Member Article

Hampers donated to young people at risk of homelessness this Christmas

Staff at a Kidderminster hotel have donated dozens of food hampers to young people at risk of homelessness or in crisis this Christmas.

The team at Brockencote Hall Hotel put together 21 hampers as part of its charitable ‘Giving Back’ initiative to donate one hamper for each bedroom sold on a Christmas package, while it also collected items from members of the public after acting as a donation drop-off point over December.

Hampers have been filled with much-needed items such as tinned foods, Christmas essentials, chocolates and a selection of toiletries including shower gel, bubble bath and deodorant.

The donations were handed over to The Basement Project, in Bromsgrove, to contribute towards the charity’s annual Christmas hamper appeal to support people in Worcestershire.

It comes at a time when demand for its services has risen, with the number of hampers delivered at Christmas increasing by almost 130 per cent during the cost-of-living crisis – from 269 in 2021 to more than 600 this year.

Jack Hartshorne, General Manager of the 21-bed Brockencote Hall Hotel, which is based in Chaddesley Corbett, said: “Our Giving Back campaign is all about giving back to good causes in our local area.

“The Basement Project’s work offers a real lifeline to people at times they need it the most, so we are really pleased to support their Christmas hamper appeal this year.

“We also opened up a donation table at the hotel for staff as well as guests to donate, and it really filled up with a variety of items donated to the appeal.

“I’d like to thank everyone who came to the hotel and contributed to the appeal.”

The Basement Project is based on Hanover Street in Bromsgrove and offers a drop-in service and support in the community to young people in Worcestershire aged 25 and under who are at risk of homelessness, are homeless or who are in crisis.

It also offers counselling, mediation and a food bank, with the aim of helping young people to get set up in a tenancy and move towards independence.

Kelly Turner, Community Fundraiser at The Basement Project, added: “Hampers from Brockencote will go a long way to helping our young clients, who are often alone at Christmas, to have an enjoyable festive period with enough food in their cupboards. We cannot thank all involved enough.”

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