Building society will donate up to £10k to appeal
THE NOTTINGHAM PLEDGES TO MATCH FIGURE RAISED BY PUBLIC
THE Nottingham Building Society is donating up to £10,000 to help the homeless this Christmas.
Homelessness charity Framework says that this winter mpore people will end up sleeping rough and there are fears the coronavirus pandemic will lead to a new generation of people living on the streets.
The charity, which operates in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Sheffield, launched its Homeless To Home appeal in October.
Now the building society has promised to match the donations raised by the public.
The campaign will run until November 30.
People are running, walking, cycling or even roller-skating to raise money. So far a total of almost 3,000 miles have been logged and a total of £11,961 has been raised.
The Nottingham chief executive David Marlow said: “We were proud to hand over £30,000 earlier this year to support our long-time charity partners Framework, its people and their magnificent services during the first Covid19 lockdown because support for the most vulnerable in our communities is at the heart of our CSR work.
“Christmas is going to be very different for the vast majority of people this year due to the unprecedented nature of 2020, and we aren’t losing sight of the fact that it presents really big challenges for those who are homeless or at risk of being so.
“That’s why we are delighted to make a pledge to match-fund public donations to Framework up to £10,000 and hope the kind-hearted people of Nottinghamshire come forward and donate whatever they are able to.”
Recently Nottinghamshire Live went out with Framework’s street outreach team to reveal just how the coronavirus pandemic has effected the homeless community in the city.
The small team alone is looking after more than 50 current and former rough sleepers at any one time.
Framework’s head of fundraising, Claire Eden, added: “For very nearly ten years, support from The Nottingham has been a significant element in the assistance we receive from the community and an exemplar of how businesses can work with charities to mutual benefit.
“The Nottingham’s help this year has been particularly appreciated. This offer of £10,000 match funding to incentivise people to support our winter appeal Homeless to Home is just the latest example of that very generous support.
“We hope that The Nottingham’s offer will encourage the public to donate £10,000 in the period between Friday, November 27, and Monday, December 7, so we can take full advantage of their generous match funding offer.
“As Britain enters the deepest recession since records began, the future for hundreds of thousands of people is uncertain with many losing their jobs and potentially their homes.
“Rough sleeping – the most visible and devastating form of homelessness – is on the rise: this winter more people will endure the danger and indignity of sleeping on the streets, many for the first time.”