Real Change gift-wrapping service will help end homelessness in Guildford this Christmas
An organisation successfully tackling homelessness in Guildford is offering a present wrapping service in the town centre in the run up to Christmas.
The gift-wrapping service will be located in the White Lion Walk Shopping Centre, Guildford and will be available to all customers from the week commencing 20th December through to Christmas Eve.
The Christmas present wrapping shop is being provided by Real Change Guildford a grassroots community initiative which successfully ended homelessness for 20 people in its first year of operation. The initiative takes people away from the streets to having their own front door.
Real Change Guildford provides small amounts of money and practical items for individuals to help them build new lives away from the streets. The fund supports those affected by homelessness, by paying for such things as identification, a deposit to help secure a home for rent, a training course, or clothes for a job interview.
Real Change Guildford is funded by donations from local businesses, local people and organisations like Guildford Borough Council. Fundraising for Real Change was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the service continued operating throughout the pandemic.
Customers will not require an appointment for the service. Donations are welcomed, which will go toward the work of Real Change Guildford.
Ketan Patel, Interim Head of Operations at Riverside Social Housing, said:
“Real Change Guildford has offered a helping hand to many homeless people in Guildford and our support prevented or ended homelessness for 20 people in its first year.”
“Those who have benefited from our service want to give something back this Christmas through helping local people with their present wrapping.
“We encourage anyone who would like help with their wrapping to visit our free service next week. There will be an opportunity to donate towards the work of Real Change Guildford, which will support our work with those affected by homelessness within our community.”
The gift-wrapping service will be available from Monday the 20th December to Thursday 23rd of December from 10am to 4pm, and then on Friday the 24th (Christmas Eve) from 10am to 1pm.
Sis & Bros Coffee Shop will be offering customers who use the charity gift wrap service 15% off all purchases in the cafe while they wait for their gifts to be wrapped.
Partido will provide Real Change with festive decor and wrap, and 10% off for customers who use the wrap service. Biddles of Guildford will donate sellotape, scissors and everything needed stationary wise.
Find out more about Real Change here.