West Ham United visit Your Place to launch Hammers for Hope
This month, Your Place welcomed West Ham footballers, Shelina Zadorsky, Aaron Cresswell, and Danny Ings to our site in Canning Town as they launched their Hammers for Hope initiative, which will see tailored wellbeing, physical activity, and employability support sessions delivered to our residents.
Our residents, some of whom are lifelong West Ham supporters, were thrilled to see the players and hear more about the project.
Our partnership work is crucial with organisations such as the West Ham United Foundation, and Your Place and the Foundation will work closely to ensure that residents are supported to get the most out of this fantastic opportunity. The first six weeks of the programme will be delivered on site, where residents will build their confidence in familiar surroundings, before continuing at the Foundation’s new community hub in nearby Beckton. We look forward to reporting back on the impact that Hammers for Hope has on the health, wellbeing, and confidence of people experiencing homelessness in our community.
One resident said: “I’ve been a Hammer my whole life, it’s so surreal to see the players here! I can’t wait to get stuck in with the training sessions and see where it takes me.”
Jesse Foyle, Director of Programmes at the West Ham United Foundation, suggests the impact goes well beyond short-term relief. Foyle said: “Homelessness is a huge issue across London, and Newham specifically has some of the highest homeless rates in the country. It’s an issue that the players care passionately about and we’re committed to offering support to those who need it most.
“Hammers for Hope is about more than short-term support. It’s about restoring independence, building trust and helping people rediscover their potential through a structured programme that meets both physical and emotional needs. We’re proud to be working alongside Your Place to deliver something that can genuinely change lives.”
Amanda Dubarry, Chief Executive at Your Place, said: “We are so pleased to be able to continue our partnership with the West Ham United Foundation. Community is everything at Your Place, and the people walking through our doors need different kinds of support to help them move on from homelessness for good. The Hammers for Hope initiative will help with some of the softer skills that are often overlooked in conversations around solving homelessness, and we are really excited to see the ways that this will combine with employability skills, supporting people to get to where they want to be, and end their homelessness for good.”
