Tag: homeless

Help for the homeless this winter

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Goods that many people take for granted have started the New Year with a smile as they were bundled up ready for Christmas and gifted to residents at a Brighton homeless hostel.

Currently housing 48 men, Glenwood Lodge was given £500 worth of donations from local funeralcare colleagues to give to its residents to open on the special day.

With 2020 proving a difficult year for many charities and local causes, colleagues at Glenwood Lodge appealed for help from The Co-operative Funeralcare with Caring Lady Funeral Directors.

Last year the six funeral branches which are part of Southern Co-op donated a range of gifts including gloves, socks and shower gel to the homeless hostel in the Grand Parade.

Laura Cullen, Sector Operations Manager for Southern Co-op, said: “Last year I remember there was a particularly cold day before Christmas which prompted us to get in touch with several charities in the area to offer support.

“This year has been even more challenging so we didn’t hesitate in gifting what we could to help.

“Thanks to my colleagues in Brighton, Goring, Hove, Peacehaven, Shoreham and Worthing, who are all glad these gifts brought a few smiles on Christmas Day.”

The gifts to the hostel included duvet sets, dinner sets, toasters, kettles, pillows and cutlery.

Darren Rusbridge, Deputy Manager for the Hospital and Homeless Team at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “The generosity of Southern Co-op really helped us achieve a good Christmas for our vulnerable residents this year. The items donated have certainly helped our residents make their stay at Glenwood more comfortable and welcoming during what has been a difficult year for everyone.

“Our residents were extremely grateful for the gifts of bedding and kitchen equipment as the items are not easy to purchase on a low income. Thanks again from all at Glenwood Lodge.”

To find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to its communities, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/love-your-neighbourhood.

Winter coats needed for Island’s homeless

Posted on by ashleymarsh

A local funeral co-ordinator is hoping to rally the community spirit to help families in need of support this winter.

After a difficult year, Petra Wickens and Tilly Holmberg, Funeral Co-ordinators in East Cowes, are asking Isle of Wight residents to support the work of the local Salvation Army helping those in need.

Petra and her colleagues at the six Isle of Wight branches of The Co-operative Funeralcare have set up collection points for people to drop off donations of sleeping bags, coats, jumpers, gloves/scarves/hats, as well as dry and tinned food and toiletries/hygiene products.

The branches, which are all part of Southern Co-op, will be accepting donations for the Salvation Army throughout the winter, up until the end of January 2021.

Petra said: “This year has been so very difficult for so many, and I am sure there are many individuals and families who have found themselves in a situation that they had not expected. We are hoping to at least offer a little support to all of those in need.

“The Salvation Army does such a wonderful job of ensuring that the homeless are safe and warm over the cold winter months, as well as people who have just fallen on hard times and just need a little help.

“All the goods people donate, will be taken to the Salvation Army outreach centre, where they can be distributed to those in need.”

Southern Co-op, which is the independent, regional co-operative, has six branches on the Isle of Wight branches at 8-10 Ferry Road in East Cowes, The Avenue in Freshwater, The Fairway in Lake, 61 Upper St James Street in Newport, 45 St John’s Road in Ryde, and 76 Regent Street in Shanklin.

The Salvation Army, which has a local branch on the Isle of Wight, offers help to a range of people including the elderly, the young, offenders, drug addicts, blind and disabled people. It also provides food and shelter for the homeless and operates food distribution centres across the country.

To find out more about the Salvation Army, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk.

Sleeping bags and toiletries needed for Havant’s homeless

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Residents are being asked to dig deep into the backs of their cupboards and donate any unwanted goods to help the homeless.

Help for Havant Homeless is a non-profit organisation currently collecting donations to help support the homeless in the Havant borough council area.

To help with the donations, Southern Co-op’s funeral branch in Leigh Park has set up a collection point which colleagues hope to keep open throughout the winter and into 2021.

Help for Havant Homeless is looking for donations which will help the homeless through the cold months such as sleeping bags, toiletries and torches.

Charlene Price, a community volunteer, said: “So far the public have been fantastic. We’ve had lots of donations and are needing help in keeping the donations coming in, especially items such as tinned food and petrol as it involves a lot of driving around. It’s been a real team effort with founders Lisa and Jason Martin and Rio on social media.

