Worcestershire homeless charity to 'strengthen' support across part of the county through funding boost
Malvern Hills District Council is to give Maggs a total of £350,000 over three-and-a-half years to go towards the work it does to help people
A charity supporting people who are vulnerable and homeless across Worcestershire has said it has been awarded a "major new investment" from an authority to help with funding the services it provides.
Malvern Hills District Council is to give a total of £350,000 to Maggs over the next three-and-a-half years, starting from next month.
Maggs, which has been working across the county for more than 40 years. said the money will allow them to deliver a "strengthened service" in this area, and combine a "visible and welcoming support hub" in Malvern with "proactive outreach" across the wider district.
It added, at a time when homelessness is "high on the national agenda", the partnership aims to make sure people in Malvern Hills can "access support earlier and more easily, before problems escalate".
"This is a really positive step forward for Malvern Hills and for the people in our communities who are struggling the most," said Jon Perry, Maggs' chief executive.
"Too often, people only come into view once they are already in crisis, this investment gives us the opportunity to reach people earlier, provide practical and compassionate support, and help prevent a housing problem from becoming homelessness.
"It also means we can build something that fits the reality of Malvern Hills, a district where rurality, transport and access can all make it harder for people to get help when they need it most.”
The charity, which was set-up and named after a man who experienced homelessness in Worcester called John Cecil Maggs, who died in 1984, officially opening its doors in December 1985.
Its provided a range of support since, through the likes of its day centres it has in Worcester, Malvern and Redditch, and said the Malvern Hills service, which is due to launch from the 1 October, would be part of Maggs’ "wider countywide offer" across Worcestershire.