Camp-out and challenge volunteers raise nearly £3000 for local communities

Volunteers from Orwell Housing Association have raised near £3000 for a charity fund that will help local people who need a bit of extra help to make a positive difference in their lives.

Around 60 staff volunteers, including Orwell Housing Association’s Chief Executive, Wendy Evans-Hendrick, have completed a challenge which involved; travelling from the organisation’s Ipswich office on London Road to Butley Village Hall without the use of a motorised vehicle, competing in a scavenger hunt, taking part in a team quiz and then finally, spending the night in a handmade shelter, all to raise money for the organisation’s Make a Difference fund.

The cash raised will support Orwell’s many local customers who need a bit of extra help to make a positive difference in their lives. The fund can help pay for something as small as a set of new clothes or a haircut for a job interview, providing games equipment to help get young people active to improve their physical and mental health or more substantial help for families who are struggling to afford the basics.

Orwell Housing Association is absolutely committed to supporting its many customers and was delighted to raise so much with the help of local sponsorships from family, friends, colleagues, and stakeholders such as Willert Electrical, Carefirst (Ipswich), Wellington Construction LTD, SEH French, and Gipping Construction.

Wendy Evans-Hendrick, CEO, Orwell Housing Association, said,

“The amount raised from this year’s challenge has exceeded our expectations. Our Make a Difference Fund aims to raise £5000 each year to allow us to help our customers when they need us, and this will go a long way to help us reach this target. We are so lucky at Orwell to have an army of passionate and caring team members and external stakeholders who support us to go that extra mile for our customers.”

In the past, the Fund has donated clothing, mobility aids and sensory items to enhance the lives of some of Orwell’s customers. If any of Orwell’s customers are interested in finding out more about the Fund, they should do so via their Housing Officer.