Leamington charity gets a helping hand leaving it 'better equipped' to support the homeless this winter

A Leamington-based charity has been given a helping hand which they say has left them better equipped to support the homeless this winter.

Helping Hands works with vulnerable and homeless people in the district by providing much-needed help through a soup kitchen, their cafe in Warwick, skills training and their ‘House2Home’ service, which provides household items that the tenants could not afford to buy themselves.

The charity recently took a delivery of a catering van, which was bought thanks to a grant from Warwickshire County Council.

It will provide the catering for the soup kitchen which Helping Hands runs four evenings a week (Monday to Thursday) and also be used to take food out and about around the district.

The soup kitchen, which has been operating from The Lighthouse, the charity's shop in Gloucester Street, will soon move to the new base in Althorpe Street.

Helping Hands moved their office operations into Althorpe Street in August, a switch which the charity says helped them logistically and financially.

Lianne Kirkman, chief executive of Helping Hands said: "Running the charity and the soup kitchen from the shop was becoming a real struggle.

"There just isn't enough space there, so it's brilliant to have a bigger base to use - and it is cheaper to rent too.

"The move has come at a good time for us because the soup kitchen is very busy at the moment and is likely to become busier next year as the effect of the pandemic on the economy kicks in and more people lose their jobs.

"It is also great to have the van up and running.

"We are very grateful to Warwickshire County Council for the grant.

"Like all charities, we have had a tough year financially, so the continuing amazing generosity and compassion of the people of Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth is more appreciated than ever."

The charity is also on the look out for a local business to sponsor the new soup van to help cover the cost of a re-spray so the charity can get the logo/branding on it as well as the logo from the sponsor.

Helping Hands is also holding their annual Christmas Shoebox appeal again this year and is appealing for people to get involved.

Those who would like to take part can fill a shoebox with toiletries and gifts and drop it off at the charity shop. The last donation date is December 10.

For more information about the shoebox appeal go to: https://www.helpinghandscharity.org.uk/Donate-Items/For contact information about sponsoring the soup van go to: https://www.helpinghandscharity.org.uk/