Our next challenge for our TWENTYin20 initiative was Community based.

As you may have already read, we have been working alongside and supporting a local homelessness charity based in Woolwich called WSUP.

We decided that, as winter fast approaches and the temperatures drop, it would be a great idea to set up a clothes bank in the office where we welcomed donations of all kinds from our staff.

The collection was open throughout November and December and we received a fantastically large volume of donations including socks, jumpers, coats, blankets, hats, scarfs and gloves.

On Friday 14^th December we sorted, folded and boxed up all of the items ready for donation on Tuesday 18^th December where WSUP were incredibly grateful.

This comes as the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released an official report on homeless deaths. There are numerous statistics and articles to be read but just as a headline:

According to the most recent figures, there are around 4,800 people sleeping rough in England.

and

According to the Office of National Statistics, almost 600 homeless people died across England and Wales last year.

This is a national crisis, but we feel that giving time and donations can go a long way in helping those in need.

We will be running more initiatives, like the clothes bank, throughout the coming year and we look forward to building a relationship with WSUP.