Posted24.01.23
What is a Move-On box, and why do we have them?
Moving on to a new home is a goal that everybody staying at Evolve shares. It can sometimes be a very difficult one to reach, but when people do it is cause for excitement and celebration – an important step out of homelessness and into a new life.
But, as anyone who has done it will agree, the process of moving house is not always smooth. No matter your circumstances it can be complicated, tiring and stressful.
Moving can be particularly difficult for people leaving Evolve. You might not have lived on your own for a long time, so you need to adjust to the new lifestyle. You won’t have a support worker anymore, you have lots of paperwork to deal with, and you might be missing essential everyday items, like furniture of even a kettle to make a cup of tea.
That’s why, whenever we can, we provide people leaving Evolve with a ‘Move-On’ box.
Because there is so much for them to think about, the aim of these boxes is to help people settle into their new place a little more easily. To help make their house a home. They provide useful items, and free up people’s time up to focus on the bigger things needed to sustain their new living situation, like getting used to their local area, setting up bills and so on.
As well as being a practical gift, moving boxes are a celebration of someone’s completed journey towards independence, and the barriers they may have overcome on the way.
A Move-On box usually includes some or all of the following:
- Towel/washcloth
- Toiletry basics
- Bedding set
- Basic appliances, e.g., kettle
- Pots, pans, plate/bowl, and cutlery
- Baking tray
- Cups and glasses
- Cleaning spray and cloth/sponges
- Small food parcel of long-life/store cupboard items
These boxes ensure customers are not going to a new home empty-handed. They are often living on minimal budgets and have no reserves to make these kinds of purchases, especially if they have recently re-entered education or have only just started a new job.
It may not seem like a big deal, but these boxes make moving on that little bit easier, and that can make all the difference. It allows people to focus on other things, it helps them settle in, and it also frees up our teams to provide other, more important support for people who have moved, rather than spending time finding the basics. In short, they can contribute to helping people stay on track with their new journeys, out of homelessness and into a different future.
We would like to thank Zurich Insurance for their recent donations that have allowed us to keep delivering these boxes. Swatee S Ross, who led the work at Zurich, said:
“It was such a warm and nice feeling to put the pack together for Evolve and do something nice for our community. Times are tough and every little helps.”
