Last week, Church Housing Trust marked a history of 135 years of helping homeless people and launched a new Digital Inclusion Fund at an evening event.
Staff, supporters, patrons, and trustees attended to meet one another and hear about the past, present, and future of the Trust.
CEO of service provider Riverside Care & Support, John Glenton, announced the launch of the new Church Housing Trust campaign, the Digital Inclusion Fund.
Church Housing Trust is working with Riverside Care & Support to launch the fund, which is designed to support those who have experienced homelessness to gain IT skills and internet access. Increasingly it is not possible to participate in the wider world unless you have access to the internet, and know how to use it. You can’t access information, online training, and advice.
The evening was opened by Richard Jacobs, Marketing Director of Kinetic UK. Advertising firm Kinetic was Church Housing Trust’s corporate partner in 2016, raising more than £70,000 through their staff, and Mr Jacobs is now joining the Trust’s Board.
He next introduced Church Housing Trust’s head patron, Bishop of Manchester the Right Reverend David Walker, who talked about his lifelong involvement with the schemes that Church Housing Trust supports.
Attendees also heard from Mark Bolton, another member of Church Housing Trust’s board. He spoke about his lived experience of homelessness and alcoholism, including a short poem of his own.
Church Housing Trust Director Miriam Morris closed the evening’s speeches by thanking those who attended for their support of the charity over many years.
“A home is more than just a roof: it is about discovering a sense of self and purpose. The particular support we provide helps every individual to do that,” she explained.