Co-op store has raised thousands to help our work for the homeless

THE Wellspring has been chosen to be one of three local charities that are being supported by a new endeavour run by the newly re-branded Cooperative stores in Stockport.

When shoppers purchase any Co-operative branded items in the stores a percentage of the sale is donated to local charities.

It was a pleasure to be invited to officially open the new Co-operative store on Hall Street in Offerton this week.

So far the store on Hall Street has raised nearly £3,000 for The Wellspring.

Collections for the Rucksack Project are going well and have been given a great boost by the Yeshurun Hebrew Congregation in Gatley, who did an amazing collection for The Wellspring finished next year.

We are concerned by the noticeable rise in the number of people begging in our town centre and around the Grand Central/train station area.

Giving money to people on the street may seem like a selfless act of kindness to someone less fortunate than yourself, however the vast majority of money given to people begging in the street is spent on drugs and alcohol.

Giving people money does nothing to help their situation at all. It does however make the job of homelessness professionals, outreach workers, housing officers and others trying to support people so much harder.

When someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol it is much harder to do any kind of positive work with them.

For the people who are begging who are actually street homeless and many of the people begging in Stockport are not, giving them money does nothing to support them, it just fans the flames of addiction and ultimately makes their situation worse.

Please do not give money to people in the street. Instead of giving money please tell them about The Wellspring, ask them to come along and get the support they need to get off the streets or to access support for any issues that they have.

The Wellspring is on Harvey street, Stockport town centre, open 365 days a year. The Wellspring can be contacted on 477 6344 or via thewellspring@btconnect.com.