April 22, 2016
Discovery Park is linking up with Porchlight, one of Kent’s leading homeless charities to support the incredible work staff and volunteers are doing to rebuild lives across Thanet and Dover.
A number of events are being planned, starting with a charity golf day at Princes Golf Club in Sandwich this July and culminating with a sleep out event this autumn in the grounds of Discovery Park.
In addition to official events, a number of people based on the Sandwich site will be doing their own bit for the cause, including Kevin Howes, Discovery Park’s Finance Director, in the final stages of preparation for his gruelling charity trek to Mt Kilimanjaro next month.
Porchlight is the leading charity in Kent working with vulnerable and homeless adults, young people and children. It supports around 5,000 people a year with 11 hostels throughout Kent.
It already enjoys support from many tenants on site, including leading tenants Pfizer and legal experts, Cripps, Both have worked with Porchlight’s jobs, education and training team in the past, offering opportunities and advice for people looking to get their lives back on track.
Eighteen -year old Steven Evans is one of the charity’s success stories. He was forced to sleep rough after his relationship with his family fell apart, but with the help of Porchlight, got the help he needed and secured a place to live.
He now works for C4C Mobile, a tenant at Discovery Park, heading up the charity mobile phone network’s digital operation – proof, if any were needed, of the difference Porchlight is making.
Kimberley Anderson, Corporate Relations Manager, Discovery Park, said: “Porchlight do an incredible job, not only in East Kent but across the county, with a team of unsung heroes who work tirelessly to help people who, for whatever reason, have lost their way.
“Discovery Park already has links with the charity through the support of our tenants and we hope to build on that over the coming months, helping this amazing charity to continue its work, changing lives for the better.” Joanne Spiteri, Porchlight’s Corporate Partnerships Manager, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have the support of Discovery Park and very confident that the partnership will raise much needed funds, as well as awareness of the vital services we provide.
“Our latest figures show that the number of people rough sleeping in the county has grown by 32% in the past year and our services are under huge pressure. The support of the local business community through charitable donations makes a big difference by helping us continue to offer life-changing support to some of the most marginalised and excluded people in society.”