Member Article

Timely boost for homeless charity

The north east’s homeless community is set for a boost after a fledgling charity prepares for record donations this Christmas.

Tyneside-based homeless charity North East Homeless (NEH) was only founded in November, but has already attracted a lot of support from locals, and last night received a £500 donation from Tyneside Home Improvements during a visit from their staff.

Celebrating becoming the SupaLite installer of the year for the fifth straight year, Tyneside Home Improvements is donating £500 to a different charity each month, with the first recipients being NEH.

Tyneside Home Improvements’ Operations Manager Barry Wake joined them on a recent outreach and got to meet those the donation will benefit, first hand. Tom Young, from NEH explained what they do:

“We come out on a Tuesday and a Friday and walk the streets of Newcastle. Our street friends know us and when we’ll be out, so it’s nice to see them and have a chat. We offer them food and a warm drink, tents, sleeping bags and thermal socks. All of this has to be funded from somewhere so we are always looking for people to get involved; we cannot thank Tyneside Home Improvements enough for their donation.

“We also help with emergency accommodation as well for those who really need it, so donations like this go a long way to helping.”

“Meeting people and hearing their stories were so humbling” – says Wake, “There are some very interesting people who are so genuinely thankful for the supplies they are given. They’re not greedy, they never took anything they didn’t need, because that would help someone else and I think they know that. So close to Christmas it’s hard to see and I only wish we could do more to help.”

Brian Burridge, NEH’s founder says the donation from Tyneside Home Improvements will make a huge difference as winter draws on.

“The donation will help so much, and every penny will be well spent on supplies as the cold weather continues. If any of that can ease their struggle then that is what we aim to do – and these supplies may just save someone’s life.”

It’s the first of many planned monthly donations set to be made to local charities by Tyneside Home Improvements, whose impressive run of awards stretches back to 2012.

Wake says the best way to celebrate is by involving the local community.

“It’s always great to get awards and be recognised, but being able to give back to the communities we serve feels just that much better.

“We couldn’t think of a more deserving cause to support for our first donation. As the frost and cold comes it’s important to remember about the homeless people less fortunate than ourselves, so we were more than happy to help.”

Each month Tyneside Home Improvements will put forward five worthy charities or organisations onto their Facebook page, where users are invited to vote for their favourite cause on the page, or email in their choice from the five. The winning charity will then be awarded the monthly donation of £500.

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