Homeless charity is real winner of company raffle

Homeless charity is real winner of company raffle

A Bristol charity for people experiencing hunger and homelessness was the real winner of a fund-raising raffle for staff of a cremation company which has its national headquarters in the city.


InHope, the charity which runs The Wild Goose café and drop-in centre in Stapleton Road, Easton, has received a £1,000 donation from Westerleigh Group.

Westerleigh Group is one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 41 sites in England, Scotland and Wales, all set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.

More than £800 was raised by the raffle itself, which was open to all Westerleigh employees over the Christmas holiday period.

The company then rounded the sum raised up to £1,000 using proceeds from its metal recycling scheme.

The Wild Goose Café provides breakfast and lunch four days a week for those facing extreme insecurity, such as homelessness and hunger.

It offers shower facilities, clothing, a laundry service, toiletries, and hosts advisory sessions about housing, finance, employment, health, citizen’s rights, alcohol and drug issues and a weekly medical clinic.

The centre can also signpost visitors to other agencies and organisations which can help them.

Deborah Paterson, the office manager of Westerleigh Group’s headquarters, said: “As a group, we donate hundreds of thousands of pounds every year to charities, schools and other organisations which make a positive difference to the communities surrounding our crematoria all over the country.

“With our headquarters based in Bristol, we have had a long-standing tradition of donating to the Wild Goose Café every year, and supporting the charity that runs it, inHope, who provide such vital support those in need.”

Steve Baker, Development and Relationships Manager for inHope, said: “Westerleigh Group has given us an amazing £1,000 to support the work of the Wild Goose day centre.

“This will make a huge difference in providing practical help, food and support for people who are experiencing homelessness.

“We are hugely appreciative that Westerleigh Group was able to provide support for people which is much needed during the cold, wet, winter.”

Deborah added: “Several of our colleagues won some lovely prizes in the raffle, many of which were generously donated by local businesses and some of our partners, and we’re very grateful to them as they helped ensure that the charity was the biggest winner.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to De Vere Tortworth Court, ACF Events, Prestige Flowers, Hotel and Travel Solutions Ltd, The Wood Norton Hotel, Canfly Marketing, Lyreco, Woodland Grange, Laithwaites and Complete Solutions.”

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