Collections and donations
To see a concise list of all the items that would be really useful to donate to CENS please click on the essentials shopping list below.
Financial donations
Thank you so much to all the businesses, groups and individuals who have donated money to CENS. With the current cost of living crisis, we need your support more than ever. When making financial donations, you can rest assured that 100% of your money goes towards the running of the shelter. We couldn’t survive without your support. Please head to our Donate Page for more information.
Food
We provide hundreds of meals every week, so always welcome food donations. However, we receive some donations from alternative sources, such as Fareshare, so we need specific items donated. These are as follows: tea, coffee, sugar, hot chocolate, UHT milk, squash, vegetable oil, gravy granules, ketchup, mayonnaise, salt & pepper, stock cubes, herbs and spices. Please NO tins, sauces or soups. If you’d like to donate any of these items, please just give us a call first to arrange delivery. Or check out our Amazon Wish List! THANK YOU.
Toiletries, household and bedding
We provide all residents with essential toiletries. These are items which can help make our residents feel more independent and valued. Toiletries gratefully received are as follows: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, men’s razors.
Cleaning items such as cloths, scourers, washing up liquid, surface cleaners, floor cleaner, bleach, bathroom cleaners, bin bags, food caddy liners, loo roll, washing tablets are always needed.
Also welcomed are NEW single duvets and pillows/pillowcases, single duvet covers/sheets. We accept clean/good condition towels.
Check out our Amazon Wish List.
Thank you.
If you would like to arrange a collection from your workplace, school or group, then please get in touch.
Business opportunities
Make CENS your charity of the year and work with us to meet your corporate social responsibilty objectives. We are always keen to develop mutually rewarding and beneficial relationships with local businesses. Help in the fight against homelessness and deliver real change. We like to work closely and collaboratively with all our corporate partners, so get in touch for a chat.
Why should your business
support a local charity?
Supporting local community
This may be simple and obvious, but giving back to the community and helping a cause which you feel passionately about should never be underestimated.
Networking opportunities
You could connect with a whole new audience of like-minded business people from a range of sectors, you would otherwise have had no access to.
Improve internal relations
Working on fundraising and volunteering activities can create team building opportunities and help you forge new and internal relationships across all levels.
Positive branding
The link between your business and the charity will build brand awareness and enhance brand perception.
PR opportunities
Fundraising events will offer endless opportunities for a positive marketing message and the charity will echo and amplify this through its own platforms and marketing material.
Good for business
Given the choice between 2 companies offering the same products and services, a recent survey found 82% of people would choose the more philanthropic company.
Featured articles
4 ways to partner with CENS
Corporate Donations
The most straightforward way to support us is through a donation. You can make a monthly or annual financial contribution. We’ll share how your donation has been spent, and how it has helped the charity and your community. You can then share this via social media, local press and other marketing platforms.
Employee Fundraising
Whether it’s a sleepout or a bake sale, fundraising can be a fun, rewarding and a great team builder. If you decide to set up a fundraiser, we can help you get started, with advice, fundraising materials and donation platforms. We can also help publicise your events and increase your media coverage.
Strategic Partnerships
If your business has a natural link to CENS, you could use your skills and knowledge to actively make a difference to the service we offer to our residents. Whether it be training, practical support, education or donations, we can usually find a creative way to involve your business in a way that benefits both parties.
Volunteering
There are many volunteering opportunities, which will enable your business to get directly involved with CENS. This will deliver a rewarding hands-on experience for you and your employees. Volunteering is great for team building and morale boosting and can offer a real life enhancing experience.
To find out more about partnerships please contact us using the form below
Please note: By pressing ‘send’ you are agreeing to allow us to send you communications via email relating to corporate partnerships.
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Fundraising
Fundraising can be a really enjoyable and fulfilling way of raising money for the shelter. From setting up a cake sale to organising a sponsored event, there are so many ways to fundraise for the shelter and we are here to support you with your ideas.
Ready to get started?
We have a handy guide on how to get your fundraiser started.
March4Cens
In March 2021, 20 people took part in March 4 CENS, walking 1 million steps to raise over £4,000. See their journey in the video below.
This year 60 people signed up and managed to raise a whopping £10,000.
Join us for 2024! Registrations opening in January.
Volunteering
The reward of volunteering
Volunteering allows you to connect with your community, meet new people, have a positive impact on people’s lives and develop your social skills. Our volunteers are a huge help to us but the experience can also benefit you, your family and your friends.
All volunteers be must be DBS checked and supply 2 references. We don’t currently have any volunteering vacancies, but keep your eye on our Facebook Page for updates.
What can I do?
Volunteers support us in a variety of ways, depending on our needs and vacancies at any given time. We are also open to new ideas too, so if you have a skill or an interest that you feel could be beneficial to our residents, then we are always open to ideas.
5 reasons to try volunteering
Support your community
Doing something selfless creates a great sense of wellbeing and by helping out at CENS, you will be directly benefiting your community and making it a better place to live.
Try something new
You might learn a new skill, meet interesting people and open up fresh opportunities. Volunteering is an opportunity to connect to others, make new friends and boost your social skills.
Get Inspired
Meeting people who work for the charity, other volunteers and the residents can be rewarding, uplifting and inspirational. Keeping in regular contact with others can be great for your mind and body.
Have fun
Volunteering really can be enjoyable, especially if you are doing it with friends or colleagues. You can also volunteer to do something you have a genuine interest in, such as cooking or gardening.
Be part of a team
Volunteering is about teamwork, so it develops your ability to work with others and overcome challenges as a group. It also improves communication, problem solving, planning and organisational skills.
