National developer Wates Residential and its partners at the nearby Daedalus Village housing development, Rund and MD Developments have made a donation to support Hostel 101.

The donation will be used to purchase essential items for homeless people in Gosport this winter including water bottles, hygiene products, hats and gloves.

The items will be sorted into Grab Bags, which will be issued to those in need, including hostel users and those who leave the hostel and return to the street after the winter months. The council is also supporting those that aren't using the hostel, ensuring they have warm items as the temperatures plummet.

This comes after Hostel 101's Extended Winter Bed Scheme opened for a second-year last month. The hostel is open every night for four months, providing 10 additional bed spaces within the existing hostel, managed by Two Saints, at 101 Gosport Road.

The additional beds are available, subject to demand, to those who are sleeping on the streets in the borough whatever the weather. The dormitories are available from 8pm until 9:30am, and include a free hot snack and breakfast.

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Staff members from Wates Residential, including Construction Manager Richard Manville and Information Document Controller, Katherine Jones, dropped off the items at the hostel on Tuesday. They were joined by Shelagh Smithson and Mandy McKay from Gosport Council and Georgina Joyce, Matt Diamond and Caroline Mann from Two Saints.

The work is part of Wates Residential's commitment to the local area, as it builds 200 homes at Daedalus Village in Lee-on-the-Solent. The project will dramatically increase the number of new homes available, with 120 private homes and 80 affordable homes being built on the site of the former seaplane base.

Work at the site started in November 2018 after Homes England – the Government's housing delivery agency – chose the national developer as its trusted delivery partner. The site is designed to enable fast-track building on publicly owned land, with the homes being built at double the pace of the industry standard.

As part of the work, Wates Residential has pledged to increase training, education and skills opportunities in the area, as well as helping to support vulnerable residents and local causes.

Richard Manville, Construction Manager for Wates Residential, said: "As temperatures drop, it is more important than ever to support homeless people and ensure they have access to basic items others take for granted. At Wates Residential, we are passionate about making a difference and are pleased to have been able to support the work that Hostel 101 and Gosport Borough Council are doing. We hope that this donation will help make a much-needed difference in the run up to Christmas and beyond."

Georgina Joyce, Contracts and Performance Manager for Two Saints, said: "This generous donation is very much appreciated and will help support our vulnerable clients, especially those that may be sleeping rough during the cold winter months this year. Thank you to everyone at Wates Residential for their support."

(MH/CM)