Supporting Herts Young Homeless- A Night at hatfield House

On Thursday 5th March, club members Andy, Dinah, and Sue were honoured to attend a special evening reception at Hatfield House, hosted by the Marquess of Salisbury. The event was organised by Herts Young Homeless (HYH) to thank their donors and outline their strategic plans for the coming years.

Held in the magnificent Marble Hall, the evening brought together approximately sixty representatives from local businesses, supporting charities, and individual donors. It was a moving occasion that highlighted the profound impact of community support on the lives of vulnerable young people in Hertfordshire.

Strengthening our Partnership

During the evening, our members spoke with Sarah Steele, the Accommodation Lead for HYH. We revisited the success of our previous project where the Rotary Club of Welwyn Garden City kitted out the bedrooms at Future Roots—an HYH-run house in WGC—with essential bedding, kitchen equipment, and towels.

We expressed our keen interest in repeating this support when these young people are ready to move on and forge independent lives. Sarah was a delight to speak with, and we look forward to developing these plans further.

Real Stories, Real Impact

The highlight of the night was hearing directly from the young people supported by HYH. We met residents of the Future Roots house, including one young person currently undertaking an apprenticeship sponsored by the charity.

The "star of the show" was a young man who shared his personal journey. He arrived at HYH from extremely difficult circumstances, lacking the confidence to even make eye contact. Thanks to HYH’s counselling and support services, he stood proudly before the audience and spoke eloquently about his experiences. The transformation was truly remarkable.

"There can be no doubt that HYH are literally saving these young people, giving them a huge helping hand. Rotary should be proud of the part we play in their continuing work." — Sue Forrow

Looking Ahead

Future Roots provides a vital "halfway house" for five young people in Welwyn Garden City, often as they transition out of the care system. They are supported by a live-in warden and receive holistic care to prepare them for adulthood.

With HYH planning to open a second Future Roots house by 2030, a formal proposal on how our club can continue to support this vital mission will be presented to the CAVE Committee shortly.

Written by Sue Forrow

Edited by Amanda Joseph