Celebrating ‘the good stuff’

PARTNERS, supporters, trustees and colleagues have got together to celebrate TLA’s achievements in 2025 and raise awareness of the task still ahead.

The gathering at Sedulo in Leeds City Centre, coincided with the release of the latest figures from Shelter which put homelessness in England at an all-time high with some 382,000+ people in temporary accommodation – equal to the population of Preston, Reading or Sunderland – including 175,000+ children.

Putting the data into local context, CEO Steve Hoey said the pressure is being felt in West Yorkshire too where, in Leeds, 600 households are in temporary accommodation and, at the last count, 65 people were sleeping rough.

“These are challenges we are tackling together in partnership in the city,” said Steve, “but tonight we want to celebrate the good stuff, our partnerships and what we have achieved in 2025.”

In a year when TLA has supported 1090 people including 856 16-24-year-olds through Our Way Leeds and 139 households through Sustain Wakefield, 89% of whom are now financially independent, Steve reflected on the spirit of collaboration and partnership for four key highlights:

• The opening of Lowell House providing accommodation and intensive support for young entrenched rough sleepers, achieved through partnership with Leeds City Council and a significant donation from TLA’s corporate partner Lowell.
• Collaboration with Leeds Jewish Housing Association and Leeds Housing Options to temporarily house 46 families while they awaited permanent homes.
• Ongoing work with private landlords to make more suitable homes available to Leeds Housing Options to house homeless families while helping to ease the strain of temporary accommodation on the public purse.
• Fundraising support of organisations like First Intuition who took on the Three Peaks to raise money for TLA.

Guest speakers Bethanny Ash, Lowell’s Head of UK Corporate Communications and Ellie Thistlethwaite, Chair of Leeds University’s Student Union Homed Society, spoke of why their organisations are working with TLA, not only helping to raise money, but getting involved with services, activities and improving facilities.

Being able to use skills to have an impact was an important part of Lowell’s partnership with TLA and has resulted in 800+ colleagues providing 3,500 hours of volunteering over the last three years.

At her inaugural event as TLA’s Chair, Liz O’Connor spoke of her background in social housing and passion for providing safe, sustainable homes.

“I joined TLA because I believe in the power of prevention and that everyone should have a safe, warm home. To me, Turning Lives Around is more than a title, it’s a promise. I want to ensure TLA continues to be a strong trusted voice, not just in our name but in our impact as well,” she said.