The branches held a month-long campaign urging employees to collect unwanted coats and warm clothing, which have now been donated to the charity based in Allcock Street. Most Willmott Dixon Partnerships branches across the UK took part in the initiative as part of a company-wide drive to raise awareness of homelessness.

Willmott Dixon Partnerships, the Group's repairs and maintenance specialist, is currently working with Birmingham City Council to repair and maintain 60,000 properties in the city. It’s two contracts for the north and south of the city includes the areas of Edgbaston, Hall Green, Northfield, Selly Oak, Ladywood, Erdington, Perry Bar and Sutton Coldfield.

As part of the campaign, the local Willmott Dixon team collected over 50 items of warm winter clothing and also sponsored one of SIFA Fireside’s breakfast mornings, donating dried food and helping cook breakfast for the centre’s visitors. The team then prepared dried food parcels for members of the homeless community in the city.

Jenny Jones, Customer and Community Officer at Willmott Dixon’s Birmingham North branch, said “We are committed to helping the local community and were only too happy to help support the wonderful work that SIFA Fireside is doing in the Birmingham area. Staff have engaged with the project to provide items of clothing and we hope this will go some way to helping homeless people locally during the coming months. It is a comforting thought to know that our unneeded clothes can go to those who really need them.”

Syeda Akhtar, Volunteer Organiser from SIFA Fireside, said “We are very grateful for all that Willmott Dixon have done to help us to support the homeless in Birmingham. A number of the vulnerable people whom we support will greatly benefit from this thoughtful donation.”

SIFA Fireside is a dynamic local charity, based in Digbeth, which is working with people aged 18 and over to help tackle homelessness, alcohol misuse and social exclusion. This year marks the charity’s 30th year of work in the community.