One step forward for homelessness foot-care — thanks to funding for charity van

Lockdown restrictions may have taken homelessness charity, Homeless Hope, off the streets — but the team’s new community van ensures they can still reach the people they care for.

Over the next few months, the van will be funded by Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Wales — who have today (25 March) donated £1,000 to the cause and pledged a number of voluntary hours to support Homeless Hope during 2021.

The donation will allow the charity — which operates across Cardiff, Newport and Swansea — to continue delivering its nurse-led foot-care service to people in need, despite being unable to meet people on the streets due to Welsh Government restrictions.

Though specialising in treating conditions such as trench foot, the charity has diversified its services during the pandemic — now providing and transporting everything from furniture and essential hygiene products, to food, puzzles and even Easter eggs. The team even helps homeless people to find new accommodation.

To date, the voluntary nurses have been using their own cars to transport donations and attend foot-health clinics at a cost to themselves. But thanks to Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ donation, the team will be able to fuel, insure and maintain the new Homeless Hope van.

Donna-Marie Thomas, founder and clinical leader of Homeless Hope, said: “Seventy per-cent of our volunteers are qualified nurses, just like myself, who work full or part-time in South Wales hospitals — alongside the voluntary work they do for Homeless Hope.

“Quite often, we will need at least five separate cars to transport the kit for our clinics to the streets, which results in us struggling to park legally for a long enough period of time. Sometimes we end up with several parking fines.

“This donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Wales will allow us to reach those most in need, far more efficiently than before — and we’re ready to do so as soon as Welsh Government gives us the go-ahead.

“We also plan to branch out further than just Cardiff, Newport and Swansea, to the likes of Bristol — a goal which seems even more achievable thanks to generous donations like this one.”

Donna founded Homeless Hope in 2018 after experiencing homelessness on the streets of London herself, from the age of just nine. As soon as she was able, Donna was determined to invest her future in helping others and get back out on the streets in a supportive capacity.

Steve Williams, Managing Director for Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Wales said: “This year has been particularly challenging for both NHS workers and the charity sector as a whole, so we’re pleased to play our part in helping facilitate Homeless Hope’s vital and inspiring work across South Wales.

“It’s all part of our Community Fund which invites local charities and community groups to apply for a £1,000 grant, awarded each month by the board of directors, in line with our commitment to creating a positive legacy here in South Wales.

“In addition to this monetary donation, Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Wales is pledging a number of voluntary hours to Homeless Hope as soon as it’s safe for us to do so — be it helping deliver donations to simply taking the time to have a conversation with someone on the streets.”

If you are a local charity or community group in South Wales that could benefit from a £1,000 Community Fund grant, please contact bdwswcommfund@barratthomes.co.uk explaining what the funding would be spent on and how it would benefit your community.

To find out more about Homeless Hope and how you can support their charitable work, visit: https://www.homelesshope1.org/, email homelesshope2@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.