Charity Stages Homeless Awareness Weekend

CHARITY Swindon Footprints is calling on people in the town to do their bit to help the homeless as part of a special event next weekend.

The Homeless Awareness Weekend on May 12 and 13 will see volunteers from the charity out and about in the town centre collecting money and offering the public a few special treats in the form of mystery guests and surprises. 

Swindon Footprints was founded by Toothill mum Rachel Tucker, who was inspired to set up the charity by her son’s battle with addiction and homelessness.

Rachel said: “Homelessness is on the increase in Swindon and it’s a big issue for everybody. For the people who are homeless themselves, there just aren’t enough properties around and there aren’t enough people on the ground to support them. There’s not a lot of support for the families of people who are homeless either.

“There are a lot of good charities out there doing very good works, such as Big Breakfast Plus, the Night Shelter, Christmas Care and Threshold however a lot of people don’t know about them. 

“We’re trying to raise awareness this coming weekend where people can actually do something. We want people to talk about homelessness. We want people to volunteer or maybe fundraise for a homeless charity - whether it’s local or national - basically anything that is out there helping homeless people. 

“Whatever people want to do, we want this to be a weekend where we highlight this issue, give people an opportunity to reach out and help one another and also give those charities a platform because people don’t necessarily know what they do.” 

Swindon Footprints and special guests will be in the town centre from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, May 12 and from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, May 13.

They are looking for volunteers to join them and help collect money. If you would like to get involved, email [email protected] with Homeless Awareness Weekend in the subject line.

They are also keen to hear what people are planning to do to mark the weekend and you can let them know by posting on their Facebook page –search for @SwindonFootPrints.

This is the first time Swindon Footprints has held a Homeless Awareness Weekend and it is hoped it will become an annual event involving other homelessness charities in the town. The charity is hoping to raise £1,000 over the course of the weekend.