25 Years of Ben's Centre
Despite challenges, in 2021 Ben’s Centre has made it to 25 years of helping street drinkers, addicts, the homeless and vulnerable in Sheffield..
Ben’s Centre, Sheffield is proud to have reached twenty-five years of helping vulnerable people in Sheffield. In 1996, new town hall bobby, PC Ian Sherman (Ben) recognised a need for a new approach to street drinkers in the Peace Gardens area. Back then, they were put in cells until they sobered up and then released without support; it was a repeating cycle. But, Ben built positive relationships with this group during his rounds, and found what they really wanted was just their own space, off the streets, to support each other. And so Ben’s Centre was born.
“The cycle needed to change, so I asked street drinkers exactly they wanted. They told me they wanted a place of stability, somewhere to call home and where they felt safe with people who understood their difficult lifestyle. - Ian (Ben) Sherman
Positive relationships, supportive staff, empathy and kindness are still values that Ben’s Centre lives and breathes twenty-five years later. And we think the cycle has changed from what it was in 1996, there is more support and collaboration between organisations for vulnerable people in Sheffield now than ever before with nearly twenty organisations and charities offering various services, healthcare and support. However, Ben’s is still unique in that it is the only damp centre in Sheffield. This means we greet individuals in any condition, and they do not need to be accessing addiction services. Although substances are not allowed on the premises, we will never turn away a person who is under the influence and needs help, support and a hot meal.
‘I’ve been lucky I’m not dead from drinking. I’ve seen a lot of people die so I’m lucky. There was about twenty of us that used to drink up the Moor. They are all gone from drink or drugs. I’m one of two that’s still alive.’ - Longstanding client
We have encountered numerous challenges in this time, including being moved from four different premises due to development work in the city, the rise of a spice epidemic, struggles with funding, the deaths of many wonderful individuals who have used our services, and most recently the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019/20 we saw the impact of the pandemic on this community. Despite only being able to run for less than two thirds of the year, we made nearly 7000 engagements with new and existing service users. In 2020, we moved to a new building and with the help of local historians and teachers, we are beginning our ‘Plant a Seed’ project, a daily training and education programme. We want to offer a full agenda to keep clients off the streets and giving them an opportunity to develop themselves.
‘With our ‘Plant a seed’ program we are moving further towards a progressive approach to enhance the lives of clients. We aim to build their confidence and self-worth as well as giving them skills to take pride in and broaden horizons’ – Daryl, CEO
‘Ben’s has changed in many ways. The new site is really good, maybe the best one they’ve had’ – Long-standing client
Ben’s runs on a small team of staff, a group of selfless volunteers and the generosity of the public and grant organisations. We have no political or religious affiliations and try to keep our premises as neutral and non-judgemental as possible. Our priority has always been the clients wellbeing and building trusting relationships.
‘There’s been so many people unheard and unseen that have pushed the project to where it is today. Celebrating twenty-five years is a big thank you to them. We are celebrating, after challenges, that we can still offer a service and we are improving year by year’ – Ben