Mayor’s donation helps Bath charity change the lives of vulnerable people
Loose change put into ‘Change’ collection boxes around Bath will give clients of a city charity the chance to publish a magazine about their lives and experiences.
Today, The Mayor of Bath, Councillor Shaun McGall, presented £500 to Developing Health and Independence, the Bath-based charity that helps vulnerable and socially excluded people.
The money was part of ‘Change’ a Charter Trustee Project, administered by the Mayor’s Office and raised from the cash that people have put in boxes at the Tourist Information Centre, the Podium car park, Marks & Spencer, HSBC Milsom Street and Bath Police Station. Boots has just agreed to have a collecting box installed in their SouthGate Store and the Mayor hopes other stores will soon follow suit.
When £2,500 has been collected it is divided between the five key charities involved with local street people. The Change Project gives people an alternative to handing money to beggars. £500 was also presented to Julian House, the Big Issue Foundation, the Genesis Trust and New Highway.
DHI will use the money to continue funding its Off The Wall magazine, which comes out every two months.
The 32-page magazine gives DHI’s clients a chance to work together as a team to write about their lives, review books and films, and even act as an ‘agony aunt’ for others’ problems.
The Mayor said, ‘I looking forward to reading the magazine and to building on the foundations laid by previous Mayors by supporting the work of DHI in any way I can.’
“We are very grateful for the generosity of people in Bath and the Charter Trustees for giving us this donation,” said Rosie Phillips, the Chief Executive of DHI.
“The magazine is important because it helps people who have been excluded from society for reasons such as homelessness, alcohol or drug misuse or lack of employable skills.
“Offering them a chance to work together and express themselves is a vital way of learning new skills, get experience of a working routine and the confidence to get back an independent life.
“The magazine is one way we help them, and it complements our other services such as supported housing, drug and alcohol treatment, money management advice, counselling and day care.”
For further information please contact:
Tony Trueman, DHI Fundraiser
07792 062 154
tonytrueman@dhibath.org.uk
