Why ‘key pictures’ are ‘key’ pictures

1 Apr

If you’ve followed Restore for any length of time, you’ll have seen what we call our ‘key pictures:’ residents who have achieved that major milestone of signing for an independent tenancy and are moving out of Restore accommodation into their own home. The double meaning of ‘key picture’ is not lost on us: it’s not only a picture of a resident holding their new keys, but it also represents a crucial step on the journey that we hope every Restore resident will experience; in other words, it is a ‘key’ part of what we do.

These images have become somewhat iconic. The smiling face of a resident who realises what a massive achievement they have made and that the key in their hand is a hard-won prize for their determination and commitment to engaging with the support on offer. I love seeing the light in each individual’s eyes, reflecting the pride and excitement they feel at the prospect of beginning this new chapter of life, in a home of their own. Given that key pictures are consistently among our best performing social media posts in terms of number of likes and comments, it’s clear that it’s not just me who feels this way: you, our supporters like key pictures too, and your engagement with those social media posts are a big part of helping each individual celebrate their achievements.

You hold the keys!

It’s fair to say that you, our supporters, are critical partners in this journey too. It is your generous support that provides the resources to ensure each resident receives the support they need. If you are a landlord; a financial partner; an event attendee, a member of a local church; a local business who supports us; a newsletter reader; a prayer supporter, or a social media follower who helps by sharing news about our work more widely, we want to say a HUGE thank you. You help to make these moments happen in the life of our residents and you share in the joy on their faces when they do. Without you, Restore could not continue. You hold the keys to the next chapter on this journey.

Why your support matters

The cost-of-living crisis affects the most vulnerable members of our communities the hardest. Whilst premier league footballers earn on average in excess of £60k per week[1], the standard benefit payment for a single adult aged over 25 is less than £400 per month.[2] In all likelihood, most people reading this will fall somewhere in the vast gap between those two figures. (That said, if you happen to be a premier league footballer reading this and feel moved to get involved, we would be more than happy to take your phone call!) A core human characteristic is the desire to help those less fortunate than ourselves. One might even go so far as to say it’s an inherited trait from our Heavenly Father, in whose image we are all created.

Generosity and philanthropy are vital cogs in any charitable machine. In many corners of society it is still considered somewhat vulgar to talk about money, but as a charity, we do not have the luxury of being squeamish about cold, hard cash: we need those whom life has blessed with affluence to step up, in order to make sure the less privileged have a roof over their heads. It really is that simple.

I’ve been rewatching Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The West Wing’ lately, and one particular scene from the second season episode ’Bad Moon Rising’ caught my attention. The White House Deputy Chief of Staff is debating with his assistant whether or not to send financial aid to Mexico. He paraphrases an idea originally expressed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as he explains:

“If your neighbour’s house is on fire, you don’t haggle over the price of your garden hose. There are too many things in the world we can’t do…why help them? Because we can.”[3]

Helping someone rediscover hope for the future is a precious thing. Would you like to help someone move to a life beyond homelessness? Could you consider financially supporting the work of Restore, using whatever gifts you’ve been given to improve somebody else’s situation? Could you be the key that unlocks hope for the Restore community?

Why help? Because you can.