Local charity dedicated to supporting people facing homelessness to enter into unique partnership with North East manufacturer.
Oasis Community Housing will work closely with Komatsu UK, a company that manufactures excavators at their plant in Birtley, after they were selected to be the company’s charity partner for the next three years.
Operating across the North East, London and Peterborough, Oasis Community Housing exists to reignite hope and future for everyone facing homelessness by addressing the immediate needs of the people they support, and the root causes of homelessness. They deliver this through their crisis service, 24/7 supported housing, support for women escaping domestic abuse and financial skills support.
A Unique Partnership
Komatsu UK recently introduced a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy enabling it to work with charities on a longer-term basis, is focused on projects that make a difference in communities around the region.
Katie O’Brien, Komatsu UK HR general manager, said: ‘With the North East overtaking London as the UK’s highest region for children living in poverty and one in four people in our region living below the poverty line, Oasis Community Housing really stood out as an important charity responding proactively to help people directly impacted by these conditions.
‘Everyone deserves a roof over their heads and Oasis Community Housing is a charity that provides hope to homeless people and supports them to retrain and rebuild lives, and eventually finding long term homes.
‘Komatsu introduced a new CSR policy because we want to do more for communities. The new guidelines allow employees more time to volunteer for our chosen charity and we encourage them to do so, helping the charity with some of its projects, as well as monetary donations.’
Oasis Community Housing was selected as Komatsu’s chosen charity by the firm’s Sports and Social committee, which leads fundraising efforts throughout the year. Staff are working with the charity to support a series of events, such as the Mile in Their Shoes Lent challenge, and Komatsu will be taking a table at the Black & Gold Ball, raising vital funds to support Oasis Community Housing’s work.
Oasis Community Housing’s corporate relationships manager, Hazel Ditchburn, said she was delighted to link up with one of the region’s most recognisable manufacturers and was already working with Komatsu to organise a series of events throughout the year.
She said: “We are honoured and excited to embark on this meaningful journey with Komatsu as their chosen charity partner for the next three years. This partnership not only reflects Komatsu’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, but also underscores the shared belief that together, we can build a foundation of support and empowerment for those facing homelessness in the North East.
“It was absolutely brilliant to meet some of the team at the Komatsu Ball and we are looking forward to working together to increase the impact we can make for our community.”
A key part of this partnership will be to raise awareness of homelessness and how Komatsu employees can deliver a positive impact on people’s lives. The charity will be holding awareness sessions with staff around homelessness and domestic abuse in the coming months, providing information cards for staff to hand to someone who they meet who might need support.