Virgin Mobile brings Christmas cheer to Bath Foyer
19th December 2007
Young people at Bath Foyer celebrated Christmas in style this
year, thanks to the generosity of Virgin Mobile.
The Foyer held a Christmas party for its residents and
those at Pathways, another young people’s project run by charity
Bath Self Help Housing Association.
The celebration was made possible through Virgin Mobile’s
partnership with the Foyer Federation, the organisation which
represents and accredits Foyers across the UK, meaning that
thousands of young people were not left without any Christmas cheer
this year.
Virgin Mobile contributed £435, some of which was spent on
presents for the residents. They were given out by one of the
residents, who dressed up as an inflatable Santa suit to do the
honours. Residents also enjoyed a buffet lunch with non-alcoholic
punch, plus resident DJs and some Christmas rapping.
Foyers enable young people at risk to escape the ‘no home-no
job-no home’ cycle by delivering a holistic service that integrates
accommodation with training, job search, personal support and
motivation. Since launching in 1992, the UK Foyer network has
grown to over 130 local Foyers supporting more than 10,000 homeless
16 to 25 year-olds each year, giving them a chance to realise their
full potential. Each Foyer is independent, but together they
form a national network, connected through the Foyer Accreditation
Scheme, training that leads to national qualifications, and the
development of innovative national projects that are delivered by
local Foyers.
Virgin Mobile is supporting young people living
in Foyers through a national partnership with the Foyer Federation.
This includes two fundraising initiatives, the directory enquiries
number 118 918 and a text to donate campaign.
Sir Richard Branson launched Virgin Mobile’s new directory
enquiries service: 118 918 on 20 November 2007. This service
is available from all UK landlines and mobile operators. By using
118 918, callers will be donating 20p from their call to the Foyer
Federation and Kids Company. This is the maximum amount per call
ever contributed directly to any charity via a directory enquiry
service and Virgin Mobile will not be making any money from the
number. For those who want to give more, and who has a Virgin
Mobile phone, they can simply text the word ‘DONATE’ to 84744 – and
£1 will be taken from their credit and given direct to the same
charities. Then Virgin Mobile will immediately match each donation
by gifting a further £1. Virgin Mobile also pay for the text, so
all money goes straight to the charities.