Town’s Rotary clubs unite to help homeless

The Rotary Clubs of Lowestoft, South and East Point have pooled resources to help those in greatest need throughout Lowestoft and surrounding areas, with a donation to homelessness charity, Access Community Trust. A cheque for over £1200 was presented to Emma Ratzer MBE, CEO of Access, to help with continuing support for the town’s most vulnerable individuals.

Rotary have numerous fund raising initiatives throughout the year, these include the iconic Santa’s sleigh, variety concerts and a sporting dinner. Funds are then donated to charitable causes, both at home and internationally.

President John Denby of Lowestoft’s South Club commented:

“In the coming weeks many will find themselves struggling due to Coronavirus and whilst the Government has stepped in to help many financially, sadly the plight of the homeless remains in question.

We are providing this money to Access to ensure they can continue to support those at greatest risk, both physically and mentally in these unprecedented times with the care they need.”

Access Community Trust currently operates nine specialist housing projects throughout Suffolk and Norfolk, alongside providing an emergency eight person homeless hub in central Lowestoft, for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community.

Receiving the cheque, the Trust’s CEO thanked the clubs remarking,

“There has been no greater time that charities like Access need as much financial support as possible. We currently have over 200 individuals and families in our care. They are now finding themselves even more vulnerable and detached from society as the country locks down. It’s a big challenge for us, but we stand strong and committed to providing even greater support to these people thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Clubs and others that continue to provide donations to us”.