We've opened our doors to a new charity (From Warrington Guardian)

We've opened our doors to a new charity

THE Warrington Guardian is delighted to announce its charity of the year for 2006 - Openingdoors.

For those readers who don't recognise the name, it might be more familiar as its former incarnation - Warrington Action for the Homeless.

The charity changed names late last year and while still offering many of the services it always has, the organisation also hopes to offer more provisions than ever before to young people and adults who are homeless or just need housing advice.

To help expand its services, the charity has set a fundraising target of £1 million over the next two years, and the Warrington Guardian is hoping to significantly help towards this sum.

Top of the fundraising efforts is to raise more cash to provide specialised projects for the homeless, and /or vulnerable people with complex needs such as drugs, alcohol, mental health, health and social support.

Warrington Guardian editor, Nicola Priest said: "We are delighted that Openingdoors will be our charity for 2006, especially after having such a successful 2005 raising thousands for the Warrington Disability Partnership. It is hard to believe in this day and age that there are still so many people in need of the services which charities such as Openingdoors offers."

Margaret Potts, director of Openingdoors, based at the Gateway in Sankey Street, added: "Myself and the trustees are delighted and excited to be named charity of the year and at a time when the organisation is developing new projects.

"This is a fine opportunity to promote our current work and new services that will provide various interventions and support for those with complex needs supporting independence, self-help, training and employment opportunities."

Some of the services Openingdoors provide include:

l Night shelters, giving direct access accommodation and support for adults.

l Housing assessment for people with drug problems.

l A rent deposit scheme to give access to a tenancy.

l Assessment, housing advice, information and support for young people.

l Direct access accommodation for young people.

l Resettlement accommodation for young people.

l Floating support for those who have a permanent tenancy (available for all ages)

l Supported lodging enabling young people to live in the community.

l Complex needs assessment and support for those with drug, alcohol, health, behavioural and mental health issues. How you can help

THE Warrington Guardian is supporting the charity Openingdoors.

Readers can help with this appeal by sending cheques, made payable to Openingdoors, to: Helen Cartwright, Editorial, Warrington Guardian, 138 Bridge Street, WA1 2RU.

If you would like to help Openingdoors with fundraising events of your own, you can contact Helen on 434110, or e-mail hcartwright@guardiangrp.co.uk