As you may or may not know, I currently work as a support worker for Horton Housing Association at the Bradford Day Shelter.
As a service we aim to offer a lifeline to people who are homeless, in need of housing or living in poor accommodation.
The day shelter is an important point of contact for people facing housing and other problems.
On a daily basis we offer free practical support in the form of:
Mid-day meals
Breakfast
Laundry facilities,
Clothing
Baths and showers
Toiletries
We also offer one to one support around housing, benefits and any other related needs.
It is here where I need your support. As you are all very aware, the cruel and cold British wintertime is coming upon us, a time of year when our clients are particularly vulnerable to the elements, biting cold, wet and windy weather.
We have the good fortune to receive donations of practical goods from kind members of the public, such as clothing of all types, blankets, sleeping bags, and waterproofs, but these can never be enough, as the supplies always run short.
I aim to run the 10 kilometre Abbey Dash on November 17th 2013 to attempt to raise funds to purchase vital and needed items such as socks, undergarments, thermal underwear, trousers and if possible sleeping bags.
10KM I hear you say, a walk in the park I hear you cry. Please keep in mind, I am no athlete, but a 37 year old man with a love for junk food. So, if you want to support a man punching in a challenge probably well above his weight, I'm your guy. On a serious note however, these items can quite literally be life savers to people rough sleeping through winter.
If you feel that a cash donation is too much for you to be able to cope with at the moment, I would be equally happy if this information was enough to make you donate any spare clothes, you may have that you no longer use.
For further information on our services, please visit the website below:
http://www.hortonhousing.co.uk/services.asp
All my thanks in advanc