Formerly homeless residents living at Nottinghamshire YMCA’s supported accommodation in Mansfield are set to benefit from vital funds awarded by Groundwork UK via the ‘Tesco Bags of Help COVID-19 Communities Fund’.
Designed to support at-risk communities during the coronavirus crisis, a £500 award has been granted to the regional charity, which provides safe temporary housing and tailored guidance to help homeless individuals in Mansfield work towards living independence.
Funds will be spent within six months on essential provisions such as food parcels, particularly dried foods that last longer, and white goods (microwaves and kettles) to ensure our community’s most vulnerable members are supported throughout the pandemic and no one gets left behind.
“We are truly grateful for the impact this funding will have upon our residents and, as they say at Tesco, ‘every little helps’!” said Sandra Young, Housing Development Manager at Nottinghamshire YMCA in Mansfield.
“Rebuilding your life after homelessness can be a complex and difficult road to navigate at the best of times, but the pandemic and particularly social distancing has placed enormous extra strain on our residents’ mental health, finances and general sense of wellbeing.
“When you are not always sure where your next meal is coming from, funding such as this helps to ensure our residents have enough hot food to feel valued during an extremely challenging time. Social distancing has been a particular challenge as our hostels feature shared kitchens, so being able to increase the number of kettles and microwaves will significantly reduce the amount of physical encounters residents will need to experience and keep them safer during this pandemic.
“The biggest thank you to Tesco Bags of Help and Groundwork UK for your incredible and perfectly timed support!”