BROMSGROVE’S NewStarts has received funding totalling £59,500 from Nationwide’s Community Grants programme to help it carry on the good work it does.
The cash will enable the charity to continue providing free furniture, emergency food support, free school uniforms and money and debt advice to the people of Bromsgrove.
In the past year NewStarts has provided over 430 households with free furniture and other items, over 3,115 households amounting to 7,551 people with 158,000 meals.
More than 200 children have also benefited from free pre-loved school uniform.
Over 500 families and individuals received a Christmas hamper in 2023 and 400 children received toys through NewStarts’ partnership with the Bromsgrove Rugby Club and its new toy appeal.
Money advisers have helped 19 people this year and are currently dealing with almost £200,000 of debt.
The computer team has been repairing and servicing computers and laptops, ensuring their lives can be extended and community builders help identify what is working well with regard to the help being given out.
NewStarts chief executive, Marion Kenyon, said: “We are passionate about what we do and how we do it.
“Our desire is to see poverty and homelessness as things of the past and the reuse of items, furniture and school uniforms as the normal and socially acceptable way of replacing items.
“This grant from Nationwide will help us continue our work and see lives changed as a consequence.”
The building society has run its Community Grants programme since 2017, offering grants of up to £60,000 to local charities and projects, particularly those focused on housing.
Nationwide Building Society’s investment manager Kirsty Hall said helping local communities and charities was at the heart of what it meant to be a building society.
“We are pleased our Community Grants programme is going to make a difference through this £59,500 grant to NewStarts, helping them make a difference to the lives of those who rely on their services.”
