College makes a difference with donations as ‘more people than ever needing help’

Bags full of donations, including coats, jumpers, socks and toiletries collected by New City College students and staff were handed over to a charity that helps homeless people.

The Easter donation rally at Havering Sixth Form campus was organised by students on the college’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award enrichment programme.

Along with DofE manager Kyle Balcombe, a creative arts technician, they helped organise and sort the donations before loading crates and bags into the van of the Friends of Essex & London Homeless (FOELH) charity, run by Steve Stuart and his partner Cheryl.

Donations also included sought-after items like toothbrushes, baby wipes, deodorant, hoodies, rain jackets, water bottles and Easter Eggs.

Kyle said: “It was a pleasure to donate these bags of essentials to the charity again. Steve, who runs the charity, was overwhelmed by the college’s generosity and told us more people than ever are reaching out for their help, which makes this work absolutely vital.

“It is great that we can contribute in this small way to look out for one another. Special mention to students Emily, Oana and Noor who helped so much with sorting and organising the items. Everything donated will support those who are most in need, especially during the wet and cold weather we have recently experienced.”

For more information on the work of the charity, go to foelh.com

Pictured is Kyle Balcombe with Emily Spicer, one of the students on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, and Steve Stuart from the charity.