Somer Community Housing Trust supports charities at Christmas

19th December 2008

Somer Community Housing Trust staff have supported a number of local and national charities this Christmas.

Generous staff are giving money to the NSPCC and Dorothy House Hospice in Bradford on Avon, instead of sending Christmas cards to each other.

Housing and support staff also raised £130 at a recent training day, for Dorothy House and the Samaritans.

Finally, the Trust joined with other members of Somer Housing Group (Redland Housing Association in Bristol and Shape Housing Association in Bath) to put together 112 shoe boxes for the Operation Christmas Child, organised by Samaritan’s Purse. As its contribution, the Group met the cost of sending the boxes – £280 – and provided toys and stationery to put in them.

Julie Evans, Director of Customer Services (Housing & Support), said:

‘Staff choose the charities they wish to support with our Christmas Card amnesty and at the Housing and Support training day. It’s brilliant that they donate so much money. They also enjoyed making the shoe boxes, which have been sent to Serbia, and all brought in sweets to include with the gifts.

‘We would like to wish all of our residents and everyone who works with us a very happy Christmas.’

The Trust’s offices at The Maltings on Lower Bristol Road will be closed over the Christmas period, along with Somer Community Housing Trust’s Local Service Centres. Offices will be shut from 5pm on Wednesday, 24th December and will reopen at 8.30am on Monday, 5th January 2009. The emergency repairs service will be maintained.

As is the case at any time of year, residents who experience a major emergency – such as a fire or flood – over Christmas, should contact Bath & North East Somerset Council to organise temporary accommodation on 01225 39 40 41.

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