Chris Elliott is the new Fundraising Manager for Hopestead, the charity on a mission to end homelessness in the East. Ahead of a ’50k in a day’ walk in Norfolk, Chris explains why he’s raising funds for the Hope at Home project
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Chris Elliott, and I joined Hopestead in April as Fundraising Manager.
For those not in the know, what does Hopestead do and why is it so important?
Hopestead is a charity working to end homelessness. It was set up by Flagship in 2020 because too many people still don’t have a safe place to call home. Around 365,000 people in England are homeless. That’s not just people sleeping rough – it’s families in hotels, young people in shared housing, or someone moving into a flat with nothing but a plastic bag of belongings.
Our biggest project is called Hope at Home. It helps people create a home they feel proud of by providing brand-new furniture, appliances and essentials, things like beds, sofas, cookers and TVs. People choose what they want, so it feels personal. It’s a simple idea, but it makes a big difference. It helps people feel settled, secure and in control.
What is your background and what is it about working in the charity/social enterprise sector that appeals?
I worked at Aviva for over 20 years before switching to the charity sector in 2012. What I love about this work is knowing that, with my colleagues, I’m part of something meaningful. We’re helping people who are going through some of the toughest times of their lives.
What are you planning to do next month – and why?
I wanted to do something personal to raise money, so on 16 July I’ll be walking 50km (that’s about 31 miles) in one day – the furthest I’ve ever walked! I’ll start at Eaton Park in Norwich, head out to Wymondham then along the Kett’s Country Trail, and finish at Norwich Cathedral.
How can people support you – or Hopestead in general?
If you’d like to donate, my JustGiving page is: justgiving.com/page/chris-elliott-50k
If your business wants to sponsor the walk, it’s £200 – just drop me a line at chris.elliott@hopestead.org. That’s also the best way to get in touch if you’d like to hear more about Hopestead or get involved in other ways.
How is Hopestead celebrating its 5th birthday in October and how can people get involved with that?
We’re marking our 5th birthday by encouraging people to take on their own challenge themed around the number five. That could be running, swimming or cycling five days in a row, or doing a five-hour sponsored silence. We’ll be sharing more ideas and ways to get involved as October gets closer.
Chris Elliott is fundraising for Hopestead. Visit JustGiving.
Featured image of Chris Elliott by Stuart Anderson
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