Making Conversations about Homelessness Count!

In our first episode we speak to Paula Senior from the YMCA. Paula is a fund-raising officer and the event that raise the most is the annual Sleepout which raises much needed funds for the night shelter.  Paula shares how the Covid-19 pandemic has stretched them to the limits and how the have risen above the challenges faced by the homeless. Please support the conversations around homelessness as this has affected your host Wendy Harris in her past.

You will be moved by Paula’s pivotal moment - All about a boy and the conversations that followed.

To follow and support the YMCA in raising awareness please follow these links:

https://twitter.com/YMCA_Burton

https://www.facebook.com/burtonymca

https://www.linkedin.com/company/burton-upon-trent-and-district-ymca

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulasenior/

TRANSCRIPT BELOW - 

Timestamps

00:00:00:    Introduction

00:01:43: Covid-19 and 2020

00:04:27: History of the YMCA

00:06:25: Having a conversation

00:08:47: Sleep Out

00:11:47: Sleep Out 2019 Target

00:12:06: Winter Night Shelter

00:13:05: Join Wendy, and help out

00:14:50: Paula's Pivotal Moment

00:22:21: Wendy's Story

00:23:12: Where do you go to the toilet?

00:26:00: Reaching out to the YMCA

00:26:49: Final thoughts

 

Interview Transcription

Wendy Harris: Welcome to Making Conversations Count.  Our podcast where we share inspirational stories from business leaders, and they tell us all about their pivotal moment.  Today, I am really excited.  I've got Paula Senior from the YMCA joining us, to share her pivotal moment.  Hello, Paula.

Paula Senior:  Hi, Wendy.  Thank you very much for inviting me on here.

Wendy Harris: Now, tell everybody about the YMCA and how we first met.

Paula Senior:  I worked for YMCA in Burton.  We are an independent charity based in Burton‑on‑Trent, which covers homelessness, people at risk of homelessness, food bank, mediation.  A whole breadth of services.  I do fundraising, for YMCA Burton.  I am passionate about the course.

Wendy you I met about three years ago, I think now.  We started talking, met each other a few times.  Then we've had some really good conversations haven't we, about your work, what you do, what I do and life really.

Wendy Harris: Yes, a shout out to the LoveBiz and the lovely Sue Crooks that started that Ladies Network.  Certainly, I'd heard of the YMCA, but I really had no idea about the work that the YMCA does in terms of homelessness.  As you know, Paula, I've shared my story quite publicly.  It is 21 years ago now that I was made homeless with a six-year-old round my legs and I was pregnant at the time.  So, had I have known about the YMCA then, things could have been different, which is why I'm happy to support the YMCA now.  I am guessing that this year has been an incredible and challenging time for you at the YMCA.

Paula Senior:  Yes, absolutely.  I mean it's a very difficult time for...