Biffa Supports Homelessness

 

Biffa offers waste management solutions to businesses, organisations, and local authorities. They have been working with the the University of Edinburgh for over 12 years and have just recently secured the contract for a further 3 years.

The University of Edinburgh wants its suppliers to invest in communities within the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Regional Deal area (ESESCRD), so it asked Biffa to engage with the ESES Communities Team.

An issue that is important to Biffa is homelessness. A concerning number of homeless individuals are sheltering in waste bins, with some research indicating a rise in this practice and a potential for serious harm. Waste management companies have reported an increase in the number of people found in or near bins. This is why Biffa are so keen to raise awareness of this and keep people who are sleeping rough safe.

 

 

Fresh Start is an Edinburgh-based charity helping people who have been homeless get established in their new homes.

Working in partnership with volunteers and organisations from a broad section of the community, Fresh Start delivers a range of services that provide the practical and social support people need to resettle successfully.

Fresh Start helps thousands of new tenants settle into their homes each year. This can only be achieved by the hard work of its volunteers and the generosity of the donations it receives.

The ESES Communities Team presented the ‘Warehouse Starter Pack Volunteering Day’ to Biffa, and they were keen to get involved. The team also drew their attention to Fresh Start's 'Spring Clean Donation Drive'.

The Job

Six volunteers from Biffa spent the day working in the warehouse alongside staff members.

 

Jen McQuistan, Corporate Partnership Officer from Fresh Start, said:

“We received three large bags of toiletries that will go out to people who have been homeless to help get them started in their new homes and relieve the financial pressure they face when moving on from homelessness. The team also donated an afternoon of their time helping out in our warehouse, sorting through donations and making up Starter Packs. They got through an incredible amount of work and were a huge support to our team in the warehouse.

Together with the toiletry donations and the Starter Packs the team put together, we estimate they helped approximately 100 households (approximately 200 people) get set up in their new homes.

We are extremely grateful to the whole Biffa team for giving their time and energy to volunteer in our warehouse. They helped sort through a huge pile of linen, which was overwhelming our regular volunteers, and made up around 50 bedding packs that will go out to people who have been homeless to help get them started in their new homes.”