Last month, Resonance’s Manchester based employees spent a morning volunteering at The Wellspring, a vitally needed charity and centre based in Stockport that provides services and support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the local area.

The Wellspring has been a pillar of the community since 1990, offering a wide range of services including hot meals, health support, access to housing advice, and practical essentials like clothing and sleeping bags. Open 365 days a year, it provides not just immediate relief but also long-term support to help people move forward with dignity and stability.

The need for organisations like The Wellspring

Homelessness is increasing across the UK, and the need for frontline support services has never been greater. According to Shelter, at the start of 2024, at least 354,000 people in England were experiencing homelessness [1]. The latest figures show that more than 127,000 households are now living in temporary accommodation - the highest number ever reported [2].

Behind these figures are people facing complex challenges - from rising rents and a shortage of affordable housing to personal crises such as ill health, relationship breakdowns, or job loss.

In this context, organisations like The Wellspring are playing a vital role. They offer not only immediate help - hot meals, warm clothing, and a safe place to be - but also the kind of long-term, person-centred support that can help people move forward. Their work complements wider efforts to tackle homelessness and provides a crucial layer of support at a time when many people are struggling.

A morning of volunteering

In small groups, the Resonance team helped with a range of tasks at The Wellspring, supporting both front-line services and behind-the-scenes operations:

• Counting and sorting donations from money collected in The Wellspring’s donation boxes, a key source of funds that helps keep services running
• Preparing food in the kitchen, prepping meals to be served that day — one of the most immediate and appreciated services provided to many of the centre’s visitors
• Touring the facilities to better understand the breadth of support on offer, from mental health services to practical help with paperwork and job applications
• Organising essentials at The Wellspring’s off-site storage unit to sort donations of sleeping bags, rucksacks, hats, socks and other essential items, ensuring they’re ready to be distributed to those who need them most

Martyn Preston from Stockport Homes, one of our National Homelessness Property Fund 2 housing partners, also joined us for the day. Reflecting on the visit, Martyn said,

“Spending the morning at The Wellspring was an experience I won’t forget.

 It was more than just a volunteering session - it was a powerful reminder of what community really means. The team threw themselves into the work with energy, empathy, and a real willingness to help. Whether it was collecting or preparing food, seeing what happens out on the street, or supporting behind the scenes, everyone gave it their all.

 I felt proud watching how hard everyone worked. The care and commitment on display made a real impact.

 But beyond the tasks, I hope what really landed with the team was what The Wellspring is - a lifeline. A place of safety, support, and dignity for people in Stockport and beyond who need it most.

 We often talk about values and purpose in our day jobs. That morning, we lived them.

 Let’s carry that forward.”

Resonance left The Wellspring with a deeper appreciation for their work and a reminder that collaboration - between organisations, between sectors, and within communities - is essential if we’re going to continue to tackle homelessness.

We’re incredibly grateful to The Wellspring team for welcoming us so warmly, and for the inspiring work they do every single day.

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[1] Independent, Sharp rise in children living in B&Bs for longer than six months

[2] Shelter, At least 354,000 people homeless in England today 

https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_release/at_least_354000_people_homeless_in_england_today_#:~:text=Shelter's%20detailed%20analysis%20of%20official,families%20trapped%20in%20temporary%20accommodation.