News
This year’s Cheese and Chilli Festival was a fantastic success for Step by Step. Over eight dates and four locations, we spoke with hundreds of visitors and got dozens on board in taking a stand against youth homelessness.
As the event’s official charity partner, it was a great opportunity to be seen and heard, and champion our mission to combat youth homelessness and empower young heroes.
Taking place in Christchurch, Winchester, Chichester and Guildford, we enjoyed beautiful sunshine and endured torrential rain. Our fantastic volunteers and team remained unphased throughout, united by a passion for our cause.
Children took part in our Cheese and Chilli ball game; Adults entered our competition to win a weekend away. Each was an opportunity for us to talk about the need for Foster Carers, Supported Lodgings Hosts and new supporters.
“It’s the unexpected moments that will stay with me,” said Leanne King, Step by Step Charity Champion. “Like someone walking over and saying, ‘Step by Step saved my life’, or ‘You helped my friend when no one else would’.
We even saw a young person currently in our Supported Lodgings, enjoying the day with their host – it was amazing to see them so relaxed and happy.” We would like to thank the event organisers for choosing to support Step by Step, Swizzels for their donation of sweets, and Bartley Lodge Hotel for the donation of our amazing competition prize. Thanks also to our fantastic team and volunteers who made the festival such a great success for our charity.
But most of all, thank you to every single person who took the time to visit our stand.
We welcome the PM's announcement. The funding matters, the urgency matters, and a government willing to say plainly that no one should sleep in a doorway is good news.
But if we are serious about ending rough sleeping, we cannot only wait until someone is already on the streets. We have to stop them getting there in the first place.
