Wilkinson Grant& Co, we have, for many years supported initiatives to help raise awareness of homelessness in Exeter. YMCA Exeter help young people rebuild their lives through housing and accommodation, employment advice and support, youth services for teenagers and mentoring for ex-offenders to help them get their lives on track. This year we are supporting the charity by entering their annual city-centre sleep out and by extending our Christmas campaign to donate additional funds for the organisation’s exciting 2017 campaign – ‘Changing Rooms, Changing Lives’.

YMCA Exeter Sleep Easy

Each year the charity runs a sponsored city-centre sleep out to help raise awareness of youth homelessness in Exeter. The event sees around 300 participants take part and this year we are excited that even more of our colleagues at Wilkinson Grant & Co will be participating.

The annual event is taking place in the grounds of Exeter Castle on Saturday 4th March. It will be hosted by popular local singer, ‘Adam in the Hat’ and in the company of Bishop Sarah Mullally of Crediton. As the entertainment comes to an end and the participants settle down for the night, it offers an insight into what life is like for young people who don’t have a permanent roof over their heads.

To join in with the Sleep Easy event and help make a difference, or to donate, please ring 01392 410530 or visit www.sleepeasyexeter.org.uk.

Christmas campaign extended until March

In November we launched a campaign to support Exeter’s homeless community through the Christmas period, one of the hardest times of year. As well as collecting Christmas gifts to donate, we pledged to make additional donations to YMCA Exeter every time a property was sold or let during this period. We are pleased to extend this campaign in the run up to the Sleep Easy, by continuing to donate every time we sell or let a property before the 4th March, 2017.

Changing rooms, changing lives

We are excited to be involved in the charity’s Changing Rooms, Changing Lives campaign, which will see the currently unhomely communal living space at YMCA Exeter’s St David’s Hill accommodation centre, completely renovated. This space is currently used by over 50 young people each year and as the first place they walk into when they come to the centre, it should be somewhere warm and welcoming.

Alongside other companies such as Attention Media, Naomi Cleaver, Burrington Estates, Kirkham Board and Expedite we are doing our bit to help support this project. To ensure it is the success it deserves to be, the charity are looking for more businesses to get behind this transformational project – can you help?

Work begins at the St David’s Hill accommodation centre on 3 April but there are still funds to be raised. To pledge a cash donation, to donate a product or service, or to connect us with a contact of yours who may be able to help, please email bethan.spencer@ymcaexeter.org.uk or ring 01392 410530.