Helping our Homeless Wales (HoHW) was the group winner in the Health and Wellbeing category at the annual PAVO (Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations) awards.

HoHW was started by Sarah Mason, from Llandrindod Wells.

The group gathers clothes, tents, toiletries, sleeping bags and may other essential items and go into the towns of Powys and beyond, and the cities of Wales and pass these items on to those who are in need. It also provides a 24 hour hotline.

Their nominator for the PAVO award said: “I think this group is a great role model for other volunteers in the way that they get out there, every week, and actually do the things that people want not just what they want to volunteer at.”

The PAVO awards were held at the Pavilion Mid Wales in Llandrindod Wells, during National Volunteers Week. During the event, guests were entertained by community singing group Sing Your Heart Out.

All HoHW volunteers doing street-walks and having direct contact with the beneficiaries are given first aid and resuscitation training and drug awareness training. Volunteers provide a good support network for one another.

Working on a locality model they set-up groups in places of need (they are currently looking at setting up in Abergavenny and Hereford). Volunteers in these locations are then also trained, supported and monitored.

There are around 30 volunteers across Wales trained to interact and support the homeless and an additional 70 volunteers who offer time in creating items to sell for funds, providing foot care, hairdressing and other additionally. They also provide between 50 – 70 hot meals for the homeless in Cardiff each weekend.

Their volunteering is driven by the belief that everyone should be treated equally and are willing to do anything to redress the balance for those in need.

They have an active social media presence and provide ‘live streams’ to illustrate their work. They also provide talks and presentations to share their experiences and spread the word about homelessness. Their fundraising efforts are highly successful.