HiB Sofa Surf raises funds for Street Angels

Source

Staff at HiB have raised hundreds of pounds by swapping their beds for sofas and cardboard boxes in support of a local cause.

The Sofa Surf event raised more than £600 for the Tamworth Street Angels, who are part of the Redeeming our Communities (ROC) Angels charity. The organisation works to support the general public and vulnerable people out on the streets. Volunteers ensure that individuals in the community are safe while out at night, helping to reduce violence and hospital admissions.

Staff from across HiB took shelter in cardboard boxes and slept on sofas and shared photos of their evening on social media. Friends and family of those taking part were invited to sponsor the event and HiB pledged to donate £10 for each staff member who took part.

Speaking about the Sofa Surf event, HiB Employee and Customer Experience Director Emma Cuggy said: “Tamworth Street Angels do fantastic work to help those in need on the streets and at events in the communities, particularly at night. These people give up their time to ensure that others are kept safe and away from harm.

“David Cooley, who is a HiB Quality Control Operative, is himself a volunteer for Street Angels and generously donates his time to help others, so we wanted to do our bit to help make sure that the charity can continue their good work in the community. It is fantastic that we raised £610 for the cause.”

Towns that have Street Angel teams report around a 45% decrease in incidents which require Police or Paramedic intervention. Businesses in the night-time economy also report an increase in trade.

Talking about the Street Angels, David Cooley said: “Our main purpose is to prevent someone from becoming vulnerable or to assist them if they need help. As Street Angel we need to be compassionate, caring, and non-judgemental, we are there to listen to anyone who is struggling. We have training in First Aid and how to use a Defibrillator, as well as Conflict Resolution.

“We give out bottles of water and flip-flops to those who have removed their shoes. Money raised will be used to help set up new teams and to provide more resources like this for those already operating.”

Caring for the community and making a substantial difference to the lives of others is at the heart of operations at HiB. The company supports several initiatives and fundraisers throughout the year, helping to raise money and awareness for local and national charities.

​For more information about ROC Angels visit https://roc.uk.com/ For more information about HiB’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) news visit https://www.hib.co.uk/corporate-social-responsibility/