Derbyshire homelessness organisation Derventio Housing Trust‘s festive appeal and is calling on local people to turn Santa for hundreds of the county’s residents who may face a lonely Christmas, by buying them a special festive gift box of treats.
The award-winning housing trust which helps a thousand people a year in the UK who might otherwise be homeless, has once again teamed up with Derby corporate gifting company Colleague Box for its Christmas appeal.
The housing trust says with the help of generous donations it will be able to ensure none of its residents are missed off Santa’s list this Christmas.
Derventio is currently providing accommodation for more than 200 people in Derby and more in wider Derbyshire, many of whom are suffering from mental health problems and find Christmas a tough time of year.
Colleague Box has put together a box full of festive treats to help provide some Christmas cheer to Derventio Housing Trust residents who often end up spending the day alone.
The appeal is calling on local people to pay for the festive treat boxes which are priced at £15 and contain a selection of Christmassy snacks.
This is the second year that Derventio has teamed up with Colleague Box, who have again generously given a discount to make every penny stretch further.
Managing director Sarah Hernandez said: “The festive season is meant to be the happiest time of the year but for many, it can be anything but.
“Some Derventio Housing Trust residents for whom we are providing accommodation have sadly become estranged from parents, spouses or children so cannot enjoy a traditional Christmas family day. Instead, they may well face December 25 alone.
“We can’t fix those family problems overnight but through our Christmas appeal we can at least ensure every one of our residents across the UK gets a present this year. The treats they contain are not much to many people but to residents living in one of our properties they mean so much more. We don’t want any resident to feel forgotten at Christmas and it would be great if people could get behind this year’s appeal. For £15, you could put a big smile on someone’s face this December. It’s amazing what a small box of festive snacks can do for someone who has few treats in their life.
“Thank you so much to Colleague Box for once again joining us in creating this festive appeal. It’s their busiest time of the year and we really appreciate their support.”
Natalie Bamford, co-founder of the multi award-winning Colleague Box, said: “We’re so excited to be teaming up with Derventio Housing Trust again for their festive appeal. We’ve created a box of festive treats that we know will bring a smile to residents’ faces. It would be amazing to see everyone get behind the festive spirit and help brighten up Christmas for people in Derby and Derbyshire who really need it.”
Derventio Housing Trust operates in five areas in the UK: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire.
Many Derventio residents are struggling with their mental health and some have no family at all. After the housing trust launched its festive appeal in 2023, residents have told how Christmas is a very lonely time for them and that a simple box of festive treats has meant the world.
To donate, see www.colleaguebox.co.uk/derventiofestivetreat
This story was written and shared on behalf of Derventio Housing Trust by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
