Doncaster flooring retailer donates £5,000 to homelessness charity

Flooring Superstore, which has a store at the Wheatley Hall Trade Park in Doncaster, has donated over £5,000 worth of carpets to End Youth Homelessness, an organisation of 11 grassroots charities which provides targeted local support for young vulnerable people.

The charities house and support over 40,000 young people facing homelessness in the UK, and the carpets have gone to help two specific charities, The Amber Foundation operating in Devon, Wiltshire, and Surrey; and Macs based in Northern Ireland.

The carpets have been used to furnish supported housing schemes ran by the charities which provide young people with residential support before they hopefully move on to more independent living.

Stephen Ballantyne, Head of Fundraising & Communications for The Amber Foundation, said: “We are using the carpets in our schemes in Devon and Wiltshire which each provide accommodation for 30 people.

“They are being fitted in the young people’s bedrooms and in the rooms where we provide one-to-one support and mentoring to prepare them for independent living in the future.

“It’s a very generous donation from Flooring Superstore and one which are grateful for as it’s important for the young people to live in a well-furnished environment, to feel comfortable and safe. It also means we can divert the money we would have needed to buy the carpets to other important areas of our work.”

End Youth Homelessness say that enquiries have increased by 80% as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic with youth unemployment and mental health being two of the key factors in this increase.

Annie Calderwood, End Youth Homelessness Corporate Development Officer, said: “We would like to thank Flooring Superstore for the support they have provided to two of our member charities.

“It is through donations like this that enable us to provide our services to 40,000 young people at risk of becoming homeless, and this support has never been needed more than it is now.”

Flooring Superstore has over 40 stores throughout the UK and supports, through donations of flooring, local charities, schools, and other community organisations, via its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

Dan Foskett, Chief Executive Officer of Flooring Superstore, said: “We are passionate about supporting local communities and giving something back to society. End Youth Homelessness and its member charities are doing an incredible job of supporting young people through really difficult times. A roof over our heads is something we can all take for granted.”

“Helping two of the charities furnish their housing schemes has had a direct impact on at least 60 people’s lives. We are proud to have been a part of this project and hope it will contribute to the settling in process for many more young people; putting them on the road towards a more stable future.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.