Sarah

homeless, pregnant

(not her real name) aged 25 years old, turned up on St Wilfrid’s Centre doorstep in January this year cold and dispirited. She had been sleeping on the streets, in disused garages and shop doorways for six weeks. She had not been eating properly and was in a very unkempt state. What was most alarming was that Sarah was also five months pregnant. Having approached the homeless services, she had been turned away and told that she was not entitled to emergency accommodation in the City because she was registered in another area. Why, one might ask, was Sarah in Sheffield? She had fled from her own town because of the violence and drug culture on her estate and was looking for a better home to bring up her expected child. During the few days that she attended the Centre, she was able to regain her self-respect, use the showers, personal hygiene and washing facilities and take advantage of the nourishing food provided every day. Unfortunately, sleeping rough had clearly affected her more than was apparent because she started to suffer complications and a member of staff took her immediately to the Jessop Wing of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital where she was admitted for treatment. Fortunately, the pregnancy was ok and the few days that Sarah spent in hospital gave the welfare team at St Wilfrid’s time to consult with Sheffield City Council. As a result it was agreed that she would be given interim council-sponsored bed and breakfast accommodation. Negotiations with her home-town council also resulted in Sarah being allocated new accommodation in that town well away from the original estate. Sarah is now settled and has a healthy baby boy. Sarah is just one of the many disadvantaged and vulnerable people who attend the Centre and are helped to improve their lives. No other provision for the homeless and disadvantaged in the North of England offers so much on one site as St Wilfrid’s Centre. It costs £250,000 each year to run the Centre and every donated penny helps.

Social Services and Maternity Services