My Choice Homes, a group of nine children’s homes and two schools based in Sussex and Surrey, are putting together backpacks of essential items to donate to homeless charities across Sussex this Christmas.
BHT Sussex is delighted to be one of their chosen charities, and we will pass on the packs to clients of our First Base Day Centre. The centre provides vital services, support and advice to people who are rough sleeping or vulnerably housed.
Terri Meade, Charity and Events Co-ordinator at My Choice Homes, said:
Our mission is to engage our children in charity work and giving to others. This provides the children a real sense of how they can help others, and we believe that there is no better way of giving back than to work with local charities.
Our children have engaged in various activities throughout the past year raising money for several different charities. We have done bake sales, sponsored walks, family fun days, raffles and been involved in competitions such as an Easter Egg Hunt, guess the weight of the cake and how many sweets in the jar.
This year we have chosen to support local homeless charities throughout Sussex. It is a sad reality that around 11% of children placed in care will end up homeless, so BHT Sussex is a charity dear to our hearts and one we want to help make a difference to. We are gathering back packs full of toiletries and food, as well as blankets and warm clothing to pass on to BHT Sussex and other homeless charities in December.
Guy Hayes, Operational Manager at First Base, said:
Items like warm socks and toiletries make such a difference to people who are rough sleeping, and we are in desperate need of these items currently.
Our services are in increasing demand – last year we supported 524 people at First Base and we’ve seen a big rise in the number of people coming to the centre in the last few months. We want to thank My Choice Homes and their young residents for their brilliant fundraising efforts and for choosing to support BHT Sussex.
