We've donated £2,500 to help the Welcome Organisation provide meals and gifts for those without homes this Christmas

We are supporting the Welcome Organisation charity in Belfast to help it provide dinners and gifts for people affected by homelessness this Christmas. 

A £2,500 donation which will be spent on Christmas dinners and gift parcels that will be presented more formally than usual. 

The donation follows on from the company’s £30,000 contribution to the charity which funded a new outreach vehicle earlier this year.

The Welcome Organisation provides a range of potentially life-saving services to around 1,400 people affected by homelessness across great Belfast every year. It adopts a non-judgemental approach to addressing homelessness issues based on the principles of harm reduction delivered through low-threshold services. 

It offers its services via a range of outlets including a Drop-in Centre, Street Outreach service, Crisis Accommodation for Women, Floating Support service and its Welcome Home project.

The new vehicle afforded by our donation will further strengthen its invaluable Street Outreach offering and allow workers at the charity to engage with those sleeping rough, of which there were some 4508 incidences this time last year in Belfast.

And now the further £2,500 handed over to the charity will allow the charity to cover dinner and gifts on December 25th. 

Kieran Hughes at the Welcome Organisation, said: “We anticipate spending around £1500 for the Christmas Day dinner at just over £10 per person. This will include table settings and a presentation plate, rather than the fast-food boxes we currently use.

“For the Christmas gift parcels we are doing something slightly different this year. Given Covid restrictions, the handling and wrapping of gifts won’t be practical so we are providing gift vouchers that can be used in stores.

“We are very grateful for the support we have received from Hagan Homes in recent months. It has not only enabled us to carry out our service and reach more and more people in need, but it has facilitated us with so much more, including the transportation to reach people at all hours of the day and offer a Christmas meal and gift.”

Founder and chairman at Hagan Homes, James Hagan, said: “The Welcome Organisation, through a truly selfless philanthropic approach, sensitively and admirably supports those who have found themselves sleeping rough. Its work is truly admirable and like many charities during this global pandemic, it is facing a challenge to continue delivering that role. 

“Home is at the heart of what Hagan Homes is all about but not just in the bricks and mortar sense. As a company we strive to make a social difference to communities and to the people of Northern Ireland and it was with great satisfaction that we could contribute to the work of the Welcome Organisation, which offers a lifeline to those in need.

“At this time of year, the service this charity provides is more poignant than ever. We are honoured to be able to support them on their incredible mission. It’s a true pleasure.”