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Students from the University of Kent have given up their time to help decorate a supported accommodation project run by homelessness charity Porchlight.
Pictured (from left): Sabrina Pearson, Amanda Veale, Rebecca Lodge, Christine Carr, Steph Hughes, Colum McGuire
Craddock House, a former army barracks, was opened in 1994 as a 21-bed hostel providing a home and individual support to people aged 18-65.
The students coordinated shifts to spend a full day painting communal areas.
Colum McGuire, Vice-President (Welfare) of Kent Union, helped out on the day: “Kent Union is always delighted to be able to lend our support to local projects and organisations like Porchlight. Our students always enjoy getting involved with the community and helping out. Many of the students we had volunteering on the day had a passion for tackling homelessness and enjoyed being able to get involved in Canterbury. They all commented how lovely it was to have a few hours away from their studies to do something a bit different that can make a big difference.”
Colum McGuire hard at work
RAG (the student fundraising group at the University) has raised around £2500 for Porchlight since September.
Rachel van Hoven, Community Fundraiser for the charity, said: “It’s great to see people who are willing to commit their own time to improving someone else’s living space. Students can sometimes be stereotyped as troublemakers. This shows the exact opposite. Staff and residents at the project are really grateful for what the students have done.”
Porchlight works across Kent and provides supported accommodation to over 100 vulnerable people in Canterbury alone as well as a service supporting the city’s rough sleepers in accessing housing. They run drop-ins on Mondays 10am-12noon at St. Peter’s Church and on Thursdays 10am-12noon at the Day Centre by Canterbury East train station.
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Date of release: 17th October 2011
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