Golf day a GR8 success for homeless services

Fundraising day will help provide assistance for region’s vulnerable sleepers.

Keen golfers have swung into action to help raise essential funds for Midland Heart’s homeless and outreach services in Birmingham. Organised by GR8 Security, over thirty golfers teed off the event by raising £900 which will go towards helping the housing associationprovide personal items for individuals entering supported accommodation.

Playing either three or four ball, golfers from Cushman and Wakefield, Westleigh Homes, Torsion, Interserve Security, BAM Construction, NFU Mutual and MWRE all battled it out to win one of the titles available.

Working with Midland Heart for over seven years, it is GR8’s second annual charity golf event where it matches each donation pound for pound.

Nick Southern, GR8’s managing director, commented: “Working with Midland Heart on a day-to-day basis you get to see first-hand the life-changing support it provides to those in greatest need. Knowing all the funds raised on the day will help change lives provided an added incentive, which was shown by the generosity of our guests on the day.”

Midland Heart is one of the largest suppliers of homeless services to Birmingham City Council, providing over 700 units of specialist supported housing to help vulnerable individuals live independently. Working closely with statutory, private and voluntary sector partners, it also ensures customers are able to gain the necessary skills they need to move to independent living.

Tom Harrison, director of supported living at Midland Heart, says: “Many individuals who find themselves homeless feel they have hit rock bottom and have nowhere to turn. The outreach team work throughout the night, seven days a week to help and support some of the region’s most vulnerable individuals by sourcing suitable accommodation. However, this is just the first step and we are hugely appreciative of partners such as GR8.

“The funds raised by GR8 and their fellow golfers will provide essential, basic necessities which we take for granted such as soap, flannels and toothbrushes. Charitable income also helps us provide added extras in our supported living services including computers to help customers explore training, employment and housing options. We are delighted GR8 chose Midland Heart to be its charity for this year’s event and the companies who donated.”

Throughout the day, golfers had the chance to win a range of prizes including: Nearest the pin after two strokes, longest drive, best team score, best golfer and the wooden spoon. The best team was won by Cushman and Wakefield.