Member Article

Keycare team boosts support for homeless by £1,600 in sleep out

A five strong team at Shipley based Keycare has experienced what it’s like to sleep rough for the night and raised £1,600 for Simon On The Streets – a charity which supports the homeless.

Entirely financed through charitable giving, trusts and grants and fundraising activity, Simon On The Streets provides front-line emotional and practical help for the destitute across Leeds, Huddersfield and Bradford.

The Keycare team comprising Rachel Taylor, daughter of Keycare’s late founder Geoffrey Parker, Lynne Bates, Kirsten Carruthers, Bhavna Patel and Julia Reedshaw, joined hundreds of businesses and individuals at The Royal Armouries Tiltyard for the annual event.

Rachel, a director and shareholder of Keycare and Chairman of PTF Locket, a company which manages the families’ business interests and charitable contributions, said: “We were fortunate in that the weather was mild during the sleep out. The experience gave us an insight into the myriad of challenges faced by the homeless who strive to survive on the streets in adverse conditions day in and day out.

“Simon On The Streets is a truly inspirational charity which works with the homeless until they have made positive and sustainable changes to their lives and we appreciate the wealth of donations we received.”

Helen Beachell, general manager at Simon on The Streets, said: “A big thank you to the Keycare team who were instrumental in helping us to raise £20,000 in total from the sleep out. There are many ways in which people can help us to make a difference to those we support and they can contact us via email on admin@simononthestreets.co.uk, call us on 01484 483141 or visit the website on simononthestreets.co.uk”

Keycare - which recovers and replaces lost or stolen keys for customers of household names and blue chip organisations - has a long history of raising money for worthwhile causes. Past beneficiaries have included Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Martin House Hospice in Boston Spa.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Keycare .