Students Fundraise for Local Homeless Charity

Supported Learning students have raised £130.01 for local charity, Warming Up The Homeless, following a hugely successful charity fundraising book sale!

In December, Supported Learning students in Hastings developed their employability skills with a term-long project that culminated in a charity fundraising book sale. Following a large donation of second-hand books from local bookshop Book Buster Books in Hastings, the students worked hard to sort and grade the books by quality and subject. They then set up a bookstall which ran for a week in the atrium at Station Plaza campus.

The fantastic response to the sale from students, staff and visitors to college allowed the students to raise £130.01 for local charity, Warming Up the Homeless. In January, the students, and Supported Learning tutor Alison Wolstenholme, were pleased to welcome George Rodrigues - Hastings Homeless Support Centre Manager to college.

George explained the history and extensive work of the charity to the students which includes support hubs, foodbanks, outreach, charity shops, house clearance and currently engages 380 volunteers and cooks for 1,000 people a week across the southeast region.

The students presented George with the £130.01 which was donated and also some books for the library at the Hastings Homeless Support Centre. One student said that hearing George talk had inspired her to want to work in the homeless charity sector when she is older.

Lesley Watson, Head of Curriculum for Inclusive Learning in Hastings said “It's impressive how projects such as this support students to engage in their local community, develop employability skills and raise their aspirations.”