Newcastle Building Society has awarded a £3,000 grant to local charity Changing Lives to help fund essential frontline services for people experiencing rough sleeping across Newcastle.
Headquartered in the North East, Changing Lives helps people facing homelessness, unemployment, addiction, and domestic abuse. They support around 14,500 people every year across more than 100 projects.
The grant from the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund at the Community Foundation North East, will support the charity’s Multiple Exclusions Team (MET). The MET support some of the most vulnerable people in Newcastle all year round, providing welfare checks and vital supplies.
The grant will help buy essential resources for people experiencing roughing sleeping, including food, sun cream, liquids, and clean clothing. It will also go towards tablet computers to the MET can provide mobile support to its service users.
Over the past year our Northumberland Street branch colleagues have nurtured a relationship with the charity. As they prepare to move to their new home at Monument later this summer, they’ve been working with Changing Lives to identify volunteering opportunities for colleagues, to help deepen our commitment to our home city.
Kirstie Wilkinson, Practise Development Manager at Changing Lives said: “This funding will make a real difference to the way we support people experiencing homelessness in Newcastle. Having tablets means our advisers can meet people where they are – on the streets or in temporary accommodation – and provide internet-enabled support immediately, rather than relying on them coming into the office. This flexibility is vital in helping people access the services they need and move into secure housing.
“The hygiene and care packages will offer practical and thoughtful support. With summer approaching, we’ll use some of the funds to provide sunscreen and caps – simple items that protect people from the heat but are often overlooked. We’ll also make sure anyone moving into accommodation has basic toiletries and food to help them settle in and start their new chapter with dignity.”
Download the press release (PDF, 173kB).
Image caption: L-R Rob Boak, our Newcastle Branch Manager, with Ben Smalley and Anthony Wallace from Changing Lives.
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