Following their recent fundraising efforts, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of Nottingham Trent University students into our office to meet the team behind René House.

Together, they raised £255 as part of their project — and while that might not sound like a huge figure to some, donations like this genuinely make a difference.

For organisations like René House, it’s not just about housing. The support side of what we do — the one-to-one sessions, the time spent helping residents build life skills, manage their wellbeing, and prepare for independence — isn’t always fully funded. Every donation helps us continue delivering that support, day in and day out.

But beyond the fundraising, what stood out most was the opportunity to connect.

The students, studying Psychology and Criminology, took the time to ask questions, understand our work, and learn more about the realities of homelessness — including what happens after prison, the impact of addiction, and the role of mental health in someone’s journey.

That kind of real-world insight is invaluable. It helps build a deeper understanding of the challenges people face, and the support that’s needed beyond just providing accommodation.

Partnerships like this — with local universities and organisations like Impact People and Change — are so important. It’s great to see students engaging with these issues early on, showing genuine care, and using their time to make a difference.

We’re also incredibly grateful to Natasha Chadwick for creating these opportunities and for putting René House on the radar for students to learn from and support.

It was a pleasure to meet the group, and we’d like to say a big thank you again for both the fundraising and the time they took to understand what we do.

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