Oasis Community Housing is taking part in the Big Give to raise £70,000 in just one week to support people facing homelessness this Christmas! The aim is to raise vital funds to support the charity’s year-round work providing crisis intervention, supported housing and a range of other services to help vulnerable men, women and families.
‘As we head into a cold winter, we’re all juggling the cost of living crisis – but for some, it will push them over the edge into homelessness. Latest figures already show that rough sleeping is on the rise and we fear things will only get worse,’ explains Hazel Ditchburn, Corporate Relationships Manager, Oasis Community Housing.
‘Our Christmas appeal provides the financial foundation for our next year’s homelessness service meaning every penny donated goes towards making a life-changing difference for the 1,300-plus people who walk through our doors each year.’
Donations to the Giving a Home appeal will be generously matched by a number of local businesses including Meldrum Group, Lovell Partnerships, Utilita, Karbon Homes, Muckle LLP, Toomey Legal, Handelsbanken and Gentoo during the campaign, meaning the money received can support twice as many people facing homelessness.
Dave Meldrum – CEO, Meldrum Group, a North-East based construction services business, said: ‘We are proud to support such a fantastic charity such as Oasis Community Housing and the work they do, giving people the help and support they need to turn their lives around.
‘It is their commitment to not only providing a solution to homelessness by offering accommodation – it is their commitment to tackling the root cause of homelessness in the first place. No-one should ever have to face a future without a home (or without hope) and thanks to Oasis and the amazing work they do, that doesn’t have to be the case.’
Phil Jones, Head of Land and Partnerships at the North East region of leading national housebuilder Lovell Partnerships, said: ‘As a housing developer that creates communities, we understand how important it is to have a ‘home’ – and what this can mean beyond simply having a roof over your head.
‘This time of year is especially difficult for those who are struggling, and we hope our support for the Big Give campaign can help to bolster further donations made towards this fantastic cause that helps so many people in the region.’
Fiona Pallister, National Sales Manager for New Initiatives at Utilita, said: ‘While we can’t control the prices of energy, suppliers like us must throw their full support to vulnerable people during the cost of living crisis.
‘We are always striving to help families, individuals, and community organisations – particularly as the months grow colder – so it’s an honour to play a small part in this incredible initiative. Thank you to Oasis Community Housing for organising something that will make a huge difference to so many.”
How can people maximise their impact this Christmas?
Visit www.givingahome.org.uk/donate-now and make a donation from 28 November – 5 December, during this time all donations will be doubled.
That’s one donation, twice the impact for people experiencing homelessness this Christmas.