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Housing trust teams up with local company in festive hamper appeal for people who have faced homelessness
A Derbyshire housing trust providing accommodation to hundreds of people who might otherwise be homeless has teamed up with a well-known local business to spread festive treats amongst residents, who may otherwise face a cheerless Christmas.
Derventio Housing Trust, which runs shared houses for hundreds of people in Derby and Derbyshire – and other areas of the UK – wants to ensure no-one living in its housing misses out on festive cheer this year so has teamed up with Derby-based Colleague Box to provide festive treats to every household in the city and county.
The trust exists to provide housing to people who have either recently been through homelessness or are at risk of it. Now Derventio is asking businesses and individuals to support its Colleague Box campaign providing festive boxes to residents who may be facing a cheerless Christmas.
Derventio Housing Trust operates in five areas in the UK: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Swindon. The appeal will provide hampers containing festive treats.
Jackie Carpenter, assistant director of strategy for Derventio Housing Trust, said: “We are blown away that such a fabulous local company with a big heart is supporting our appeal. At a hugely busy time for them, they have taken on putting together these extra boxes for us and we couldn’t be more grateful.
“We know how much this will mean to residents and we’re excited to think how much they will enjoy opening up a Colleague Box of festive treats.”
Natalie Bamford, who with her husband Adam set up Colleague Box, said that the business was delighted to be working with Derventio Housing Trust.
Natalie said: “Community is important to us and when Derventio first approached us about being involved in creating these special boxes, we knew that it was something we would love to be involved in. These gifts will have a huge impact on the lives of those needing the support and it is a real honour to be involved.”
One Derventio resident living in Derby told how his Christmas last year had been lonely as he was unable to visit family. This reduced him to eating a meal of baked beans on toast on December 25, since his three housemates were with their family while he was not.
Michael *, 50, has been living with Derventio Housing Trust for the past 18 months, his life having spiralled out of control after a relationship breakdown, and being unable to carry on working as a machine setter due to his epilepsy and mental health struggles.
He said: “Christmas last year was so lonely for me. It’s heart breaking when you don’t see your family.”
Derventio Housing Trust wants to spread a little festive cheer this year by providing every shared household with a hamper containing seasonal goodies such as a Christmas sweets and cheese snacks.
The housing trust is currently providing accommodation for 200 people in Derby and 130 in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Across the UK, the housing trust supports 650 people.
Many Derventio residents are struggling with their mental health; some have no family, while others have become estranged from theirs. For most, Christmas is a huge struggle both emotionally and financially.
The housing trust is appealing for local businesses and individuals who would like to feel the warmth of Christmas giving by helping donate to the hampers.
Michael said for him and his Derventio household, having a Christmas hamper with little treats would make an enormous difference to their festive season.
“A Christmas cake and a box of biscuits would make me feel as though I’d had Christmas,” he said. “Christmas can be very lonely. There’s nothing worse than being on your own at Christmas time. It’s awful. I’ve always been used to being somewhere. There’s nothing better on Christmas day than seeing young people opening their presents.
“If people give you something you’re not expecting, do you know how overwhelming that makes people feel? It would make me cry.”
Penny Wiltshire from Derventio Housing Trust said: “With our Christmas Hamper campaign we would like to give residents some luxuries to help them feel they are part of the festive season too. When money is tight and you need to buy essentials, even treats like a packet of biscuits or a little box of chocolates are simply unavailable.
“We hope businesses and individuals will help give people a little bit of Christmas cheer this year by donating to our campaign. Many people can’t imagine spending Christmas on their own but that’s unfortunately the reality for some residents. Many people really don’t have much, so we know how much of a difference these hampers will make.”
To donate to the Derventio Housing Trust Christmas Hamper appeal, see https://www.colleaguebox.co.uk/derventiofestivetreat
* Not his real name200 Degrees annual charity day, Swap Shop, returns
Coffee lovers will be able to swap a tube of toothpaste for a free flat white on Tuesday 5th December when independent coffee shop chain 200 Degrees hosts their annual charity day, Swap Shop.
In each of the company’s 21 shops across the UK, customers will be able to bring in and donate unused and unopened hygiene products, and get a free coffee in return.
Swap Shop is an initiative that 200 Degrees have run for the past two years, but this year each shop team has chosen to directly support a charity in their locality. With hygiene poverty still a massive issue across the country due to the cost of living crisis, customers will be able have make a difference for people in their community, with products to be distributed to those in need in partnership via local charities.
In Lincoln, the 200 Degrees Shop on Sincil Street will be supporting the Lincoln Food Bank. And in Nottingham, the four 200 Degrees shops will be each be supporting a different charity: Emmanuel House, Juno Women’s Aid, The Friary and Central Women’s Aid. Each shop across the 200 Degrees estate, from Cardiff to Cannock, to Manchester and Liverpool will also be supporting a charity in their local area. The Head Office team, based on Meadow Lane in Nottingham, will be bringing in their own items to donate to their core charity partner, Switch Up.
200 Degrees Managing Director Stephen Fern said: “Supporting the local community is one of the core values of 200 Degrees and we adhere to those beliefs all year round, but we know charities struggle particularly at Christmas.
“We have the ability to make a difference across a large part of the UK now we have 21 shops, and the teams have been eager to donate items to charities they know will reach local people. Giving away free coffees to those who donate is a great way to raise awareness and get those donations flooding in.”