Oasis Community Housing’s Giving a Home Christmas appeal raises over £120,000 to help the homeless in the North East, Southwark and Peterborough thanks to generous donations.
Individuals, businesses, churches and community groups came together to raise this incredible amount for Oasis Community Housing who helps more than 1,300 vulnerable men, women and families across the UK every year.
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Making a difference
Incredible generosity throughout the appeal will go a long way in supporting the charity’s work journeying with people out homelessness.
People like Davey, who had his tent burned to the ground while sleeping rough. He found support through the charity’s Basis Gateshead homeless drop-in centre thanks to supporters’ donations: “Rather than being homeless and being unseen, I’m now being seen.”
One donation, twice the impact
The appeal was given a significant boost thanks to the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023. Matched funding from The Reed Foundation, Meldrum, Lovell, Utilita, Muckle LLP, Karbon Homes, Toomey Legal, Gentoo and Handelsbanken, meant all donations from individuals, community groups and businesses were doubled during the challenge week.
Churches, businesses and Individuals all got behind the appeal, coming together to make a huge difference.
Heroes in the making
‘Giving a Home heroes’ signed up to put their hero skills to the test by promoting and sharing social media content around the appeal to increase awareness. While businesses like Robson Laidler and Smart IT organised Christmas jumper days to raise vital funds to help the homeless.
The Gingerbread house installation, designed by Julia Stafford and created by Handcrafted, brought Christmas cheer to Tesco Extra Trinity Square Gateshead, and The Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland. Huge thank you to volunteers from Leeds Building Society, Newcastle Building Society, Pepperells, NWG, Unite Group and Kier Construction who helped fundraise outside the house.
The Impact of generosity
Carolyn Wood, Director of Programmes at Oasis Community Housing, explained: “The support during the Giving a Home Christmas Appeal was truly incredible, with a total to match.”
“These funds are vital for us to continue to support the most vulnerable people in our communities this year. The generosity of kind, like-minded supporters over the festive period will bring security, warmth, and hope to those experiencing homelessness throughout 2024.”
Over the past year Oasis Community Housing supported people experiencing homelessness, survivors of abuse and those affected by trauma through nearly 30,000 interactions; preventing homelessness on 363 occasions; and people were supported within Oasis Community Housing’s drop-in centres on over 5,278 occasions.
The incredible £120,061 raised during the Giving a Home Christmas appeal will go a long way in supporting more people off the streets, tackling trauma and preventing repeated homelessness.
Huge thank you to everyone who shared our social media posts, promoted the cause and donated during Giving a Home Christmas appeal, its your support brings hope not homelessness.