Band Hatton Button backs Coventry Cyrenians
Sarah Jordan with Mike Fowler from Coventry Cyrenians
A Coventry and Warwickshire charity supporting the homeless community has received major backing as it prepares to give an anonymously-donated house a major makeover.
Band Hatton Button solicitors, based on Butts Road, has pledged a year's worth of fundraising to Coventry Cyrenians after the law firm's staff voted for them to be their official charity partner.
Coventry Cyrenians has been providing shelter, accommodation and practical life support for the region's homeless community since 1973, and currently helps around 400 people a year across Coventry, Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon with 200 places of accommodation.
The charity relies on income from accommodation charges as well as donations to provide its services, which also include offering vulnerable people counselling, and with training and skills to increase job opportunities.
Mike Fowler, chief executive at Coventry Cyrenians, revealed that Band Hatton Button's support has come at the perfect time for the charity.
"We recently had a three-bed property donated to us by an unknown lady in her will, which was a marvellous gesture, but it needs thousands of pounds' worth of investment to make it safe to live in," revealed Mike.
"We're extremely grateful for Band Hatton Button's support, which we hope will go a long way to helping us to undertake the necessary work, before we can open it up to help make a difference to a vulnerable family's life.
"Another key project their funds will help towards is a service to help 13 to 18-year-olds who are victims of, or impacted by, alcohol abuse - which is one of many ways in which we are helping people to rebuild their lives.
"The number of people asking us for help is definitely on the rise. Around two thirds of the people who come to us have a mental health condition, so our service is just as much about putting a roof over their heads as it is helping them to rebuild their lives with counselling services and guiding them to other organisations that can also help."
Band Hatton Button raised over £12,000for their last charity partner, Shine A Light Support Service, in 2018, and are hoping to achieve a similar amount this time round with activities including a quiz night, sponsored walk and culminating in a Charity Ball next May.
Sarah Jordan, Head of Marketing and Client Relations at Band Hatton Button, added: "Homelessness is a big issue across the region and further afield, so we wanted to support a charity that is tackling this problem.
"What Coventry Cyrenians provide is life-changing for those who, for whatever reason, have found themselves without a home, and we will be assisting over the coming year in way of donations, as well as volunteering."