Fran & Anne-Marie at The Old Fire Station, Gipton
“It’s those small things that make a difference!”
We recently had the privilege of visiting a local Acts 435 partner in Leeds to hear how they use Acts 435 to complement the support they already provide to people in their community.
The Old Fire Station is a welcoming community space in the heart of Gipton. As part of the Warm Welcome Spaces campaign, it offers a safe, warm, and welcoming environment for everyone. The centre also serves as a hub for a wide range of community groups, providing support, advice, and connection for local residents.
Fran Etherington, Development Manager at The Old Fire Station, explained that Gipton ranks among the 1% most deprived areas in the UK. Around 46% of children in the area live in poverty, and for many families, day-to-day life can be a real struggle. Despite these challenges, Fran highlighted the strong sense of community in Gipton, where people look out for one another and support each other in practical ways.
Relationship Is Everything
People come to The Old Fire Station with a wide range of needs. Local Acts 435 Advocate Anne-Marie shared how building relationships with those who use the space allows her to understand each person’s situation and identify how best to support them.
After taking time to listen and understand individual circumstances, Anne-Marie is able to place requests on the Acts 435 website on behalf of individuals or families.
“At the moment, most of the requests are focused on keeping people warm - things like heating blankets and heated hoodies - because people simply can’t afford to keep their heating on,” she explained.
“We also supported a family with children who had no way of washing their clothes after their washing machine broke. They had no means to afford a replacement.”
The kindness and generosity of Acts 435 donors make a significant difference, easing immediate pressures and restoring a sense of hope and dignity for those receiving support.
“It sounded too good to be true...but it really has been that straightforward!”
Fran reflected on her initial reaction to Acts 435:
“When I was first approached about it, I was a little bit sceptical. It sounded too good to be true - that I could just put something online and there would be people kind enough to support that need. But it really has been that straightforward.”
She shared that every request they have submitted through Acts 435 has been met. Donors have proven to be reliable and responsive, making Acts 435 a simple and effective way to meet essential needs for people they support on the ground.
You can read one story of Paul* who was recently helped through The Old Fires Station's partnership with Acts 435 on Our Impact Page.
If you are an Acts 435 donor, we want to say a huge thank you. Your generosity is making a real difference in the lives of so many people.
If you’d like to see more, take a look at our recent Advocate Stories video from The Old Fire Station: