Staff from Derry firm donate 500 coats to warm homeless this winter

Staff at a Derry company have donated over 500 coats to warm homeless people this winter.

HML, based in Ulster Science Park, launched a campaign to collect coats to distribute to local charities, DePaul Foyle Haven, Salvation Army, Men’s Methodist Mission and the Simon Community, to help keep those most in need warm this winter.

It was part of a global conservation project known as The Whitley Awards or the ‘Green Oscars’.

They managed to gather in excess of 500 coats for men, women and children and these were then dry-cleaned, free of charge, by local business.

Billy Hutchinson, Account Director of Computershare Loan Services, speaking at the handover of the coats to the charities, said the company were delighted at the success of the charity initiative.

“It’s great to see the charities benefitting, it’s a true testament to our company values that we spend so much times with community groups and schools and it’s great to such a joined-up approach from everybody onsite. To get what we did with over 500 coats is tremendous.”

He added: “It’s part of Computershare’s vision for the Green Oscars, a worldwide project, so hopefully this will put Derry on the map for its generosity and Computershare, a global company, true recognition for the tremendous charity work that goes on onsite.”

Photo shows members of the Computershare Go Team handing over 500 coates to local charities. Front, from left, are Joanne Devlin (Simon Community), Juliia Mapstore (The Salvation Army), Dougal McPartland (Depaul) and James Jennings ( Mens Methodist Mission). (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)