Staffordshire care leavers’ festive joy thanks to local store appeal
Care leavers in Staffordshire will receive additional festive joy this Christmas thanks to a store’s community project which is linked to a county council programme.
Hundreds of gifts were donated to the Care Leavers Hub, run by the household waste recycling team, by homeware store Dunelm through its Delivering Joy appeal.
The company operates its festive appeal nationally, with its Stafford store choosing the Care Leavers Hub as one of its recipients.
Staffordshire Council launched the hub earlier this year, supplying care leavers with good quality used furniture to set up home.
The hub allows young people leaving care to choose from a wide range of essential household items, including sofas, beds, kitchenware, and lamps, all provided free of charge.
The furniture and other items have all been donated by residents to the county’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and young people can choose the items they need and have them delivered.
The project not only helps the young people save money but also provides emotional reassurance in what is a major change in their lives.
In November, it scooped top prize in the Local Authority Success category in the National Recycling Awards.
Nick Lakin, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for children and young people said: "The Care Leavers Hub is a fantastic initiative which gives young people some additional support as they begin life in a new home.
"We’re pleased Dunelm selected it as one of its gift recipients.
"Our care leavers team has said it has been overwhelmed with the number of gifts. This will certainly help our care leavers to have a happier Christmas.”
Andrew Mynors, cabinet member for connectivity which includes waste management, said: "While it only launched earlier this year, the Care Leavers Hub is clearly already recognised and valued in the community.
"It was also a fantastic achievement to win a leading sector national awards event last month, which was fully deserved for a project which is making such a difference in the lives of young people in Staffordshire.
"By reusing good quality furniture donated by our residents, we’re not only reducing waste but also making it a little easier for young people in setting up in a new home.
"We’d again like to thank Dunelm for linking with us.”
The care leavers also receive cleaning hampers and basic essentials such as tool kits to help them move into homes provided by a local charity.
