Community Windpower donate £1000 to support the homeless this Christmas

A homeless charity association in North Ayrshire will be able to continue with their great work this Christmas thanks to a £1,000 donation from Community Windpower (CWL).

Churches for Homeless Action in North Ayrshire, better known as CHANA, lost their main source of funding and donations due to the pandemic and the numerous lockdowns.

CHANA provide a range of services to the homeless such as providing starter packs full of kitchen and bedroom essentials to people that have recently been provided with accommodation.

The ecumenical group, whose aim is to consider their Christian response to poverty both at home and abroad, run appeals to source clothes and other supplies that are then distributed to people who have nothing but the clothes on their backs.

The charitable association currently runs two lunch clubs that the homeless can attend to receive a meal as well as meet and socialise with others.

As a result of the lack of funding due to the Covid-19 pandemic, CHANA’s funds have been depleted and are alarmingly low.

The £1,000 donation from CWL will provide a lifeline to the association allowing them to continue with their two amazing lunch clubs in Saltcoats and Dalry as well as purchasing items that are in short supply for the charity’s starter packs. These clubs provide a much-needed service to homeless people in North Ayrshire providing a warm meal alongside being able to access resources a kitchen or bedroom starter pack.

Catherine Maguire, a member of CHANA, said: “It has been a really tough period for the charity, having our fundraising opportunities taken away from us due to the various lockdowns while homelessness rates continue to increase in North Ayrshire.

“We have earmarked the generous £1,000 donation from Community Windpower for our two essential lunch clubs in Saltcoats and our new club in Dalry.

“The rest of the funding will go towards purchasing items that are in short supply for our starter packs that are handed out.

“This wonderful news will allow us to continue with providing food to the homeless over the Christmas period and beyond”.

Diane Wood, Community Benefits Director at Community Windpower, which operates the Dalry and Millour Hill Community Wind Farms in North Ayrshire, said: “We have all been living in worrying and unprecedented times and it is key as a business to support those in need in our local host communities.

“The work that the Churches for Homeless Action in North Ayrshire does is amazing, and we are delighted to be able to contribute towards their amazing work, which is making a huge difference to the people who need it the most in the community.

“At Community Windpower we have a strong connection with the local community and are pleased to once again be providing a helping hand to those less fortunate at Christmas”.

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