Horsham student’s dad who was made homeless inspires school to raise funds

The team from Barnes B boarding house at Christ’s Hospital – led by house captain Izzy Hood – have raised almost £1,300 by selling raffle tickets for a Valentine’s Day hamper.

The money is being donated to Sussex Homeless Support after students voted between five small, local charities – and it is a cause deeply personal to 17-year-old Izzy.

She said: “Growing up in a relatively stable working-class family, homelessness wasn’t something that I ever thought I would be faced with so closely.

“All it took was a few mistakes before my dad found himself sleeping rough and there was nothing I could do to support him.

“Whilst other kids stressed about GCSEs, I stressed about if my dad would survive, but, thanks to the support of a service similar to Sussex Homeless Support, my dad is living in a small flat and even considering studying something new at university.”

Izzy and house charity representative, Alice Frith-Powell, 16, came up with the idea for the virtual fundraiser after Covid prevented the students being together to continue its tradition of decorating and selling hundreds of Valentine’s Day cookies to raise money.

Within 48 hours of announcing it to the school community, they had already raised £630.

Ian Stannard, house parent of Barnes B boarding house, said: “Covid has had a big impact on young people, so it is especially heart-warming to see our pupils finding ways to engage with the outside world through such a wonderful fundraising effort. The girls in Barnes B boarding house are upholding a great school tradition for the benefit of an amazing charity and we are very proud of them!”

Sussex Homeless Support is a volunteer run charity based in Brighton which provides provisions, food and advice for a growing number of rough sleepers and vulnerable in the area.

2019 was particularly busy for the charity, and those numbers are increasing due to Covid-19, unemployment, mental health issues and domestic violence.

Izzy said: “As a society we see homelessness as an obscure, distant issue but it is so much closer than we can possibly imagine; all it takes is one thing to set off an unfortunate chain of events.

“Covid has been especially hard on the homeless population and I am grateful every single day that he was given support at the beginning of lockdown.

“I feel so happy I get to pay back the support my dad received to those in similar situations – there truly couldn’t be a more worthy charity. Both Alice and I plan to volunteer with Sussex Homeless support as soon as Covid allows us to do so.”

To donate, visit https://gofund.me/4f7593e0