Help make a difference this winter

Dudley residents are reminded they can gift an online donation to help those in need this winter.

People can donate through Change into Action, a regional initiative to support people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.

Dudley Council launched the initiative in the borough in 2021 as an online alternative to giving money to people begging on the streets.

People can donate via the Change into Action website with the confidence that every penny they give will go towards helping someone.

Since it launched more than £2,400 has been donated and used to help people rebuild their lives.  Essential items including beds, cookers and fridges have been purchased to help people move into homes of their own.

People can also report rough sleepers through the website (www.changeintoaction.org.uk/dudley)

Councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, cabinet member for housing and communities, said:

For every person who has donated so far, they can be proud in the knowledge that their donation, however big or small has made a positive difference to someone’s life.

We’re really pleased with the response we’ve had so far to the initiative and while we know these are challenging times, I would continue to encourage people to donate this way if they are able to.

Every penny donated through Change into Action goes to helping someone, the cost of running the initiative is covered by the council.

Money donated by Dudley borough residents via the website will be received by Dudley Council for Voluntary Service (DCVS). They work with the council and its delivery partner Churches Housing Association of Dudley and District (CHADD), a small charitable housing association based in Dudley, to distribute the donations.

They use the money to help people in financial hardship, those experiencing food poverty and fuel poverty to prevent the cycle of homelessness. 

They will also help young people, young parents and victims of domestic abuse with essential items such appliances and furniture to enable them to set up a new safe long-term home.

CHADD will also work with other local agencies to spend the donations where they are most needed, to help give rough sleepers proactive support and financial help to move away from sleeping rough and into longer term housing. 

The Change into Action website can also be used to report the location of anyone that the public thinks is sleeping rough so that they can be connected to local support services.

To make a donation or to find out more go to www.changeintoaction.org.uk/dudley

Rough sleepers can also be reported by calling Dudley’s rough sleepers’ helpline 0300 555 0030.