Barclays Bank has donated £100,000 to Homeless Connect[i] which will go towards supporting its home starter pack project. This initiative provides essential household items for people moving into a home after a period of homelessness, helping them to settle into their new tenancy.
The donation is part of the bank’s 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Fund[ii], that was established to offer 100 UK charities £100,000 each to support vital COVID-19 relief work in local communities.
The scheme has since expanded and has now given a donation to 250 charities.
Joanna McArdle, Barclays Director of Corporate Banking in Northern Ireland, commented: “Our 100×100 charity partners have been working tirelessly to support vulnerable communities across the UK through what has been a difficult time. These charities have championed a range of causes, including tackling homelessness, food poverty or loneliness, and we are immensely grateful for their work in the communities in which we live and work.
“Family homes and the people of Northern Ireland have undoubtedly been among the hardest hit by prolonged periods of lockdown during the pandemic. I am delighted that we could partner with such an esteemed charity that is both highlighting and addressing a real need in the community.
“The worsening cost-of-living crisis is now a serious threat to that growth and our partnership with Homeless Connect is made possible by strong, local support allowing them to flourish and grow.”
Kathy Henry, project manager with Homeless Connect said: “Moving house is always stressful, and expensive – even more so if you’ve recently experienced homelessness. We are here to help make the transition from homelessness to more settled accommodation easier.
“Our home starter packs are designed to help people to settle into their new homes, which in turn helps to prevent tenancy breakdown.
“This generous donation will significantly help towards our costs, enabling us to deliver hundreds more home starter packs to those and also funding research into furniture poverty.
“We are very grateful to Barclays for choosing Homeless Connect as one of the recipients of a 100×100 grant.”
