As the largest housing association in Runcorn and Widnes, the Trust is keen to play an active part in the communities it serves by lending its support and creating opportunities for groups and organisations that contribute to the fabric of local life.

This year, Trust staff have voted to continue their support of Halton Haven Hospice, one of last year’s nominated charities, and extend a helping hand to The Young Carers Service.

The Young Carers Service is run by HITS (Hope Inclusion Time Success), a Halton based charity that provides help and support to children and young people, including Young Carers. 

Young Carers are children and young people, between the ages of five and 18 years who care for a sick or disabled family member. The care may be necessary due to a mental or physical health difficulty or substance misuse. The service is a comprehensive one providing a full assessment with support for young people through group and individual work, and sign posting to other services. The support sessions for the young people are aimed at providing fun, age appropriate activities and links into wider community events.

The other charity to receive the Trust’s support is Halton Haven Hospice, which is being supported for the second year running. The Hospice currently works around the clock caring for people with life-threatening illnesses and the sophisticated care that patients receive is entirely free of charge.

However, it costs more than £1.7 million a year to provide these vital services and Halton Haven Hospice relies heavily on the local community to raise a staggering 65% of the costs.

The Trust has pledged to make regular donations and develop close working links with both charities.

Nick Atkin, the Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “As the largest provider of social housing in the borough we take the role we contribute to the local community very seriously.

“We are keen to support the work of local charities whose aims and objectives meet some of the Trust’s own priorities. Not only will we be able to donate financially, we also hope members of our staff will wish to carry out voluntary work with both organisations under the Trust’s Volunteer Scheme.”

Last year, the Trust donated £45,000 to Halton Haven Hospice and Co-Awareness. Staff also carried out DIY jobs and organised for the hospice car park to be redesigned and re-surfaced. The Trust supported Co-Awareness founder Lynn Griffiths when she organised her national awareness week.

Shaun Pollard, Director of Corporate Services at Halton Haven Hospice, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Halton Housing Trust has decided to support us again. As well as cash donations, the Trust helped solve one of the biggest problems we had by providing a safe, spacious car park for our patients and their families. All of us at the Hospice are looking forward to working with the Trust again this year.”

David Atkinson, Chief Executive of HITS, said: “We are very pleased to have been nominated by Halton Housing Trust as one of their two chosen charities for the year. As well as the potential for much needed income, the Trust shares our mission in its commitment to the well being of Halton’s people, including many of the young people and families we directly support.  We look forward to working alongside both the Trust, and Halton Haven Hospice, a charity which HITS as an organisation, and individual staff, support.”    

To learn more about the work of Halton Haven Hospice click here and the work of HITS click here