A NATIONAL business has donated £10,000 towards youth homelessness charity, St Basils’ community hardship fund.
The fund will support young people across the West Midlands in the run up to the festive season and beyond.
The donation, from Muse and Quartz Project Services forms part of a collective community fund of £25,000, which is also backed by the property industry charity, LandAid.
St Basil’s supports almost 4,000 young people per year across the West Midlands who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to have an impact, this number has been on the rise with many more requests for urgent help.
Young people can apply for support grants to help with the purchase of essential supplies, clothing, furnishings, travel, entertainment, or means of staying connected with others. The grant can also contribute towards energy bills.
Maggie Grogan, development director at Muse, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting St Basil’s with other partners to create the community hardship fund this winter. We recognise both the vital work the charity does within the West Midlands region, and the unprecedented difficulties facing young people today.
“Year-on-year, St Basil’s and other providers have a significant impact on so many young lives.”
Jean Templeton, CEO of St Basil’s, said: “We are hugely grateful to Muse for supporting this hardship fund.
“We have consulted with our young people about the challenges they face with increased costs and very low incomes, and they have told us very clearly the link between their inability to eat well, their inability to pay for heating and warm clothes and the impact that has on their physical and mental health.
” This support will not only help them materially but will show them how much so many of you care about their well-being.”
