As the festive season finally arrives and the cold weather takes hold of the country, the team at sales-i have given consideration to those less privileged – with a focus on homelessness this holiday.
Initiated and coordinated by Catherine Foulkes, sales-i’s Customer Success Manager, the team donated winter clothing, toiletries, sleeping bags and money to help local homeless shelter, St Anne’s.
Cat’s enthusiasm and kindness to help those in need has inspired us all. The collection of old and new items will be delivered by Cat to St Anne’s before the holidays and distributed to the homeless community it serves.
St Anne’s has been serving the community for 41 years. Founded in 1976 by Father Pascal Dillon, a local priest, in the crypt of St. Chad’s Cathedral the hostel moved to the old police barracks in Digbeth.
The main hostel can care for 37 residents in private rooms with shared bathrooms. The hostel also has learning, TV and dining rooms. Most importantly, and a rarity in hostel accommodation in the UK, dogs are allowed to stay in their owners’ rooms.
St Anne’s also supports a block of 18 self-contained apartments next to the hostel. These serve those with a history of homelessness or who have experienced difficulty in maintaining independent tenancies.
It is hard not to notice the dramatic rise in homelessness and rough sleeping in all large cities and towns across the UK.
Although political parties remain at loggerheads as to what to do to reverse this worrying trend, the facts cannot be ignored.
Homelessness Charity www.homeless.org.uk have been crunching the unpalatable numbers from various surveys and local authority data sets.
Here are a few of the grim facts:
All of the above does not account for those relying on the kindness of friends and family, ‘sofa surfing’ to avoid sleeping rough.
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sadness of these figures and feel that one person can’t make a difference. By supporting the local charities facing these challenges daily we can give hope to those who will be spending the holidays on the streets. A hope for a different Christmas for 2018.
If Cat has inspired you to get involved (like she did us!) or donate, you can find out more about St Anne’s HERE