A homeless charity is celebrating moving closer to their £50,000 goal to help them stay afloat over the most difficult period for the vulnerable.
The Purfleet Trust in King's Lynn aims to provide those in need with food, showers and laundry services and help people live independently.
Last month they announced they had to plug a £50,000 funding gap to be able to keep up their work over the winter months.
Now thanks in part to the EDP and generous donations from service users, members of the public and local businesses, Purfleet is at least £30,000 closer to its target.
The trust benefitted from around £2,600 raised at this year's EDP Business Awards.
Paula Hall, chief executive of the Purfleet Trust, said: 'We owe a big thank you to the EDP.
'We have had lots of local donations and we feel the local community has really got behind us.
'It feels fantastic for us because it reinforces what we already know at Purfleet. It's the culture we have here so it so it doesn't surprise me that the clients have got behind us.
She added: 'It has been so overwhelming, we have had people coming in, giving us £5 or £10 and apologising for just giving that. It has made us feel very humble because the level of support has motivated us to continue to fight and move forward.'
But Mrs Hall urged people to keep donating to help reach their target by the end of January.
Kim Johnson, health and wellbeing coach at the trust, said: 'Everybody who works here has a different way but our one link is we just want people to be treated as people.
'Homelessness can happen to anyone. I was homeless when I was younger. I know what it is like to be a teenager on the streets and it's not very nice.
'When you are on the street the only thing you have left is your dignity, when you lose that it's like you have lost everything,' she said.
West Norfolk Council is working with The Purfleet Trust, the police and Vancouver Centre to raise awareness of homelessness and, as part of an anti-begging campaign, is asking for donations to be made to support homeless charities, instead of giving the money directly to people on the streets.
To donate to the trust go to www.purfleettrust.org.uk, call 01553 767829 or search The Purfleet Trust at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving
Are you raising money for an important charity? Email sophie.biddle@archant.co.uk
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