The recent heatwave has been the hot topic on every Brummie’s lips – but as many of us have reached for a fan or a cold shower to stay cool, people facing homelessness have faced the full force of the elements.
To help tackle this issue in Birmingham, SIFA Fireside are turning back time to revisit two of their most impactful campaigns sharing one core theme ‘Homelessness Doesn’t Take a Holiday.’
The campaigns aim to draw attention to the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness in the heat and to raise enough money to enable the charity to continue providing vital support.
SIFA Fireside aids some of the most vulnerable members of our community, working to prevent homelessness, as well as supporting people who are rough sleeping or in recovery from homelessness. Their Support Centre, located in Digbeth, serves as the city’s central hub for adults without a place to call home, offering a comprehensive range of responsive services, including health clinics, housing advice, financial planning, as well as providing hot meals, showers, clothing, and laundry facilities.
Robb Sheppard, Head of Fundraising, Communications and Volunteering at SIFA Fireside said of the campaign:
“Who doesn’t like going back to their favourite holiday destination?
This year, we’ve revisited two of our eye-catching campaigns to remind everyone that homelessness doesn’t take a holiday. Our donations dry up each summer whilst vulnerable people in Birmingham still need support, so we are asking whoever is able to help us out with this campaign by donating and helping us spread the word.
Together, we can make sure that every adult in Birmingham can face a future without homelessness.”
Both campaigns were developed with the generous support and expertise provided by creative agency One Black Bear. Jon Harrison, Co-founder and Creative Partner at One Black Bear, added after the initial 2023 launch:
“Homelessness is an issue that Birmingham deals with better than most other European cities. This is thanks to the sterling work carried out by charities, like SIFA Fireside who work tirelessly to support those most in need.
This is a subject that has been very close to the agency’s heart for years and we’re proud to donate our creative expertise to help these wonderful organisations help others.”
The campaigns were also historically supported by leading media company, Ocean Outdoor, providing top-quality OOH advertising space and SLAM Productions by providing photography and retouching expertise.
The first theme SIFA has returned to includes their ‘Wish I Wasn’t Here’ postcards campaign, which was developed in close collaboration with clients experiencing homelessness in Birmingham.
The second theme, set to launch on the 10th of August 2026, is their landmark ‘Homelessness Doesn’t Take a Holiday’ campaign, which draws a stark contrast between the summer holidays many of us look forward to and the lived reality of a summer facing homelessness.
It takes approximately £1.7 million per year to keep the doors to SIFA Fireside’s Support Centre open. Their summer campaigns are an important source of fundraising to ensure they can continue delivering crucial support in our community.
Can you donate to help prevent people from facing homelessness alone this summer? You can do so here: www.sifafireside.co.uk/holiday
Alternatively, head over to their socials where you can support SIFA Fireside by following and sharing their campaign posts: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
To find out more about the difference their work makes, you can read Harry’s story here: https://sifafireside.co.uk/harrys-story/