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As December is traditionally the season for giving, Novus were spreading a little Christmas cheer to the homeless and less fortunate throughout the festive season with their nationwide “Give a Gift” campaign.

Helping the homeless

It is estimated that at least 320,000 people are classified as homeless in the UK with the vast majority of that number currently residing in temporary accommodation.

Rough sleeping has also undergone a sharp incline over the past decade, with a staggering 150% increase in numbers over the last 10 years alone. Whilst the number of regular foodbank users has risen to over 1.1 million nationwide.

In no small way due to the cold, wet British weather, winter is understandably the most challenging time for those living without the basic comforts that a home provides. That’s why Novus, as a socially responsible organisation within local communities, sought to help those in need.

In a coordinated effort that saw Novus colleagues up and down the country getting into the charitable spirit, activities such as clothing donations, Christmas jumper days and even a day out at the cinema were on the agenda, as staff happily volunteered their time and money for the cause.

The Macari Centre – Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

One of the beneficiaries of this campaign was The Macari Centre of Stoke-on-Trent (home city of Novus Property Solutions) – a sanctuary that provides safe short-term emergency shelter for any person in need of support.

The Centre is operated by the Macari Foundation; a charitable organisation established by footballing legend Lou Macari to relieve the life inhibiting effects of poverty to those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

As well offering shelter, The Macari foundation strives towards proving all the information, support and, empowerment individuals need to permanently help themselves out of homelessness.

How did Novus help?

• Novus Supply Chain partner RK Styles donated 50 Fleeces and Hats to the Macari Homeless Centre.
• Colleagues from Novus HQ took 8 homeless people from the Macari Centre to the cinema
• Novus HQ also donated more than 30 Christmas shoeboxes to the Macari Centre

Changing Lives

Changing Lives has been helping the homeless and the most vulnerable members of society for nearly 50 years.

This charity works with people who are in crisis or who need support to overcome serious challenges that can limit their opportunities. Changing Lives help people to develop the skills and self-belief to ultimately achieve a better future.

Currently operating across the North East, Yorkshire, North West and the Midlands, Changing Lives has over 500 members of staff and nearly 300 volunteers that help over 17,000 people annually.

How did Novus Help?

• The Novus Gateshead team filled Christmas donation boxes to the brim for the charity

NHS Foundation Manchester University – Winter Homeless Appeal

Every year the Manchester University hospital raises funds to help purchase clothes for Homeless Aid UK to ensure that those that don’t have much over the winter period are clothed with warm items.

Homeless Aid UK is an organisation established and operated by a group of friends from across the UK. The charity is dedicated to ending homelessness through delivering services intended to transform the fortunes of those who need it most.

Homeless Aid UK predominately work with the homeless in the Bolton & Manchester area but do also operate across the UK and globally. This charity relies solely on the support and donations from the local community.

How did Novus Help?

• Our Novus Warrington office donated over £200 to the NHS Manchester University Hospital to help towards clothing items for the Winter Homeless Appeal.

Trussell Trust Foodbanks

Working in conjunction with The Trussell Trust, foodbanks up and down the country strive to restore dignity and revive the hope of the people it assists on a daily basis. This charity also operates with the mandate of helping build a stronger community spirit through donations of time, money, and food.

How did Novus Help?

• The Novus Basingstoke office put together a large food donation to support its local foodbank. Each member of the Basingstoke team came forward to give a small donation to help someone less fortunate in the local area.
• Colleagues from Novus HQ in Stoke also collected a large quantity of food and toiletries for the Trussell Trust.

Alongside helping the homeless this Christmas, our Give a Gift campaign involved helping several other causes in local communities up and down the country.

Care Home Christmas Parties

As a care home maintenance provider, we often rely on the patience and understanding of the care home residents themselves to enable our technicians to complete works quickly and efficiently. Novus prides itself on being a helpful, respectful

Novus colleagues from Birmingham, East Midlands, and Southampton threw Christmas parties for the residents living care homes in which they have refurbishment contracts over the festive period.

With festive buffest, Christmas music, crackers and festive gifts, this was the perfect way in which to thank the residents for their co-operation and understanding throughout the year.

In a similar vein, Novus in York decided to treat one deserving resident with a winter warmer hamper packed to the brim with cold weather essentials such as soups, hot drinks, and a few special treats to last throughout winter.

In addition, Novus in Manchester donated Christmas hampers to serve as raffle prizes to Six Town Housing. As Novus are currently undertaking the internal decoration works at the Falcon House retirement home, the proceeds of the raffle will be helping to buy furniture for the house.

Helping Children’s Charities

According to the latest figures, there are over 4 million children living in poverty in the UK alone and this number is expected to rise to over 5 million in the next 2-3 years. Christmas time can represent a particularly difficult period for children and families living in poverty and it is for this reason that Novus choose to donate to charities that address growing issue in society.

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children have been feeding, clothing, educating protecting young people throughout the world. From humble beginnings in the wake of the First World War, to reaching a record 21 million children in 2016, the charity is now one of the largest in the world.

How did Novus help?

• In what has become an annual tradition, Novus colleagues at every office have once again worn their Christmas jumpers in support of Save the Children.

The Children’s Foundation

The Children’s Foundation is a local charity created to help children that other charities don’t always reach; those who are the disadvantaged, disabled and distressed. Set up the 1990’s in Newcastle upon Tyne, this charity was established to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people affected by poverty/poor health/poor mental health.

How did Novus help?

• Our Gateshead team organised a Christmas jumper day that took place on 13th December, donating all proceeds to the Children’s Foundation.

Fresh Visions

Established in 2003 by frontline housing workers in London and based in Kent, Fresh Visions works with some of the most vulnerable young people in society, offering support for a whole range of different issues such as poverty, domestic abuse, and social exclusion.

Fresh Visions was setup to fill gaps in local support structures. Over the last 16 years the charity has helped transform the lives of hundreds of young people and continues to do so every year.

How did Novus help?

• Every Christmas the Novus Team at Leighton Buzzard choose a local charity to support. This year we decided to support Fresh Visions by offering toy donations for those young people that the charity supports. Numerous toy donations came from the staff at Leighton Buzzard Office, and our very generous sub- contractors. Novus would like to thank NXTGEN Scaffolding, Eric Group, PGB, Clear Style Windows & Doors, Coulman Roofing, Reed Scaffolding and Meadows Electrical for their amazing efforts in supporting this cause.

NHS Boston Hospital Children’s Ward

How did Novus help?

• Hospital maintenance is a key area of operation for Novus and as the East Midlands office were carrying out fire door upgrades on behalf of Boston Hospital, Novus colleagues donated selection boxes to the children on the pediatric ward.

More information

For more information about our charitable and socially responsible work that Novus are involved with, please contact us using our online web form. Alternatively, why not browse other articles contained within our blog?