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Thinking outside the box to help homeless ; W HULL: KC icon gets a winter woolly makeover to launch appeal [Hull Daily Mail (England)](Hull Daily Mail (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) InShort An iconic cream telephone kiosk in Hull's Marlborough Avenue has been wrapped up for winter with a giant woolly hat to mark the launch of a new appeal to help homeless people. A KNITTING group has helped launch a winter appeal by a Hull charity aimed at helping homeless people. Members of the Stitch and Bitch group which meets every week at Vintage Cafe in Chanterlands Avenue, west Hull, produced a giant woolly hat to place on one of KC's iconic cream telephone kiosks to highlight support being given by the city-based telecoms group for the appeal by the Emmaus Hull. Last year, the homeless charity distributed more than 250 shoeboxes of hats, gloves, scarves and essential toiletries donated by members of the public to 16 organisations that help homeless people in the city. This year, it is hoping to collect even more. Emmaus Hull project director Helen McGill said: "Last year, the generosity of people and businesses meant we were able to give warm clothing and toiletries to hundreds of people who were in greatest need. "This year, we are focusing on collecting hats because covering your head is one of the best ways to keep warm. "However, we would also love donations of scarves, gloves and the usual toiletry items that most people consider essential but can seem a luxury to people using the homeless facilities our appeal will support." The donated items will be distributed through charities including the Hull Resettlement Project, Hull Homeless and Rootless Project and Doorstep of Hull. Vintage Cafe has been accepting donations for homeless charities from customers since it opened almost three years ago. It is currently distributing donations through Doorstep, which runs a number of properties across the city offering accommodation for homeless people. Cafe co-owner Lexi Young said: "In the past, our customers have been very generous in donating items for Doorstep of Hull and other organisations that help homeless people and we are delighted to be part of Emmaus Hull's appeal. "I am sure the talented members of our weekly knitting group will also be supporting the appeal by knitting smaller versions of the fantastic giant hat they have created for its launch." Across the UK, Emmaus communities offer homeless people housing, work, and a chance to rebuild their lives in a supportive environment. Emmaus Hull is working with Chevin Housing to build a new complex for up to 30 people on land to the west of Lockwood Street near the city centre for people who have been homeless. The development will also house community facilities including a coffee shop with internet access, a shop selling secondhand donated goods and a recycling point. Donations of individual items or shoeboxes of goods can be made at Emmaus Hull's charity shop in Newland Avenue, at KC's customer service centre in Carr Lane in the city centre or at the Vintage Cafe in Chanterlands Avenue. Empty shoeboxes for donations can also be collected from Emmaus Hull. Follow Angus on Twitter @Angus_Young61 Centres offer accommodation in return for residents' work on community projects BUILDING work on the new Emmaus centre for homeless people in Hull is expected to start early in the new year. The development will mirror similar projects by the charity across the UK and other parts of Europe. The projects all offer accommodation in return for a commitment from residents to work on initiatives organised by the charity. They will include selling secondhand goods and recycling unwanted furniture. Residents also have to sign up to a code of conduct while they are living there. An appeal to raise Pounds 3m to go towards the project's costs was launched in 2011 by Terry Waite, the former special envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury who was held hostage in Lebanon for four years. At the same time, he also officially opened the charity's shop in Newland Avenue. Since then, funding contributions for the development have been secured from Hull City Council, the Government and Chevin Housing. (c) 2013 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |