A donation of bedding from Tesco Toton has helped a 19-year-old young person take an important step towards a more secure future after experiencing homelessness.
Broxtowe Youth Homelessness (BYH), a local charity supporting young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or facing difficult circumstances, contacted Tesco Toton for help after the young man moved from sleeping in a tent into a shared house.
Although he now has a room of his own, the accommodation came with little more than a bed. Thanks to Tesco Toton Community Champion Claire, he was provided with pillows, a duvet, duvet cover and fitted sheet, giving him some of the basic comforts needed to make his new room feel like home.
For someone who had recently been sleeping in a tent, the donation provided more than just practical items. It offered a sense of comfort, dignity and stability at an important milestone in his life.
Tesco Toton Community Champion has supported BYH for the past four years, alongside helping a wide range of organisations across the local area, including schools, hospitals, scout groups and other charities.
“We support various organisations in the local area with my community budget.” said Claire. “Sometimes this can be tricky as we only have limited funds to help with their requests, but we try to be fair and make sure everyone gets a little bit of support from the store.”
The support for BYH extends beyond individual donations. Tesco Toton also has a food donation point for the charity, allowing generous customers to donate items which are then used to help provide food parcels for young people in need.
BYH also provides emergency parcels and Home Starter Kits, helping young people with essential food, toiletries and household items as they move into accommodation. The charity also offers advice and support around housing, education, employment and emotional wellbeing, as well as free accredited training programmes.
A spokesperson for BYH said: “Thank you to Tesco Toton for their continued support and regular donations. What may seem like a simple donation can make a meaningful difference to someone who is trying to rebuild their life.”
The generosity of Tesco Toton customers, is helping BYH ensure that young people in the local community know there is somewhere they can turn when times become difficult.