Thank you for supporting the 12 Days of Christmas Appeal

We want to say a huge thank you to local people and businesses for stepping forward to donate money to our Christmas appeal, with every penny helping former homeless people to move on with their lives.

We raised £1,500 after launching our 12 Days of Christmas Appeal last month to boost our Empowerment Fund.

The Empowerment Fund is a lifeline that pays for everyday objects that can make a huge difference to the lives of Derventio’s residents, whether they are household utensils or furnishings, a passport or a pair of shoes, or even items for a hobby or sport.

Albert Taggart has been able to set himself up in his own home after he was helped through the fund.

Albert, 65, has lived in shared accommodation with Derventio for more than three years after he was evicted from his flat and faced the prospect of sleeping rough. Although keen to move into his own home this year, he would have had to live without any furniture or household goods until Derventio was able to provide him with some items to get him on his way.

He said:

I don’t know what I would have done without Derventio, both when I was made homeless and when it came to moving into my own flat, because I didn’t have any belongings apart from a bag of clothes.

I was made homeless because I’d got into debt and couldn’t pay my bills and they were sending the bailiffs round. I was so worried about the idea of sleeping rough that I decided to go to the station and kill myself by stepping out in front of a train.

I rang my son on the way and he convinced me to visit my doctor. I did that and from there I went to the council and they referred me to Derventio.

I’m so grateful to them. I wouldn’t have survived sleeping rough and I’m really happy now that I’ve got my own place.

Jackie Carpenter, Assistant Director of Strategy, said:

We’re all too aware of how many charities and good causes are hoping to raise funds at this time of year so we’re really grateful to have raised this amount of money.

Albert is a perfect example of how easy it is for anybody to become homeless and how hard it is for them to get back on their feet. There are so many challenges for them to overcome, not least the challenge of being able to function in their own home without any of the household items we take for granted.

Our Empowerment Fund has helped countless people turn their lives around over the years and we will be able to provide more support well into 2021.

You can find out more about the 12 Days of Christmas Appeal here: https://derventio-12-days-of-christmas-appeal.mailchimpsites.com/