It will be a sad day for SIFA Fireside on October the 10 as the charity says farewell, for now, to Melissa Roche who has been Head of Fundraising for the last nine years.
Throughout COVID, a cost-of-living crisis, flooding and much more, Melissa has worked tirelessly to make sure that the organisation always had the funding in place to ensure that people facing homelessness could access the support they needed.
“From the start, I was inspired by the incredible work of the charity and by our founder, the late Sister Sabina. She took me under her wing and taught me one of the most important lessons I’ve carried throughout my time here: donor stewardship.
As she used to say, “A donor could have gone to any charity, but they’ve chosen to support us. Always thank them, show gratitude, and remember—it’s nice to be nice.”
This approach from Melissa has seen some amazing relationships flourish with corporate partners, donors and supporters across the city, which has enabled the charity to go from strength-to-strength and move closer to its vision that every adult in Birmingham can live a future without homelessness.
On average, SIFA Fireside supports around 450 unique individuals each month through its Digbeth Support Centre, ranging from housing advice, signposting to mental health and drug and alcohol support systems, and providing the daily essentials, such as a hot meal, a warm shower and some clean laundry.
Melissa said; “I’m deeply proud of this charity and the vital work it does for people experiencing homelessness. To our loyal supporters—thank you. Without you, we wouldn’t have this safe space tucked away in the backstreets of Digbeth for some of the most vulnerable adults in our city.
My passion for SIFA Fireside will never fade. I’ll simply be flying the flag from across the Irish Sea, cheering the charity on as it continues to grow and evolve.”
The Homeless Intervention service relies almost solely on donations of unrestricted funding, and each year, SIFA has to raise over £1.5 million to keep its doors open so that Birmingham’s most marginalised people can still access these vital services.
Taking on this challenge in Melissa’s stead, Robb Sheppard will assume the role of Head of Fundraising and Communications, having been heavily involved in SIFA Fireside’s fundraising activities over the last four years through his capacity as Communications Manager.
Robb said; “I’ve got some big boots to fill following Melissa’s departure, but I know that with the continued support of our amazing corporate partners and donors, as well as the great team at SIFA, we can continue to have a hugely positive impact on Birmingham’s most marginalised people.
With our support services in demand more than ever, we’ve got a lot of work to do but we’re all excited for this next chapter.”
If you would like to get involved with supporting SIFA Fireside, do not hesitate to get in touch with Robb Sheppard at fundraising@sifafireside.co.uk.
Find out more about SIFA Fireside’s at sifafireside.co.uk
