Statistics show year on year growth but client feedback is what makes RIMERN volunteers continue to work tirelessly day after day. In 2024/25 we continued to support a significant number of women and children who had escaped family violence and were starting again with nothing. Most of our clients have experienced severe housing insecurity, whether couch surfing for years, squatting in warehouses or sleeping rough, leaving jail with nothing. After a RIMERN ‘shopping for no money” trip, or clients leave us having everything they need to start again in a fully equipped home. For privacy reasons we don’t know the details of most clients’ journeys but when their workers share a small glimpse or our volunteers get a warm hug and big smile, we know that they leave our warehouse feeling happy, relieved and respected with a greater understanding of what Rotary is all about both locally and internationally.
Client/Case Worker appointments continue at the rate of 4 or 5 per day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Stock supplied to clients is still limited by stock donated/collected. While RIMERN supplies over 95% of every order we are continually hampered by lack of availability of wanted white goods, inner spring style bed bases, a range of small electrical appliances and assorted small furniture. Demand will always exceed supply but in this financial year, grants & donations for goods purchases has meant we have improved order fulfilment rates over the previous year.