Homeless Charity Holds Carol Event Following Flood Damage

A charity supporting homeless individuals is striving to recover after experiencing “devastating” flooding during Storm Bert. Doorway’s facility in Chippenham town centre is projected to undergo several months of repair work due to water damage sustained by the building. Jo Kitching, CEO of Doorway, expressed their goal to generate as much funding as possible to ensure they “don’t fall over” as a consequence of the floods. She detailed the damage, stating: “The floors are up, the plaster’s coming off the walls, all of our equipment is gone. The whole kitchen is being ripped out because it’s being contaminated by flood water, so there’s a lot to do.” While many of the charity’s services are continuing at Chippenham’s Rotary Hall and a community hub, the full scope of the damage at its main base has not yet been determined. Doorway serves as the primary support provider for rough sleepers, homeless individuals, and those at risk of homelessness in this specific region of Wiltshire. On Tuesday, carol singers, comprising both former beneficiaries and volunteers, gathered to raise money for the charity. Julian, a guest of Doorway, shared that he was unsure where he would be without the charity’s assistance. He recalled, “When I first came to doorway I was sleeping rough in hedges and barns and things like that.” Regarding the flooding, he added, “It [the flooding] was devastating – it was hard to understand the extent of it.” Susan, another individual who has received support from Doorway, commented: “I was rundown, I was on the street, and now I’ve got a place of my own and I’m very happy.” She further remarked, “I’m giving something back of myself to doorway, because they deserve it.” For updates, follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.