Community

Rotary helps the homeless during the pandemic

Rotary helps the homeless during the pandemic

Vale of Belvoir Rotary, in conjunction with Rotary District 1220, is working with two Midlands charities, The Friary and Tara’s Angels, who are involved in rehousing the homeless.

The plight of the homeless has changed dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic.

More people who are homeless are seeking their own accommodation, but have no possessions whatsoever to help them sustain the change long term.

The Leicestershire-based Rotary club has provided a starter pack given to those moving into their own accommodation for the first time after being made homeless.

Rotary have supplied 20 starter packs, ten to each charity, to help those people who have been granted accommodation.

More people who are homeless are seeking their own accommodation, but have no possessions whatsoever to help them sustain the change long term. “

These items will help a homeless person to transition into being able to living sustainably, become self-sufficient and reduce the dependence on donated meals.

Each box contains basic cooking utensils, saucepans, cutlery and crockery to the value of £50 per box donated.

The two charities concerned are The Friary which is a long established charity, formed in 1988, helping the homeless whose slogan is: “Working locally to end homelessness”.

Vale of Belvoir Rotary has supported The Friary for more than three years now by organising and manning a giant jumble sale of surplus donated goods.

Rotary have supplied 20 starter packs, ten to each charity, to help those people who have been granted accommodation.”

Friary Chief Executive, Ben Talbot, thanks Rotary for their support.

He said: “The donation of the starter packs from the Vale of Belvoir Rotary Club has come at just the right time.

“Supporting people off the streets and into temporary accommodation has been one of the few positives of the pandemic.

“The next stage is supporting them into more permanent housing. Providing kitchen utensils, plates and saucepans helps a house to feel like a home immediately.

“Thank you to all involved at the Rotary for this creative and hugely valuable donation.”

homelessness

Vale of Belvoir Rotary has supported The Friary for more than three years now by organising and manning a giant jumble sale of surplus donated goods.

Tara’s Angels was set up in response to and named after a lady from West Bridgford in Nottingham who was murdered in 2016 by her partner leaving three young children.

The charity helps mothers and children escape abusive relationships by finding refuge accommodation for them.

However, at some point, the mother and children will need to leave the refuge to restart their lives. At this point these mothers and children are technically homeless.

Accommodation will be found for them, but as with Friary Inn, they have nothing. The provision of a starter pack will help them transition into being self-sufficient and reduce the dependence on donated meals, particularly with young children.