Bellway donation helps homelessness charity in Newport with kitchen refurbishment

Bellway is supporting a housing and homelessness charity based in Newport with a donation towards the refurbishment of the kitchen within its supported house for women.

The housebuilder, which is building new homes at Heron’s Mead, on the former Llanwern steelworks site on the edge of Newport, donated £300 to Amazing Grace Spaces.

The charity, which was set up by husband-and-wife team Stuart and Caroline Johnson, offers emergency shelter, low-cost modular housing and further supported housing, as well as various support services for homeless people.

Caroline said: “Amazing Grace Spaces aims to support the homeless and not marginalise them further by keeping them in a bubble.

“As well as providing accommodation, through supported housing, low-cost accommodation, and emergency shelter pods, we provide help and support to our residents through counselling and other community services.

“Bellway’s donation will go towards improving our supported housing, which houses five women, where we’re currently refurbishing the kitchen and adding more utilities.”

Amazing Grace Spaces’ supported housing service helped a domestic violence victim who was offered a space for 10 weeks. She now owns her own business and is dedicating her time to volunteer and spend time with current residents in supported housing.

The charity’s emergency shelter ‘pods’ provide life-saving temporary accommodation for homeless people. Measuring 8ft by 6ft, each pod is fitted with a bed, toilet, light and USB socket. Currently there are 33 pods distributed throughout the UK and earlier this year, The Salvation Army bought pods from Amazing Grace Spaces to tackle homelessness in Sheffield.

Amazing Grace Spaces also has five one-bedroom modular flats converted from shipping containers, which can provide a more suitable alternative to hostel or bed and breakfast accommodation for those in crisis.

Stuart said: “We’re grateful for all the support we receive as this helps us to continue operating. We’re grateful for Bellway’s donation and we’re keen to make our supported housing feel as homely as possible for our residents.”

Rhodri Davies, Sales Manager for Bellway Wales, said: “We are committed to supporting the wider community in Newport as our new neighbourhood at Heron’s Mead takes shape.

“Amazing Grace Spaces is such a worthwhile cause, which does so much to support homeless people. We hope our donation will be a significant help with the refurbishment of the kitchen in the charity’s supported house and enable those living there to feel as comfortable and welcome as possible.”

Bellway is building 152 homes at Heron’s Mead off Queen’s Way, comprising 137 properties for private sale and 15 affordable homes available for local people through shared ownership or low-cost rent.

For more information, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/wales/herons-mead or call the sales team on 01633 928687.