University staff spread some Christmas spirit to the homeless this winter
The University of Bradford is encouraging staff and students to help young homeless people this Christmas by donating a present that can be used by the charity Centrepoint.
Centrepoint is the UK’s leading charity working to tackle the issue of youth homelessness and in Bradford supports more than 320 homeless 16-25 year olds every single day – with between 8-10 new referrals a week.
They aim to end youth homelessness and work with every young person for up to two years ensuring that they have somewhere safe to live. Centrepoint also realises that providing accommodation is just the start to ending homelessness, so they also provide support to ensure that young people become physically and mentally healthy, have access to education and training opportunities and gain the essential life skills needed to live independently. Because of this over 80% of the homeless young people they support in Bradford go on to successful independent lives in the future.
Many of the young people the charity support won’t be receiving gifts this Christmas, they don’t have a support network of family or friends to buy for them and they can’t afford to buy presents for their own friends. Having something new to open on Christmas Day really does help put a smile on everyone’s faces.
With that in mind, the Faculty of Health Studies is collecting donations of gifts suitable for both male and females between 16-25 years, examples include toiletries, games, gift sets but no food or drink. Money can also be donated which the charity will use to purchase presents.
Presents should be left unwrapped as the support workers will wrap them and decide which present is best for each of the young people.
Amy Newton, Head of Administration at the Faculty of Health Studies, said “Centrepoint Bradford do a fantastic job of supporting young people who find themselves homeless and in need. We hope to collect as many gifts as possible and encourage all staff and students to get involved and help us make sure that everyone has something to open over Christmas.”
Faye Edmondson from Centrepoint said “We are so grateful to the University of Bradford and the Faculty of Health Studies in particular for supporting Centrepoint this Christmas through this present drive. We rely on the support from the local community to help ensure that we are able to give each of the young people we support a present this Christmas, without your generosity many of our young people simply wouldn’t have anything to open come Christmas Day.
“Thank you for helping to bring the Christmas spirit to Centrepoint and homeless young people in our City.”
Donations can be dropped off at the Faculty of Health Marketing and Recruitment team from now up until Christmas. Please email fohs-recruitment@bradford.ac.uk if you need further information.