City Hearts is a charity that houses and helps both women with life controlling issues and victims of human trafficking in the UK, and runs education programmes in Ghana, Africa.
Contents
History
City Hearts was founded by Jenny Gilpin in 2005. Jenny moved from Brisbane Australia with her husband Dave Gilpin in 1991 to start 'Hope City Church' (previous known as 'The Hope of Sheffield Christian Church) She aimed to offer support and accommodation for vulnerable women who presented with life controlling issues, such as eating disorders, alcohol addiction, self-harm, substance misuse, depression and unplanned pregnancy. This was initially a 24/7 Recovery Program. In 2008, City Hearts began also housing and supporting women who had been rescued from human trafficking.
In 2010, the first City Hearts Safe House for women was opened. In 2011, City Hearts became part of the national provision for helping victims rescued from trafficking situations in the UK. This was followed by a Safe House for men in 2011 and one for families in 2012.
City Hearts International was launched in Accra, Ghana in 2012. Still in its early stages, this began with running a homework club and educational academy, aimed at giving vulnerable children a safe place to study and the motivation to stay in education. In April 2012, the Recovery Program closed and a smaller, semi supported unit called 'City Hearts Housing' was opened. This offers accommodation and optional support packages, through the 'Restore Program' to vulnerable women.
In 2013, City Hearts was awarded funding from the Victim Care Fund to pilot a year long Reintegration Support Program (RSP), aimed at supporting the ongoing needs of those who have gone through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
Locations
The head office is located in The Megacentre, Sheffield. City Hearts anti-trafficking have teams offering support and accommodation in Sheffield, Leeds and across the North East.
City Hearts Housing and the Restore Program are based in Sheffield. City Hearts ran 'Walk for freedom', a sponsored walk, aiming to raise awareness of human trafficking and sponsorship in Liverpool in 2012 and then again in Liverpool and also in Sheffield in 2013.
Ethos and Aims
The tag line of City Hearts is 'loving people back to life'. They aim to 'see every person living a free and purpose filled life'. As part of the National Referral Mechanism, City Hearts Anti-trafficking operate within a six-week time frame to offer immediate support, medical care, counselling and assistance toward a new future. City Hearts is sub contracted by The Salvation Army, who have the contract from the Ministry of Justice, to manage the support given to victims of trafficking, which covers the region of England, Wales and is for both men and women. They also work closely with the police, Social Services, the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) and other national agencies. In August 2011, City Hearts won the Divisional Commander’s Award in recognition of outstanding work in connection with 'Operational Pantin'.
City Hearts ' Restore' Program presents six streams of optional support covering life skills, health and well being, recovery, personal development, social development and spiritual development. Women also have access to weekly psychotherapy or counselling sessions. City Hearts Housing offers women a furnished single bedroom with support workers available over night. They provide a weekly program of optional events and an emergency on call facility.
In 2012, City Hearts Launched a bottled water product in partnership with Berrington Water and 'Nosh' cafe in Sheffield. This was relaunched in April 2013.
Affiliations and Partnerships
City Hearts is an initiative of Hope City Enterprise, a registered charity and the umbrella organisation for Hope City Church's community initiatives.
Official Website
City Hearts