Chelmsford-based developer Barratt and David Wilson Homes has donated £1,500 to a homeless charity in Watford.
New Hope, which provides accommodation and support to help people escape homelessness for good, received the donation as part of the Barratt Developments Plc Charitable Foundation, which is designed to support national and local charities and leave a legacy in the communities in which the housebuilder operates.
The funds donated are being used to fund New Hope’s Cultivate service which provides horticultural therapy and creative workshops to support people’s mental health as they recover from homelessness.
Joe Meehan, Fundraising and Communications Officer at New Hope, said: “We were thrilled to hear that Barratt and David Wilson Homes had chosen to support the work that we do.
“Amidst cost-of-living issues, charities are under more pressure than ever to make little income go a very long way and so we were really encouraged when we received word that a housebuilder so well known in the area wanted to make a donation.”
In the last year, New Hope – which has been operating for over 30 years – has supported 449 people who were homeless, rough sleeping or at immediate risk of losing their home.
The charity’s Cultivate service, which is what Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ donation was put towards, works with beneficiaries to help them process trauma, as well as building resilience and necessary skills for independent living.
The charity expects that this programme in particular will support at least 70 people over the next year.
Tom Wright, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties, said: “As a leading housebuilder, we see it as our duty to help support charities in any way we can.
“We’re really pleased to hear that our donation will support New Hope’s Cultivate service, which is a fantastic programme to support individuals who have previously or who are currently facing homelessness in Watford.”
