Branches donate £2,500 to local causes

We have been dedicated to continuing to support communities around the Black Country and surrounding areas this Christmas.

Each of our five local branches have purchased £500 worth of gifts and donations for a local charity of their choice. The chosen charities were the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, The Brierley Hill Baby Bank, Santa’s Black Country Toy Appeal, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity and The Haven Refuge. 

 

The Haven Refuge

Based in Wolverhampton, The Haven Refuge aim to provide support and emergency accommodation to women and children who may be vulnerable to domestic violence, abuse and homelessness. They currently have accommodation for 78 women and 120 children, and look after a further 200 families in the community.

Having previously volunteered with the refuge, our Kingswinford branch were keen to reach out to see how they could support these families. We purchased £270 worth of vouchers and £200 of gift sets for the women. We brought wrapping paper with the remaining funds, so the children get to choose and wrap a gift for their mother, and the mothers the same for their children.

 

The Brierley Hill Baby Bank

The prevention and relief of poverty for families with young children is what the Brierley Hill Baby bank is all about, and they rely heavily on donations. Our Brierley Hill branch reached out to provide them with items they were desperately in need of this Christmas, and have donated baby bouncers, playmats, and microwave bottle sterilisers.

 

Santa’s Black Country Toy Appeal

Together, with the kindness of local communities, Santa’s Black Country Toy Appeal aim to ensure that no child wakes up on Christmas morning with nothing to unwrap. Our Gornal branch team chose £500 worth of toys and delivered them to one of their collection points, which will be donated to children in that area – as they believe it is important people can donate local to support local.

 

Local Hospitals

In support of our local hospitals, our Perton branch contacted The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity at New Cross Hospital to see how the £500 would benefit them. Their matron for the children’s department said that Nintendo Switch consoles had become very popular and a huge distraction when providing treatment. So, we purchased a new Nintendo Switch for them along with some games. The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust at Russell’s Hall asked for something similar, and have received an Xbox Series S and games for their children’s department.

 

Look out for our upcoming community support fund in the new year, where you can nominate local causes and charities to receive funding!