Homeless shelter awarded vital funds

A hostel for the homeless based in Worcester has received a donation, thanks to our annual Christmas Kindness campaign that aims to support local communities.    

The donation to St Paul's Hostel is part of our yearly Christmas Kindness campaign, which will see us support 117 local specialist organisations, charities, food banks and events across our communities to the tune of £82,135.   

The hostel – which has been serving the community since March 1977 – works with some of the most vulnerable members of society all of whom are or have been homeless.  Many have very complex needs including substance misuse, offending behaviour and mental health issues.  The hostel helps residents manage emotional and psychological pressures, feel safe and secure and learn essential skills.   

Annamarie Brant, Fundraising Manager at St Paul’s Hostel said: “As a charity we rely on fundraising and donations to provide our vital services.  We are therefore extremely grateful to Platform for supporting our work.  We are in a homelessness crisis; the number of households facing homelessness exceeded 320,000 people between 2023 and 2024, the highest ever on record.  These figures make for sobering reading, with more than the population of Nottingham now being homeless in the UK.”   

Paul Edwards, our Community Engagement Officer said: “St Paul’s Hostel provides a safe, secure space for people to reconnect and recover.  As a housing provider, homelessness is a key issue for us and one that we remain committed to tackling.  We have worked closely with St Paul’s Hostel over the years, most recently teaming up with Worcester Community Trust to organise a Big Stew event in the hostel’s kitchen.  This sparked a wider conversation and we decided we wanted to support them further.  We are delighted to be able to help such a worthwhile cause.”   

Thirty five projects throughout the county of Worcestershire have benefitted from this year’s campaign, with total funds amounting to £20,201.75.   

Photo caption : l to r, Rosemary Farrar, Chief Financial Officer, Platform Housing Group; Erica Burlace, Chief Executive Officer, St Paul’s Hostel; Joanne Graysmark, Chef and Catering Manager, St Paul’s Hostel; Sam, a resident at St Paul’s Hostel and Lisa Fairlie, Director of Housing Operations, Platform Housing Group.