Building
Together
A GIFT. TO A CITY. FOR ITS PEOPLE. FOREVER.
Bradgate park was given to the city and people of leicester in 1928
100 years on, millions of people have been blessed by this gift
Open hands is a gift to the city and people of leicester who need it
for 20 years, many thousands of preople have been blessed by this gift
WE ARE OPEN HANDS
PROVIDING
TOGETHER
EQUIPPING
together
TEACHING
together
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DOING IT
TOGETHER
FOR THE PEOPLE OF LEICESTER
CARING
TOGETHER
restoring
together
HELPING
together
CHANGING LIVES TOGETHER
to see lives changed
loving
TOGETHER
FEEDING
together
CLOTHING
together
BUILDING
TOGETHER
Open hands.
20 years of impact.
300,000 visits.
AND NOW for the next 100 years.
WHO WE ARE
Open Hands is a Leicester charity providing practical, essential support to people in need. We work alongside low-income families, people experiencing homelessness, refugees, asylum seekers, and those who are unemployed or facing social isolation.
By meeting people at their point of need, we help them overcome immediate challenges while creating opportunities to build confidence, develop skills, and connect with their community. Our services include food, clothing, furniture and household essentials, education, chaplaincy, and volunteering opportunities.
A gift. To a city. For its people.
We believe that every life is valued and that everyone can have hope for the future.
The NEED
Rising living costs, housing pressures, and economic uncertainty mean that many people are struggling to afford the essentials for everyday life. For some, this means choosing between heating their home and buying food. For others, it means moving into an empty property without a bed to sleep on.
Many people face more than one challenge at a time. Alongside financial hardship, they may be coping with poor health, insecure housing, unemployment, language barriers, or loneliness.
Open Hands exists to meet this need. And our heart is to ensure this continues into the future.
A gift. To a city. For its people. Forever.
Many people in Leicester are in need 31% struggle with essential living costs 32% have difficulty paying bills 40% of children live in relative poverty
The DREAM
We are going to build a new Compassion Centre on an incredible site on Frog Island near Leicester's city centre. Building a new centre to serve the growing needs of our city will cost £5 million. This is an investment in Leicester's future - strengthening communities, creating opportunities, and ensuring that compassionate, practical help remains available to people in need for years to come.
We love working alongside volunteers, supporters, churches, businesses, charities and partner organisations, united by a shared commitment to help people facing hardship. Our vision is for the new Compassion Centre to strengthen these partnerships even further, creating a place where people can access the support they need and organisations can work together to serve our city.
"A new Compassion Centre has the potential to become a vital community hub that will make a lasting difference to thousands of people for years to come." (British Red Cross, Leicester)
a gift for a city and its people forever
THE LAND IS READY.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THIS IS FOR LEICESTER.
A FOREVER HOME for open hands.
This is the site of No.12 Frog Island. It is cleared and prepared for a new Compassion Centre to be built, when funds are available.
This is an architectural drawing of the new Compassion Centre. It has two floors, and space for every Open Hands project and initiative under one roof.
The location of the plot of land is perfectly positioned, being less than 10 minutes walk to Leicester City Centre and on major bus routes. There is space for volunteers and team to park, and for guests to be welcomed and cared for with dignity.
This is a 'forever home' for Open Hands. We estimate that over the next 100 years, the centre could receive well in excess of 1,000,000 visits. This is a gift, for a city, and its people, forever.
TELL SOMEONE
We would love you to tell someone about this project, as we believe many who love this city and love making a difference will want to play their part. Please share this web page (buildingtogether.co.uk).
We are also available to help you share more about 'Building Together' with people you have direct connection with, as well as those 'wider connections' who may be ready to play their part too.
If you would like us to help present the vision of 'Building Together' to someone or a group of people you know, please email us or get in touch today.
As a charity with a Christian ethos, we believe prayer is foundational to everything we do.
Please pray for:
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Wisdom for everyone leading the project
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Success as we seek to raise the remaining funds
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The purchase and development of the building
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Our staff and volunteers
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Every person and family who will be welcomed into this new forever home.
We follow Jesus' words from Matthew 25:35-40 together.
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me"
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer.
PRAY with us
HOW TO GIVE
We need many people to make 'Building Together' a reality. Building a forever home for Open Hands will take all of us.
100% of the amount given will go towards this project. If you have any more questions, please get in touch.
If you are a UK taxpayer, please consider allowing your donation to go further with 'Gift Aid'. A gift of £100 becomes £125 (25% extra), through this government scheme for charities.
Find out more or complete a Gift Aid form here.
bank transfer
Account Name: Open Hands
Sort Code: 40-28-26
Account Number: 61454757
Reference: 'Building Together'
Standing order
Using the bank details, consider setting up a regular donation to Open Hands. This can be spread over your chosen time period (up to 12 months)
CHEQUE
Payable to:
Open Hands Trust (Leicester)
Address:
Open Hands, c/o One Church, 10 Frog Island, Leicester. LE3 5AG
OTHER
If you have another way you'd like to consider giving, please contact us directly.