Cambridge United's summer NCS cohort have supported Jimmy's Night Shelter with the delivery of survival, Christmas and food packs as part of their Social Action Project.
The group chose to support Jimmy's Night Shelter following the results from a survey conducted in the City Centre, in which people living in Cambridge perceived homelessness to be the most widespread issue.
The group wanted to change some of the common misconceptions that people have about those that are homeless. They wanted to support people that are homeless.
Following a meeting at Jimmy's during Phase 2 of the NCS programme, the group decided to create 25 survival packs and 25 Christmas packs for the 24 homeless people Jimmy's support at any one time.
Survival packs contained:
Toothbrush and Paste
Hairbrush/Comb
Hairbands
Bandages and Plasters
Mints
Socks
Lip Balm
Deodorant
Tissues
Nail Files
Shower Gel
Christmas Packs contained:
Christmas Card
Hats
Books
Shower Gel
Notepad and Pen
Welcome Kit donated by Anglia Ruskin University
Board Games
They also made five Food parcels for people that are homeless, potentially living in temporary accommodation and rely on donations to food banks to feed their children.
Food Parcels contained:
Cereal
Cereal Bars
Pasta
Baked Beans
Rice
Chicken Noodles
Chocolate Digestives
Tinned Sweetcorn, Apples, Pears
Squash
Garden Peas
Peeled New Potatoes
Chopped Tomatoes
Tomato Soup
Spaghetti Bolognese
Vegetable Soup
Tea Bags
Chocolate Bars
Ben Szreter, Cambridge United Community Trust CEO, said: "It was a very powerful experience to hear from the guests at Jimmy's and see the amazing work that their staff do for people in a vulnerable situation. The guests at Jimmy's show that we all need to forget any preconceptions that we have about the homeless and continually remember that first and foremost they are people like anyone else. Our NCS graduates chose an excellent cause to raise money for and I'd like to thank them and our NCS Co-Ordinator Darryl Coakley for their hard work on another excellent NCS programme at Cambridge United."
Daz Coakley, NCS Co-Ordinator, added: "This group should take massive credit for the project they have delivered supporting Jimmy's Night Shelter. The NCS programme is all about developing skills for life, and making a positive contribution within the local area - they will have certainly achieved both of these outcomes during their project."
If you are interested in signing up to the Autumn NCS programme, then please send an email to Daz.Coakley@cambridge-united.co.uk to find out more information.