Instaloft’s Charity Commitment for 2026 Begins with The Shrewsbury Ark
Our first charity of the year is one very close to our heart, The Shrewsbury Ark, based just a short distance from our Telford head office, in Shrewsbury.
A Lifeline for People Facing Homelessness
The Shrewsbury Ark has been supporting people experiencing homelessness since 1972, when it first opened its doors as part of a church initiative. Today, it operates from its centre in Castle Foregate in the heart of Shrewsbury.
Despite being a relatively small team of five employed staff, the impact they create is remarkable.
The organisation is led by Director Anton Goodwin, supported by four specialist support workers and overseen by a board of trustees. Together with more than 50 volunteers, they provide vital services that many people rely on every day.
A Safe Place During the Day
The Ark operates during daytime hours on weekdays, providing a safe and supportive space for those who need it most.
The centre’s day is structured carefully to ensure people receive the right support at the right time.
During the first part of the day, the centre focuses exclusively on rough sleepers, offering essential facilities that many people take for granted. Visitors can access:
- Hot food and drinks
- Shower facilities
- Washing and clothes repair equipment
- A safe place to rest
- Support from trained staff
For people sleeping rough, these simple provisions can make a life-changing difference.
Later in the day, the centre expands its services to welcome those at risk of homelessness, providing one-to-one support sessions to help individuals navigate the challenges they’re facing.
Building Stability and Confidence
The final part of the day focuses on structured workshops and courses designed to help people move forward.
These sessions cover practical and emotional support topics such as:
- Tenancy readiness, helping people prepare for independent living
- Budgeting and managing finances
- Mental health support and wellbeing workshops
These programmes are designed to give people the tools and confidence they need to rebuild stability in their lives.
Currently, The Shrewsbury Ark supports 11 people who are rough sleeping and 17 individuals at risk of homelessness, providing consistent guidance, practical help and encouragement.
How the Community Makes It Possible
Running a centre like The Shrewsbury Ark takes a huge community effort and one of the most important ways people support the charity is through its “Friends of the Ark” programme.
This initiative allows supporters to sign up to a small monthly donation, helping the charity plan ahead and continue delivering vital services.
There are currently around 600 monthly supporters, but the goal is to reach 1,000 Friends of the Ark. This will allow around 50% of the running costs to be covered by ongoing support, easing the pressure on this vital service.
Supporting Our Local Community
Instaloft is proud to support The Shrewsbury Ark as the first charity in our 2026 giving programme.
While we operate nationwide, our roots remain firmly in Shropshire, and supporting organisations like The Shrewsbury Ark is an important way for us to give back to the community that helped us grow.
Over the course of 2026, we’ll be donating £1,000 each month to charities making a positive impact in communities across the UK.
We’re excited to share these stories throughout the year and shine a light on the organisations doing incredible work behind the scenes.
How You Can Help
If you’d like to support The Shrewsbury Ark, consider becoming a Friend of the Ark.
You can learn more about their work and sign up to support them by visiting their website.
At Instaloft, we believe communities thrive when people look out for one another and the work of The Shrewsbury Ark is a powerful reminder of just how important that support can be.
