Community asked to sign up forSocktober to help homeless people

The Society is relaunching its month-long Socktober appeal throughout October due to the success of last year’s campaign.

The campaign is part of the Society’s charity partnership with End Youth Homelessness (EYH) and to raise awareness of World Homeless Day on Wednesday October 10.

Donations of new pairs of socks, toiletries and interview clothes plus other items such as woolly hats, gloves, scarves, can be made at the Eastbourne branch, on Terminus Road. The branch is also raising money for EYH and is asking the public to support Socktober by making a donation to the campaign and posting a picture of themselves online with their favourite socks on October 10 with the hashtag #socktober.

An estimated 86,000 young people in the UK are homeless and, according to latest figures, 105 young people in Eastbourne received some homelessness support from their local authority in 2016/17.

Branch manager Susan Coleman said: “This year as well as donations of socks, we are asking for toiletries, interview clothes, woolly hats, gloves and scarves. Every single item will go to a homeless person.

“We’re really proud of our partnership with EYH Thanks to donations from people in Eastbourne and all over the UK we have been able to help 125 young people into their own rented homes.

“Money raised funds a Rent Deposit Scheme which provides young people access to a deposit guarantee home essentials grants and practical help for living independently. I would ask people to donate what they can to help us give homeless young people a chance to build a successful future.”

Through the course of the Society’s three-year partnership with EYH it aims to raise £750,000.

EYH is a UK wide movement, bringing together local charities to tackle youth homelessness on a national scale.

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/socktober18 or by simply texting SOCT70 followed by the amount you would like to donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 to 70070.