West-Yorkshire-based homelessness charity Simon on the Streets has made two new appointments to its fundraising team. Simon on the Streets, which offers practical and emotional support to rough sleepers in Leeds and Bradford has recruited Andy Sharpe as senior fundraiser and Dan Taylor as fundraising assistant.

Coming from St George's Crypt as community and events fundraiser, Andy is a seasoned fundraiser who has personally raised an impressive £100,000 for charities over the past 13 years.

Supporting Andy as fundraising assistant is Dan Taylor who comes from the NHS. Both Andy and Dan’s roles will ensure Simon on the Streets creates a long-term sustainable income for the charity to continue to support people experiencing homelessness.

Andy Sharpe comments: “I am incredibly passionate about helping to improve the lives of others. I was drawn to Simon on the Streets due to the charity’s hardworking outreach team and our inspiring CEO’s ethos towards changing the lives of other people."

“I’m most looking forward to creating new partnerships across Leeds and Bradford and ensuring we can continue to provide our life-changing outreach support service to as many individuals on the streets as possible.”

New fundraising assistant, Dan Taylor adds: “I greatly value the job satisfaction of working for a good cause. I have learnt a lot about homelessness and I’m very glad to be able to help raise awareness of some of its surrounding issues.”

Simon on the Streets’ CEO Natalie Moran commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Andy and Dan at what is a critical time for Simon on the Streets. The rising cost of living and energy crisis has seen demand for our service surge. Focussing on increasing our fundraising efforts is of the utmost importance to help us engage with as many people we can who are suffering from homelessness, and of course with those who are worried that they may become homeless in the future.”

Simon on the Streets is an independent charity whose core mission is ‘providing hope to those without a voice’.

The charity has been supporting those rough sleeping, sofa surfing and at risk of homelessness in Leeds and Bradford for over 20 years.

The charity’s offer of emotional and practical support is not time limited and means their work can be tailored to the individual for as long as that person needs, whether this be support around accessing accommodation, linking into primary healthcare for their physical and mental health or working with addiction services or specialists in trauma-informed care.

For more information about the charity visit www.simononthestreets.co.uk