Sanctuary Trust receives £5,000 donation

Members of the Sanctaurty Trust team with Chris Leonard, Senior Manager for the DPS

The Sanctuary Trust, a homeless charity based in Rochdale, has received a donation of £5,000 from The Deposit Protection Service (DPS).

This is one of the first awards to be given out by the DPS, the UK’s largest supplier of tenancy deposit protection services, from its charitable donations fund.

Sanctuary Trust CEO, David Lackner-Smith, said: “The recent austerity cuts have depleted our funding and the donation from The DPS will allow us to continue our personal development programmes. These include activities addressing life and social skills, health and well-being and managing independence.

“We have also introduced character building activities designed to build confidence and self-esteem through physical exercise and team work –
without this donation, that work would have had to cease.”

The Sanctuary Trust is a registered charity working with homelessness and homeless related complex issues. The charity started in Rochdale in 1990 and has gone on to operate projects in Conway as well as Rochdale.

In Rochdale, the charity provides emergency accommodation for people at its two hostels. Halsall House is a 13 bed substance abstinence project for men and STEP is an emergency overnight shelter for up to ten people.

In addition, the charity has a storehouse on Drake Street. The charity shop facilitates volunteer placements for Rochdale service users and provides furniture packs for people moving in to independent housing.

Client A benefited from the charity’s work recently. They said: “My life would have had no meaning whatsoever if it wasn't for the caring people who run the Sanctuary Trust and their belief in me that I am a human being who needed acceptance and guidance through what I can only describe as a nightmare of epic proportions. If it wasn't for these people I don't think I would be here today.”

Kevin Firth, Director of The DPS said: “I’m delighted that The DPS can help The Sanctuary Trust continue the great work it is doing in Rochdale and Conway. Hopefully this donation can help many others get the accommodation and support they need to get their lives on track.”

http://rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/newsheadlines/86813/sanctuary-trust-–-helping-people-in-rochdale