How this Hartlepool cafe is supporting homeless and low income families as project expands to town

Night Light CIC (community interest company) has been providing food, drinks and hygiene packs to people who need it most in Middlesbrough and Stockton where it has been a great success.

Now the project is branching out into Hartlepool after Night Light has formed a partnership with LilyAnne’s community coffee shop in Victoria Road.

Together we will support those who are homeless, living in insecure housing or who are on low income through the cashless service.

Nadia Gibany of Nite Light CIC said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with LilyAnne’s CIC. It will ensure that we can reach more people throughout the Tees Valley by bringing our services to Hartlepool.

"We provide cards for meals, snacks and drinks as well as hygiene bags for men, women and children.

"Where people can't afford food, hygiene becomes a distant second and our aim is to provide the essentials for anyone struggling in these difficult times.”

Trevor Sherwood from LilyAnne’s said they were contacted by Night Light after they saw the work they are doing to support people who are homeless, lonely and isolated.

He said: “LilyAnne’s has supported the homeless, hidden homeless and those who are sofa surfing within Hartlepool since we launched over three years ago.

“We both wanted to expand the work we are both doing within area to share our experiences and skills within Hartlepool to develop a new project that would really support our homeless community, those within insecure housing and those on low incomes.”

LilyAnne’s will be the main hub for the project and where Individuals and families can redeem the cashless cards for a hot meal, hot drink or a hygiene pack.

It will also establish street volunteers and work with other established community groups and primary schools to ensure they can reach and support people all over the town who need it most.

The service is supported by the generosity of local supermarkets, businesses and members of the public through Night Light’s ‘Pay It Forward’ service.

Supporters can choose what item they want to provide to the project and where it can be redeemed at https://nitelightcic.co.uk/shop/

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