Barratt and David Wilson Homes has donated £1,500 to Gears of Goodwill, which helps to tackle homelessness head on and helps less fortunate individuals in Derbyshire to get their lives back.
Gears of Goodwill was set up by a group of likeminded individuals nine years ago, and is run part-time by volunteers. It operates a street kitchen on Liversage Street in Derby city centre every week, to provide hot drinks, hot meals, sleeping bags, clothing and, most importantly, a friendly face to talk to for hundreds of beneficiaries.
The charity also supports and raises the profile of homeless soldiers and servicepeople who have fallen on hard times, helping them get the short, medium and long-term professional support they truly deserve to get their lives back on track. The donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes was made via its Barratt Developments Plc Charitable Foundation, which is designed to support national and local charities, large and small, to leave a legacy in the communities in which the housebuilder operates.
Mark Smith, CEO and Founder at Gears of Goodwill, said: “At Gears of Goodwill, we value each and every donation no matter the size, but getting support from a large company means so much to us and we were touched to receive such a generous donation.
“We received £1,500 which is much needed and has helped us with our storage costs. We keep our regular supplies and donations of sleeping bags, clothes, and other items secured in storage.” A number of excellent success stories have been made possible as a result of the charity.
Mark added: “One of our recent successes was a homeless ex-soldier who, after being on the streets for many years with drink and drug addictions, has now come through the pain and is back living a normal fantastic life. He’s enjoying having his son back in his care, and more importantly working with us to rehabilitate other service-people friends.”
The charity’s volunteers sometimes visit local schools and churches in their spare time to educate children as well as others about the current issues homeless people face on the streets. Mark Cotes, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Midlands, said: "We are delighted to support Gears of Goodwill, which does an excellent job in helping to tackle local homelessness while contributing to the fight against food poverty.
“As a responsible developer, we believe it’s important to help those in need in our community, and we are proud to have supported a charity which is helping to make a positive impact on people's lives.” For more information on how to support the charity, visit the website at Gears of Goodwill.
