BARRATT HOMES EMPOWERS CHARITY WITH GRAND DONATION IN MANCHESTER

Barratt Homes has made a donation of £1,500 to Manchester-based charity, Widow’s Empowerment Trust, as part of its Community Fund scheme.

Widows Empowerment Trust aims to promote the empowerment of widows, social inclusion and support through grief and isolation. Founded in 2017, the charity has a firm belief that both love and empathy connect a range of people from different ages, religions and cultures.

Barratt Homes’ donation was made as part of the Barratt Developments Plc Charitable Foundation, which is designed to support national and local charities, large and small, across the UK to leave a legacy in the communities in which the housebuilder operates.

The contribution will be dedicated to supporting 10 beneficiaries, and will offer each one a dinner out for the next six months. The charity will be offering the meal as a means to promote a sense of community for the beneficiaries who may no longer have access to the same kind of support.

Oyovwe Kigho, Founder of Widows Empowerment Trust, said: “We provide a safe space free of judgement for our beneficiaries to adjust to their new normal. We also empower them with the necessary tools to tackle loneliness and social isolation to reduce any negative emotions.

“We try to turn what would be a painful experience into a positive one as we provide a safe space amongst others who have experienced the same trauma of losing a life partner. Our beneficiaries feel empowered by having a meal together and ultimately, they are able to make lifelong friendships which will help them to tackle their loneliness.”

Widow’s Empowerment Trust facilitates a warm and caring support network offering a community where widows feel safe and understood.

The charity is a great benefit to the widowed community in Greater Manchester. As an 80% volunteer-led charity, it supports 179 beneficiaries through various engaging interventions such as workshops, events and befriending support.

Throughout the pandemic the charity had to adapt its services in order to ensure the maintenance of its support. Face-to-face workshops moved online twice a week helping their beneficiaries stay connected and, with the help of volunteers, the charity was able to deliver groceries to 74 beneficiaries, ensuring their most vulnerable members were looked after.

Rhys Nicholson, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said: “As a leading developer, donating to organisations and charities in the areas in which we build is vital, and Widow’s Empowerment Trust is certainly deserving of support.

“The work that the charity carries out is of extreme importance and we are more than happy to make a contribution to help those in need to receive the charity’s services and have access to the highest level of support.”

For more information about the charity, visit the website at Widows Empowerment Trust.

For more information about Barratt Homes, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk.