One of the greatest privileges we’ve discovered at Matthew’s House is the opportunity to connect with young people – from curious Year 1 pupils all the way up to sixth-form students preparing for adulthood. Every classroom visit, school assembly, or student placement reminds us just how powerful community connection can be — not just for those we support, but for those who support us too.
Over the last few months alone, we’ve had the joy of visiting four different schools, engaging with students from Year 1 and Year 2 all the way to Year 8 and Year 10, sharing about homelessness, compassion, kindness, and what it means to create a place of hope in the heart of a city. The energy has been electric – thoughtful questions, deep conversations, and lots of laughter too (unsurprisingly, the younger the age, the better the questions!). Whether it’s learning about how food waste can be turned into meals, or hearing real-life stories of resilience and recovery, we’ve seen hearts open and minds engage.
But the story doesn’t end when we leave the classroom.
This summer, we received a new volunteer application. One question on the form asked about previous experience – and the answer stopped us in our tracks:
“I volunteered at Matthew’s House during my time in school and thoroughly enjoyed it.”
That visit was over five years ago. It was a small moment back then – a few hours on a school trip or volunteering day – but it stayed with them. And now they’ve returned, ready to serve again. This is the long-term impact of showing up, sharing stories, and inviting people into something meaningful. This is also a reoccurring story, with more than a handful of young people growing up and joining us a volunteers in their early adult years – Such an ecnouragement!
We’ve even had the chance to work with university students as part of Social Services and Human Flourishing courses, helping students reflect on dignity, justice, purpose, and the human need for connection. These aren’t just academic placements — they’re invitations to be part of something real and raw, where compassion meets action.
For us, these partnerships are more than educational – they’re deeply encouraging. They remind us that what we say, what we share, and how we welcome young people today can echo far into the future.
So here’s to the next generation – may they keep growing in empathy, kindness, awareness, and courage. And may Matthew’s House always be a place that helps fan those flames into action.