Member Article

Retailer donates £10,000 worth of flooring to national charity

A North-East retailer has gifted £10,000 worth of flooring to help a national charity which provides a safe haven for people facing homelessness.

Flooring Superstore, which has its head office in County Durham and over 40 stores across the UK, recently donated carpets which are being used to furnish supported accommodation projects and one-bedroomed flats run by Oasis Community Housing.

The carpets are being distributed within the charity’s homelessness projects across Gateshead, Sunderland, Tyneside, and South London.

Some of the carpets have already been laid for young mums escaping domestic abuse and who receive one-to-one support from Oasis Community Housing as part of a programme known as Empower which aims to restores women’s confidence by helping them access legal advice, make a safety plan, and set up a new home.

A third of all women facing homelessness have experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence.

David Smith, Oasis Community Housing’s Chief Executive, said: “Every year Oasis Community Housing helps almost 2,000 men, women and vulnerable families through our crisis drop-in services and supported accommodation projects, delivering critical practical and emotional support to help people on their journeys out of homelessness.

“We couldn’t do all we do without our donors and partners - and the donation from Flooring Superstore enables us to continue helping the people we support set up homes of their own, rather than being faced with the expense of furnishing an empty flat.

“From men who have been rough sleeping for years to young mums with babies, this donation will make a huge difference to so many people.”

Dan Foskett, Chief Executive Officer of Flooring Superstore, said: “Through our corporate social responsibility programme, we’re constantly looking at ways in which we can support charities and local community projects which carry out amazing work across the UK.

“We are therefore delighted to have been able to support the work of a national charity like Oasis Community Housing, whose services have never been more needed than they are now in the present, still uncertain, climate.

“Improving homes and lives is something we are truly passionate about, and we thank Oasis Community Housing for the opportunity to get involved in such a worthy cause. Creating a comfortable living space for those who need it most, far exceeds the value of the donation.”

In recognition of the support from Flooring Superstore, which also donated flooring for the charity’s 2020 Christmas appeal, Oasis Community Housing recently presented the company with one of its Shared Value Awards.

The awards recognise those businesses that go above and beyond in support of the charity.

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