Housing association donates 160 winter coats to homeless charities

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 11 January 2017

HOMELESS charities in Derbyshire were handed 160 winter coats by a top East Midlands housing provider just before Christmas.

Futures Housing Group, which manages almost 9,100 homes in the region, donated the coats after an organisational rebrand left it a surplus of unused uniforms.

Rather than consign them to the recycling bin, Futures joined forces with Imperial Commercials Ltd, who are based in Mackworth, Derbyshire, to ensure the coats and other items of clothing were delivered to the Hope Centre in Derby and to Kris Plumley, a Street Pastor who works with homeless people in the city.

Imperial UK, which provided Futures’ latest fleet of vans, offered to help as part of a commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) made by each of the housing group’s contractors. Printscene, another contractor on Futures’ supply chain, laundered the coats and removed old logos.

Derby-based Street Pastor, Kris Plumley, who also owns Clearfirst Services - another of Futures’ local contractors - said: “I’d like to thank Futures for the generous donation. It is impossible to explain just how much of a difference it will make but having recently read of a homeless person who froze to death in Nottingham, these coats could be the difference between life and death.

“The clothing went to the Night Shelter and Store House, two amazing groups that make a positive difference to people’s lives. I have always been impressed with Futures’ commitment to customers but now I see the organisation has the same compassion for the homeless in our society.”

Amy Valance, Group Fleet Account Manager at Imperial UK, added: "Imperial UK is always keen to support local charities. When Futures approached them for assistance they were happy to make arrangements to wash and rebrand the clothing."

As well as this generous donation, Futures Housing Group has a dedicated homelessness team which works with other local agencies to help prevent people from becoming homeless.

Between January and September 2016, the service worked with more than 200 households by helping people remain in their home or find temporary or permanent alternative accommodation.

Lindsey Williams, Futures Housing Group’s chief executive, said: “We are very proud to have donated this clothing to a selection of fantastic local charities who really make a difference to the lives of people that need their support the most.

“We are acutely aware of the scale of the homelessness issue, both regionally and nationally. Statistics provided by Shelter state that 255,000 people are currently homeless in England while rough sleeping increased by 30% in the last year, with a total of 3,569 people recorded as living on the streets. That number is double what was recorded in 2010 and it is crucial that the housing sector continues to help those at crisis point and highlight the enormity of the problem while also look for long-term solutions.”

Inside Housing, the leading weekly magazine for the housing sector, recently launched the ‘Cathy at 50’ campaign – half a century since Ken Loach’s landmark film about homelessness, Cathy Come Home, was screened for the first time.

The campaign is investigating the current homelessness landscape, raising awareness and promoting best practice to help end rough sleeping and encourage housing associations across the country to play their part.

Futures dedicated homelessness team and these recent charitable donations show the organisation’s awareness of the issue and commitment to finding a solution.

For more information on Futures Housing Group visit www.futureshg.co.uk

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