DISADVANTAGED young people in Rugby in the care of the YMCA will benefit from a generous donation.
The Coventry and Warwickshire branch of the charity, which provides accommodation and advice to 16 to 25-year-olds who would otherwise be homeless, has been given £3,000 from the Heart of England Co-operative Society after shoppers voted for it to receive a share of the money from the retailer’s carrier bag sales.
Residents at Lucas House in Craven Road will get a new sofa and TV in their communal area, and there will be free sanitary products for female residents as the YMCA works to tackle period poverty.
Female residents across the YMCA’s three sites in Coventry will also get free sanitary products, while the rest of the money will pay for lunches for youths attending daytime sessions over the summer.
The charity’s director of communications Jennie Evans said: “We are delighted with the money raised for the YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire and want to thank everyone for their support. We will be using the donations to provide practical support to our young residents and the young people who attend our youth sessions, to help them to build a better life.”
Community and membership adviser Jo Dyke added: “The YMCA provides an invaluable service to young people in Rugby and Coventry who, without such a support network, might otherwise find themselves on the street and without a place to live and without the support to get back on their feet.
“The work of the 21-strong team has clearly been recognised by our customers who have secured the charity funding, benefiting some of the most vulnerable young people.
“We are delighted to support the YMCA in its quest to give guidance and expertise to each and every one of its residents, giving them an opportunity to help them move forward and turn their lives around.”
