows that homelessness is on the increase, making The Shrewsbury Ark’s services more important than ever. They state that: “While demand for homelessness services has risen, the majority of local authorities report that it’s become harder to access both social housing and private tenancies for households facing homelessness.”  Read more from Crisis here.

Become a friend and support the Ark into the future by clicking here.