The charitable wing of Redcar-based social housing provider, Coast & Country Housing, has made a £500 donation to Cleveland Fire Support Network, a charity which provides fire-related services.
Cleveland Fire Support Network provides training and services, such as CPR training and home fire safety visits, to communities across Redcar and Cleveland.
The charity already works with Coast & Country tenants who have impaired hearing to install and maintain sensory loss smoke alarms, which instead of making the usual high pitched alarm tone when triggered, use vibration and light to alert the resident to the danger.
The donation comes from the housing association’s Charitable Support and Sponsorship Fund and will be used to train an additional five volunteers from the area to carry out much-needed home fire safety visits and install sensory loss alarms for vulnerable residents, the elderly, people with sensory loss, and those recovering from the trauma of a fire in their home.
Tracy Jones, Events Co-ordinator at Coast & Country Housing, said: “We’re extremely pleased to be able to make this donation to Cleveland Fire Support Network.
“It’s really important that our hearing impaired residents can be alerted should there be a fire, so it’s vital that these sensory loss alarms are installed and maintained. Several of our residents already make use of the Support Network’s crucial life-saving services, so we know how important the reassurance that comes with regular fire safety check really is.
“The Support Network operates thanks to volunteers who give up their free time to help educate and protect the health of local people. Our donation will help train more volunteers and hopefully provide them with the skills and confidence to help secure long term employment.”
Heather Whyman, Chief Executive Officer at Cleveland Fire Support Network, said: “We’re really grateful for the donation from Coast & Country. It will be used to train and develop the skills of new and existing volunteers, many of whom are unemployed people looking to be a positive force in their local community, whilst gaining skills and experience in a different workplace.
“We’re always looking for new volunteers, so please get in touch if you would like to make a positive impact in your local community.”