LONDON, October 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

With the UK bracing itself for a record cold winter, many of us take solace in the knowledge that Christmas will be spent in an environment of warmth, kindness, support and love. For the thousands of homeless in the UK, the festive period has different associations: Isolation. Rejection. Fear. Uncertainty.  

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With Government figures^[1] showing a 55% rise in the number of people sleeping rough on England's streets over the past five years, the need is greater than ever to actively engage with the issue of homelessness.

With these staggering figures in mind, CRASH, the construction and property sector's charity for homeless people, is again appealing to the industry to make a practical contribution as part of its No Christmas Card Appeal. As always, the premise for the appeal is very simple: CRASH are asking companies to donate their full Christmas card budget. The money raised will then enable CRASH, through its unique relationship with its patrons, to construct and renovate emergency night shelters, hostels, day centres, hospices and move-on accommodation, providing a safe and welcoming refuge for people in need, not just for Christmas, but throughout the coming year and beyond.

CRASH's industry leading patrons 8Build, Bauder, Carillion, Hilti, A-Plant, Knauf and Volkerfitzpatrick have already pledged their support. It's easy to join them - simply donate your company's Christmas card budget and in return your company will receive:

• A personalised e-Christmas card with your company's logo on it
• Donations over £500 - Your company name will appear in our 'Thank you' advertisements, which will run in industry media in the New Year
• Donations over £2000 - Your company logo will also be included in the advertisements.

This year, over 60 projects have benefitted from CRASH's provision of professional advice, donated and discounted materials and cash grants, including Emmaus Communities, Kairos Community Trust, Winchester Churches Nightshelter and Saint Vincent de Paul, Newcastle. To read more about the projects CRASH was involved in, click here.

Make a pledge to the CRASH 2015 No Christmas Card Appeal and forego an impermanent Christmas card to make a permanent difference. To donate, please complete the online form at http://www.crash.org.uk or contact Jenny Vaidya: fundraising@crash.org.uk or 020 8747 0717.

View the official CRASH appeal leaflet here

About CRASH  

CRASH is the construction and property industry's charity.  We are a practical charity that channels the expertise, products and generosity of the industry to create places that care for people in homelessness projects and, from January 2016, hospices.

CRASH is unique in the way we create, renovate and construct caring environments for vulnerable people by:

• Offering pro bono professional expertise
• Sourcing building materials and the technical knowledge to use them
• Awarding cash grants

Well-designed and expertly built environments have a positive effect on how we all feel and behave. This is especially true for homeless, vulnerable or sick people and those who care for them.

http://www.crash.org.uk

Follow CRASH on Twitter: @CRASHcharity

Note to Editors:

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1. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/407030/Rough_Sleeping_Statistics_England_-_Autumn_2014.pdf

For Media Enquiries, please contact: Emma Brophy, Communications Manager, ebrophy@crash.org.uk +44-(0)208-742-0717 

SOURCE CRASH