A BLACK Country charity which works to help vulnerable and homeless people across the area has unveiled a new hub in Dudley town centre.

The Churchill Giving Hands Project opened in the Churchill Shopping Centre on Saturday June 15, where it will support the work of Brierley Hill based charity, The Giving Hands Mission.

The charity helps families and individuals in need of help by providing free clothing, shoes, household items and school uniforms for primary school children, as well as food parcels, fresh fruits, household items and sleeping bags. The charity also provides advice and counselling to those who need it.

Welcoming the launch of the hub, George Ehimen Peter, chief operating officer of the charity, said: "We are adding a new base in the Churchill Shopping Centre due to the significant increase in our service users and the strategic location in the middle of Dudley town centre.

"For the past five years, we’ve helped hundreds of people, including the homeless, rough sleepers, the unemployed, those with severe debt problems, people leaving hostels and rehab centres or fleeing domestic violence.

“We remain committed to attending to their needs and are pleased to have been able to offer our service users a range of practical support so that they can step into a more comfortable way of living.

“We are sincerely grateful to LCP and Hexagon Commercial Property for supporting this work, making the space available and for the launch of The Churchill Giving Hands Project.”

The scheme was agreed after Hexagon Commercial Property, one of LCP’s letting agents for The Churchill Shopping Centre, suggested the idea.

Harriet Moloney, senior asset manager of LCP, which owns and manages the centre, said: “We pride ourselves on creating community within the centres that we manage. Homelessness is a concern within the local area and as the Churchill Shopping Centre is the hub of the community, we are keen to work with local charities that are passionate about improving and helping the communities in which they operate.”

Harvey Pearson, director of Hexagon Commercial Property, said: "Having proposed the idea many months ago it is great to see the project now up and running,” he said.

“LCP deserves real credit for taking the idea on board and offering this rare opportunity to such a worthy charity. Our staff have been brilliant with all the donations, which will help the project to hit the ground running. We look forward to offering our continued support for what I am sure will be a welcome addition in Dudley.”

The charity will accept donations of good quality clothes, food items, toiletries, sleeping bags, shoes, school uniforms, and household items. These can be taken directly to the charity at Unit 6 Churchill Shopping Centre, Dudley, or at the offices of Hexagon Commercial Property, The Auction House, in St Johns Road, Stourbridge.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the Giving Hands Mission should email their CV to volunteer@givinghandsmission.org.uk.