Reflecting on a Year of Rapid Growth: Accommodation Concern's 2024 Journey

As we close the chapter on 2024, Accommodation Concern has not only grown in size but also in impact. Our commitment to transforming lives through supported accommodation, as well as housing, debt, and benefits advice, has led to a remarkable 77% increase in financial gains for Northamptonshire, reaching over £3,500,000 from last year's £2,039,000. This growth is a testament to our team's dedication and the community's support, enabling us to continue our mission with even greater efficacy.

Scaling Up with Expertise:

• Rapid Expansion: Our supported accommodation stock has grown from 9 houses (33 beds) to 13 (49 beds). Our team has grown from 19 to 35 members, bringing on board new advisers, support workers, and business operation specialists, ensuring our service quality matches our expanding scope.
• Innovative Outreach: With funding from North Northamptonshire Council's Household Support Fund (HSF) for the DWP, we've extended our reach with floating services, meeting people in town centres, rural community centres, and even in their homes to provide tenancy support, benefits advice, and budgeting education.
• Community Engagement: Events like our sleepout at Wicksteed Park in January, which raised over £8,000, and our virtual horse racing nights at local pubs, raising over £1,400, have brought people together for memorable and charming fun. We are grateful too for the Best Charity Disco Ever hosted by Kettering Street Pastors and their generous fundraising endeavours. Naturally, we'll be looking forward to more events like this in 2025!

Recognition and Impact:

• Record-breaking Financial Gains: In July, we broke our one-month financial gains value record (£368,000), only to break it again in September (£373,000). This value represents what we've brought back to our clients in 2024 through charity applications, issuing vouchers for supermarkets and energy payments, reducing and writing off debt, and helping service users assess their benefits entitlements, either by making new claims or defending existing ones. All this on top of the immeasurable value of preventing homelessness and alleviating poverty and hardship.
• Awards and Recognition: This year saw us clinching the Weston Charity Awards in June, the Rose of Northamptonshire Award, and being named North Northamptonshire Business of the Year by the Northants Chamber of Commerce. Our efforts were also recognized and celebrated with the Community Impact Award from the Wellingborough and East Northants Chamber of Commerce.
• Feedback from the Community: Donna French, W&EN Chamber President and Centre Manager at Rushden Lakes, lauded the contributions of winners like us:

  "These awards are a celebration of the incredible talent, resilience, and innovation that define our local business community. Each winner has demonstrated outstanding dedication, creativity, and impact, from fostering economic growth to supporting those in need."

Looking Forward:

Our journey in 2024 has shown that with growth comes the responsibility to innovate and adapt. Our supported accommodation programme is transforming more lives within the county, and our advice-rich engagement through short videos on social media platforms is bringing our expertise to a broader audience. As we move into 2025, we invite professionals in our area to join us in this mission, where your contributions will directly uplift our community's most vulnerable.

Explore how you can support or engage with our initiatives by visiting our social media pages (linktr.ee/accommodationconcern), and consider signing up to our newsletter (bit.ly/ACEmails). Together, we can continue to make a significant impact in Northamptonshire's fight against homelessness, poverty, and hardship.