Harrogate's Victoria Shopping Centre launches appeal to support Homeless Project

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Several stores within the centre have become “drop off points” for items such as toiletry sets, warm winter coats, hoodies, and jogging bottoms.

“Drop off points” include HMV, Baytree Interiors, WHSmith, Next, Grape Tree, Café M, Poundland, Sports Direct, The Body Shop and Starbucks.

Harrogate Homeless Project’s No Second Night Out emergency accommodation had 171 referals last year alone with 1128 nights accessed during the 12 month period, showing that demand for services is still consistently high.

The work at Harrogate Homeless Project focuses on supporting homeless individuals off the streets and into settled and sustainable accommodation.

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Charlotte Fortune, Hostel Services Manager at Harrogate Homeless Project, said “Harrogate Homeless Project is very grateful to the public for their generous and ongoing support. The Project is reliant on donations from the public to support our services throughout the year. We are also very grateful to Victoria Shopping Centre who have been fantastic in supporting the Project to date and are continuing to do so going forward."

James White, Centre Manager at Victoria Shopping Centre, added: “We find it very important to support local charities, especially homelessness given the increase over the years. We worked in partnership with the charity throughout 2019, raising more than £2,500 across the year.

“We remain very grateful to our shoppers for their support and thank you in advance for any donations – some other ideas include; jumpers, hats and thermal wear.”

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And it has today been announced that Harrogate Street Aid donations have been increasingly steadily month-on-month at the tap-point at Marks and Spencer on Oxford Street, with more than £2000 donated.