Writtle University College (WUC) has donated its old uniform to a local homeless charity in Essex.
The uniform which is no longer needed by WUC as it features their old name and logo was given to ‘57 West’ – who provide a non-residential shelter in Southend-on-Sea – to support the homeless through the cold winter period.
Serine Hansen, who is the Vice President of Welfare for Writtle University College Students’ Union, said: “We wanted to give something back to the local community. We were obviously aware that WUC had redundant uniform due to our recent name change to Writtle University College and felt that there are people out there, particularly at this time of year, who would really benefit from this.”
Revd Andrew Merchant Chaplain added: “I have always been heartened by how caring the students and staff of our University College are. So I was not surprised when I took seven large bags of unwanted fleeces and t-shirts to a charity that looks after the homeless."
Project Manager at 57 West, Revd Dan Pratt, welcomed the donation by saying: "A big thank you to Writtle University College for the donation of clothes for the homeless in Southend. As the cold weather approaches the donated fleeces, jackets and shirts will be a God send for the most vulnerable who need to keep warm. The clothes have been quickly claimed by the many rough sleepers we work with at 57 West, the newly planted Baptist Church in central Southend."