Calon Cymru provides support to Helping our Homeless Wales

When our foster carer Scott got in touch to let us know that the charity he volunteers for was in need of donations, we were keen to find out more. Helping our Homeless Wales was launched in 2018, with the aim of improving the lives of those who are homeless or living in poverty across South Wales.

The outreach volunteers at Helping our Homeless Wales visit Cardiff two nights a week, providing hot meals and drinks to those living on the streets. Our very own Deputy Operations Manager, Rhiannon Bates, who is based at our Cardiff office, is supporting this vital cause by preparing and cooking 50 of those meals to be distributed across the capital. She said:

I am looking forward to helping our foster carer, Scott who alongside working and fostering three children finds time to volunteer for Helping our Homeless Wales.  Scott and his family give so much to fostering, that I feel it is only fair that I take time out to give something back to this amazing cause.  So, on January 8^th I will be busy preparing fifty hot meals to give Scott to take out on the streets of Cardiff.

As well as providing the homeless with hot meals and drinks, the charity works with several agencies including hairdressers, nurses, vets, solicitors, and other charities to provide the best possible support to those in need across the region.

Helping our Homeless Wales also seeks to build relationships with those in need to ensure their basic needs are met. They provide sleep pods, help with toiletries and clothing, and support people who are moving into accommodation. The support also extends to homeless pets, with the charity providing food and other essentials for those with 4 legs. Foster carer Scott said:

I am extremely grateful to Calon Cymru for their kind donation to help the charity. This donation will go straight to those who need it. We know that in winter it's harder for those on the streets, so we are also handing out hats, scarfs, gloves, and jumpers as well as up to 80 meals some nights (made up of 50 meals cooked by volunteers and sandwiches and hot wraps cooked by other volunteers). It's so rewarding to be able to use any donations to put the socks on cold feet and hats on wet heads. Like fostering it's great to give something back and the children we look after often help with making sandwiches or bagging up their sweets into small gift bags. Some of those who we help have also come through the fostering system and through addiction have sadly ended up on the streets. Our donation continues this work through childhood into adulthood where there has been some slippage. Thank you Calon Cymru for changing people's lives.

Calon Cymru Fostering is proud to provide a donation to Helping our Homeless Wales, with our contribution going towards purchasing several warm sleeping bags for those who will be spending winter on the streets. We are in awe of Scott volunteering for such a worthwhile cause and balancing it alongside his fostering commitments. If you would like to learn more about the charity, or would like to volunteer or provide sponsorship, you can visit the Helping our Homeless Wales website here.