Platform gives a helping hand in Solihull

We've extended a £1,250 helping hand to support a local charity, Renewal Christian Centre, who run projects to assist families struggling to put food on the table in Solihull and the surrounding areas.

The generous donation from our Christmas Kindness Campaign is set to make a significant impact on the lives of those in need and is part of our broader initiative to allocate £60,000 to support local charities, events, and food banks in our communities.

Marion Duffy, Chief Operations Officer at Platform Housing Group, said, “When the cost of living continues to be a daily challenge, it’s great that our Christmas Kindness Campaign can help spread a little festive cheer by supporting people who need extra help this Christmas and throughout the year.

“Running in the heart of our communities, the organizations we support, like Renewal, offer a vital lifeline to people who are experiencing daily and ongoing challenges.”

Renewal will use the funds to provide much-needed food hampers for people living in temporary accommodation and also purchase toys for families facing financial hardship, so that their children can experience the joy of Christmas. The donation will also enable them to host a pantomime for local families to come together and enjoy the magic of theatre.

Naomi Hodges, Community Development Lead at Renewal, said, “In the last two months, Helping Hands has fulfilled more than 310 referrals, supporting over 650 individuals with emergency food support. We have worked in partnership with the Solihull Food Bank Network to ensure those facing food poverty in the lead up to Christmas are fed and supported.

“We would like to thank Platform for all their ongoing support with Helping Hands and for their generosity towards our toy project, which has helped us to ensure that every child we are supporting has brand-new toys to open on Christmas morning."