| ..........
... |
PRESS RELEASE -
FEBRUARY 2004
Back to Basics for Homeless Charity
Following the success of it’s work in the Fareham area with homeless
people, culminating in the opening
of a 24
hour access centre, the Friends of the Homeless charity have now extended
their work even further.
A new project
titled the Basics Bank, which covers the Fareham and Gosport area, provides
short term
support
to all people in a crisis or emergency situation.
The group currently offer food parcels to individuals and families
to cover periods of up to a week. Although
only recently established, the project has already been able to assist
a large number of people during times
of crisis. This has been achieved by partnering with a number of agencies
in the area who are able to identify
those in need. The agency provides the individual or family with a Basics
Bank voucher which enables them to
come to our centre and receive an emergency parcel. Also, nappies, toiletries,
a small store of childrens clothing
and toys are available. In the longer term the group would like to be
able to extend this to include other items
such as furniture.
The Christian based organisation operate on a totally voluntary basis
and depend on the support of the local
community. For more information contact Steve Dent on 01329 822204.
Also, volunteers are always welcomed
to assist with this rewarding work on a regular or ad-hoc basis and
all donations gratefully received.
Note to editors –
Friends of the Homeless in Fareham started in 1991
by providing a “soup run” in Fareham town centre. Three
years later, the group were able to move into the old United Reformed
Church where homeless people were able
get a hot meal and clothing twice a day. The group then moved into the
Kings Road assembly hall where this
continued. A number of temporary night shelters were ran successfully
over the Christmas period to provide 24 hour
access and a bed. In partnership with the 2Saints charity, this was
extended to a permanent access centre with
sixteen beds available to homeless people. This has now been fully transferred
to 2Saints who employ a number
of full time staff to operate the centre.
The group have recently changed the name of the charity to Friends
of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport to
reflect the geographic area that it now covers. The project was given
the name of Basics Bank to clarify that the
service is available to all, and not just homeless people. A separate
charity also operate a Basics Bank project
in the Southampton and Winchester area which is not linked with the
project in Fareham and Gosport.
For more information, please contact Steve Dent, chair person, by
phone on 01329 822204
or e-mail - froth@btclick.com
|
