Following the successful collaboration during Christmas 2010, the UK’s largest privately owned SameDay Distribution company offers further support in 2011
In December, CitySprint, the UK's largest privately owned SameDay distribution company, donated two vans to Crisis, the charity which is dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change. These vans enabled them to make vital deliveries to the homeless over the Christmas period. Following the success of the project, CitySprint has extended the partnership and Crisis will be ustilising CitySprint's vans continuously throughout 2011.
Over the Christmas period, CitySprint's vans made over 300 journeys delivering emergency supplies and materials to Crisis' centres across London during the sub-zero temperatures. In January, it was agreed that Crisis would continue to use one of the CitySprint vans throughout the year and that the second van would be re-instated for the busy period in the Autumn, in preparation for Christmas 2011.
Throughout 2011, Crisis will use the CitySprint van to carry out an estimated twenty journeys a week to:
- Collect donations for Crisis' ongoing 'Home Pack' project, whereby essential home making items such as small white goods, bedding, small furnishings etc are sourced for homeless people moving into their first independent accommodation
- Deliver Home Packs to these clients
- Help with Crisis' fundraising and awareness raising events such as the 'Square Mile Run'
- Collect ongoing donations and supplies for other services and departments within Crisis
The work of Crisis is vital as homelessness is still a very real issue in the UK. According to Government figures released in June 2010, 1250 people were sleeping rough on any given night in England ; a particular problem in London where it represents almost half of this figure. According to CHAIN (Combined Homeless and Information Network), 61% of rough sleepers are new and 27% have been rough sleeping for two or more years; 61% are aged between 25 and 45 years and many have one or more support needs, including alcohol, drugs and mental health issues. However, regardless of their age, profile or story, there is no doubt that there is still a very real need for the support they receive via Crisis. Transport is a crucial element of ensuring this support reaches the people who need it most. Therefore the vans donated by CitySprint are a welcome and valued addition to the charity.
In addition to making the vital deliveries, the CitySprint vans – which are branded with the Crisis logo – are proving to be a striking and effective advertisement for the charity.
Mick Bateman, Head of Crisis at Christmas, said: "We are delighted that CitySprint want to continue their partnership with Crisis through 2011. CitySprint's generous support will enable us to provide practical help to homeless and vulnerably housed people all year and service our programme of fundraising and awareness raising events".