“We have local business people helping and the kindness and generosity of people have been amazing such as Heidis in Emsworth which donates food it is unable to keep for the next day.

“If anyone is aware of a homeless person in the Havant Borough Council area it would be great for us to be notified, then we can go out and have a chat with them to see if we can help in any way, even if it’s just to hand out food to them. We will soon be working alongside Two Saints which supports people who are homeless, vulnerable or at risk of becoming homeless.”

Help for Havant Homeless delivers a hot meal three times a week plus anything else they need, such as a tent.

Petrol can be donated via Tesco gift cards and goods donations can be made Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm at The Co-operative Funeralcare – Leigh Park, at 224 Dunsbury Way.

Rachel Cast, Funeral Co-ordinator at the branch which is part of Southern Co-op – the regional co-operative, said: “I wanted to get involved to help out in our local community and actually to make a difference to someone who needs it.

“The donations will be really positive and hopefully help the people who need it most.”

Specific requests for Help for Havant Homeless are currently put on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Help-for-Havant-Homeless-115572733622637/ or questions can be emailed to helpforthehomeless@outlook.com.

Supported housing gets a spruce-up

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Individuals in Bognor were given the gift of a newly refurbished home in time for the new year thanks to help from some local present-givers.

Volunteers from The Co-operative Funeralcare branches in Rose Green, North Bersted and Felpham swapped their uniforms for less formal attire to help Stonepillow with one of its supported accommodation houses in Bognor.

Stonepillow is a homeless charity for the Chichester and Arun Districts and offers shelter, information and support to homeless and vulnerable individuals.

Amy White, Funeral Co-ordinator at The Co-operative Funeralcare in Chichester Road, North Bersted, said: “It was an incredibly wet and dreary day but it didn’t matter because we knew that a bit of elbow grease might give a lift to someone who needed it.

“Our funeral branches are all part of Southern Co-op and we are supported to make a difference to our community through fundraising or volunteering. But it is charities like Stonepillow that are the real heroes.

“Stonepillow makes a real impact on the lives of people on their journey out of homelessness. Thank you.”

Laura Bulbeck, PR & Events Manager at Stonepillow, said: “Christmas can be an especially difficult time for people who are homeless and we are so grateful for the support we receive from the local community. We would like to say a huge thank you to The Co-operative Funeralcare team for brightening up one of our properties.”

To find out more about how you can help visit www.stonepillow.org.uk.

Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ aims to help communities become greener, healthier, safer and more inclusive.

To find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to making a difference, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/makingadifference/.

Winter coats needed for Ryde’s homeless

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Residents are being asked to dig deep into the backs of their wardrobes and donate any unwanted winter coats, gloves, hats and scarves.

For the last few years, a community hub in Ryde which provides a range of services in a redundant church has devoted an outside area to items of clothing for the homeless to pick up when needed.

This year, donations can also be made to The Co-operative Funeralcare in Ryde which is just off the High Street in St John’s Road.

Sam Walker, Funeral Co-ordinator at the branch which is part of Southern Co-op, said: “We’d heard about the space at the collections being made by Aspire Ryde for outdoor clothing and wanted to help.

“It could literally be a lifeline for people who don’t have anywhere else to go during the winter.”

The charity is asking for donations of outdoor and waterproof coats, long scarves, adult hats and gloves.

Julie Croydon, Project Support at Aspire Ryde, said: “By putting a selection of items in our porch, it means they are available 24/7. If someone is really cold then it is there when they need it and we replace the goods straightaway.

“We also have free food in the same area which includes stock that has been donated by local stores after its best before date.

“We don’t require any ID or vouchers and people don’t have to be homeless to use it. We just ask them to be honest and only take what they really need.”

Aspire Ryde works with lots of partner organisations to bring people and services together to be able to transform lives and give people the best chance in life.

They transformed the old church in Dover Street into a unique space and a community hub to ensure that there was something for everyone on site.

Aspire is hoping to redevelop the space further in the next few years to enable a safe space for people to go during the day.

To find out more visit https://aspireryde.org.uk/.