Supporting local charities and community causes

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The Amber Foundation

We have made a £5,000 donation to The Amber Foundation, a charity that helps vulnerable and homeless young people by offering temporary housing and equipping them with a variety of skills that can help them secure a brighter future.

Set up in 1995, the charity operates through its three residential centres located in Devon, Wiltshire and Dorking, offering 30 spaces each. Its clients are between 16 and 30 years old, and typically stay at one of the residential centres for six months. At this time of crisis, Amber Foundation continues to provide a key service supporting some of the most disadvantaged vulnerable young people, ensuring they have somewhere safe to live.  Upon joining, the young people receive medical support, counselling and help with getting their lives back on track, including finding voluntary work or work experience, setting up a bank account, putting together a strong CV, workshops on managing a budget or understanding tenancy agreements, as well as other practical skills that help to set them up for independent living.

Half of the charity’s funding comes from the housing benefit received by its residents, while the other half is secured through private donations. The charity has to raise £14,000 to provide a bed space for one person for a year, so donations are critical in ensuring The Amber Foundation can continue providing a full scope of services to those in need.

In the light of the global COVID-19 outbreak, The Amber Foundation has allocated funds towards infection control training for its front-line staff, all of whom are classified as key workers, as well as investing in personal protective equipment, cleaning materials, and additional sets of linen for its residents.

Tamra Booth, Trustee at Shanly Foundation, said: “Over the years, we have developed close ties with the local community and a number of charitable organisations. The Amber Foundation is one of those organisations, and its impact on our community is immeasurable. We hope our support will help it continue to empower local people facing hardship, providing them with a strong support network and the right tools to overcome difficult circumstances."

Kelsey Offord, Fundraising Manager at The Amber Foundation, said: “Our organisation does much more than just provide a roof over people’s heads – our aim is to put lives back on track, so this donation from the Shanly Foundation will go a long way, helping vulnerable young people overcome difficult circumstances and start afresh.”

amberweb.org/