Member Article

Housing staff helping Middlesbrough’s homeless people this Christmas

Staff from a Housing Association in the North East and North Yorkshire have taken on the role of Santa’s little helpers to help homeless people and families this Christmas.

North Star Housing Group, whose head office is based in Stockton-on-Tees, have been taking part in Middlesbrough’s In Out of the Cold event, donating wrapped, shoe boxes filled with essential items such as hats, scarves and gloves, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

This is the sixth year of the festive event, coordinated by Middlesbrough Council, which aims to help people who have fallen on hard times.

Katy Hocking, People Services Assistant at North Star, who helped to coordinate the Group’s efforts, said: “We are absolutely thrilled again with the response from staff, this is the second year that I have co-ordinated this campaign and I can’t get over how generous everyone has been! A massive thank you to everyone that has been involved and in putting together 22 shoe boxes which will be given out top homeless people this Christmas”

The donations were taken to Middlesbrough Civic Centre to be handed out to local people in need.

North Star Housing Group Chief Executive Angela Lockwood said: ““Many people in our communities are struggling to survive, with the pressures of winter - worsening weather, rising energy costs and Christmas just around the corner. We want to do all we can to support local people. In Out of the Cold is a great project that stemmed from such a simple idea. It’s been inspiring to see the team at North Star really get behind it and lend their support.”

For more information about the In Out of the Cold event, follow them on Twitter @InoutofCold or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/Inoutofthecold

North Star Housing Group has offices in Stockton and Barnard Castle, and is responsible for 3,500 properties across the North East and North Yorkshire. The Group brings together the skills, resources and values of Endeavour and Teesdale Housing Associations to form an equal partnership - committed to the creation of affordable, high quality housing and sustainable communities across Teesside and Teesdale. For more information about North Star Housing Group, visit www.northstarhg.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by North Star Housing Group .