We are pleased to announce that for AWAKENED 2018 we will be again supporting The Freedom centre.
Last year we raised collectively for The Freedom Centre £913.86p ~ Please see below a blog of my visit to the charity a few weeks before the event..
The intention for the event was to focus on raising awareness of what this amazing charity does and how we can all help in someway just through knowing that they are there and what they do and maybe for some, to give collections of clothes, toiletries or ‘time’ to help..
In addition to this we raised ~ £913.86
Draw a profit of £244
Donations from the Meditation/Yoga Tent £272.58
Healing Tree £18.40
Individual Donations £33.20
(Exhibitor payments from Linda Chester £11, Penny Jones £10 & at event £12.20 unknown)
Additional Workshop Donation only by Tracee Cullen £58.87 (£32.50 & £26.37)
Tea/Coffee Sales at the Charity Marquee £128.10
Healing Donations at The Freedom Marquee £158.71
Collections ~ There were also collection bins for Clothes, Food & Toiletries.
My visit to the Freedom Centre.. 4th August 2017
After supporting the Freedom Centre last year we had liaised and met and discussed what they do and our first year we achieved good collections at the event and a few hundred pounds for the draw but I felt that I wanted to know on a deeper level and really to embrace what we could do to raise awareness and what they do on a ground level.. the only way to do this is to spend time there and be within the environment.
I met with Becky who is the Freedom Centre Manager, not only does she do an amazing job but shines so brightly! her authentic and real approach is humbling.
There are many areas that the charity help with, one is the continued collections of clothes, toiletries and items that they can also sell (they have a nearly new sale 4 times a year which helps raise funds and have good quality items that are sorted and sold. They also receive some regular donations of food from supermarkets which helps to keep the hot meals being provided.
Starting with a tour through the sorting areas of donations.. this is an eye opener to the amount of work involved, they sort through everything from firstly what can they use.. essential everyday mens and womens clothes, sleeping bags, foods, toiletries, house hold items and more, then there are the non practical items that are also so much use to be included in the sale and the ‘new’ items with labels where they have a whole system of selling on ebay which is incredibly time consuming but brings in an income and makes use of everything in some way..
They really do work incredibly hard to make use of everything in some way and they are incredibly resourceful. They also welcome DVDs, Books, Games, Household items etc..
In another area of the centre they have industrial washing machines which again is incredibly important and they have thought of so much.. so this is essential for those living on the streets to have at least their clothes washed (they can also have a hot shower) and whereby clothes used to be thrown away with previously no facility to wash and replace, they have now a system where they can give a set of clothes and wash one so at least they others to change into.
Then they also offer service washes to the public, prices are really reasonable and this also brings in some income, as they have industrial size machines they offer a duvet washing service too (which may interest several of you).. I will be taking mine there soon.. The launderette in Barnstaple closed sometime ago which was where most used to go for this service so it makes sense to help at the same time of having a paid service.
The Centre then has a social area with restaurant that plays a vital role for many reasons.. providing a hot meal is of course essential in basic needs and whilst I was there I learnt of a man that hadn’t eaten for 3 days, a family were also seeking somewhere to eat, providing maybe a solution to not having a school free meal (again the difference of eating or not for some).. this centre also helps those on a low income that seriously have a choice of paying for the rent of eating. They do not encourage children, but do assist on occasion but they work closely with other services that cater for a much more suited environment for children so again referring and assisting with what is most needed.
The restaurant not only provides a hot meals to be served there but offers food parcels to many that are distributed, all food is given for free and assists those that are sleeping rough, or in temporary accommodation. So for some they need food that does not require any appliance especially if living on the streets, others have a kettle or camping stove or in some form of shelter/housing so pot food/meals are essential and although this may not seem that nutritional we are talking here the difference between having something or nothing! The pot meals at least also bring warmth as they are made with hot water. Others simply are given a flask of something hot..
They are also associated with many other charities and they each work together to support each other and one avenue is that the charity now owns/been given some houses that is a great positive on many levels. They furnish the houses and provide opportunities for people to get off the streets or into independent living with support, this also integrates people and helps give maybe life skills that they either don’t have or have forgotten how to care for themselves. These house many individuals rather than one family.
The Charity also has a ‘Giving Scheme’.. this is for those that want to help by donating an amount per month, this money goes into the absolute essentials to keep the charity there, I.E. Rent, Utilities etc which then can provide; showers, hot water, kitchen, meals, washing up, and the list goes on but fundamentally this is for the basic requirements for them to exist.
Social enterprise.. they also have social enterprise which is based in roundswell and this gives opportunities for things like mending bikes etc to use within the charity or to sell to create money for the charity. This gives a purpose, a reason to get out of the house (if they have one) a job to do and is benefiting everyone and more importantly themselves.
So who uses the Centre.. well as mentioned yes homeless people of course, those who are vulnerable, low income families but also what is the main reality check is what about those that have ‘normal’ lives.. a job, a family.. a house.. and then life chucks some curve balls and things just breakdown for whatever reason. This is not uncommon when someone goes from this to homeless.. or simply in a vulnerable situation and have nowhere to go.. where do you go?
Well the answer is a place such as The Freedom Centre..
I am under no illusion how hard it must be for some to actually walk through the door and ask for help.. it can take people a long time to do this. I also realise that the way our society is going.. the more this is going to be needed.. The Awakening is shifting awareness but as the 3 Dimensional world breaks down so does segregation but the reality is that we will need more Angels such as these to assist through the process.
There is no doubt that these souls are Angels in human form.. each of them are generally vibrant and seeking to help in a positive way and give their time to do so.. There are many situations that can lead to someone needing the services of the Freedom Centre and they are not always as you first assume.
I also love how they are true to themselves.. to conform to the government and society to continue receiving funding they would have to shift what they do, have other ‘labels’ but they remain in their Light and know who they are and exactly what they do and who they help.. this for me is full admiration and that is why so many are waking up to support them.. they make no issues about this but embrace all that is given and they are extremely proactive on every level. The Freedom Church (separate charity) supports them considerably and were also with them at Awakened offering healing sessions. The whole concept is from unity.
There is of course another aspect that I raised.. what about enabling… what is the process that we are not assisting people to stay as they are.. and what is the best way to help? the stark answer and reality at this level of support is FOOD… these souls need the basics.. and yes drugs and alcohol can be an influence but this is simply the symptom of the situation not the cause.. we all have our ‘prop’ for some it is alcohol, some it is food, smoking, work, phone, social media.. whatever allows us to escape reality..
Each soul has their own journey but what I love about this place is they are REAl.. they also have boundaries, very few instances can be classed in anyway as enabling.. why because at this level.. we really are talking about the last resort.. a place of sanctuary to get the basic requirements of living.. breathing.. kindness.. that’s it.. as simply and heartbreaking as this.. Wake up world!
So all that remains to be said from me is.. Thank you to Becky and all at the Freedom Centre for all that you do and for being a part of AWAKENED Holistic Healing Event. It was an absolute pleasure to have spent this valuable time with you at the charity and an honour to have you as our chosen charity. We look forward to continuing our support and working together to raise awareness and vibration!
Namaste,
Tracee Cullen.xx
Please feel free to contact the Freedom Centre charity directly;
Telephone Number: 01271 321171
Website: www.freedomcommunityalliance.org.uk/
AWAKENED 2019.. Earlybird tickets are now available..
UPDATE – AWAKENED
