New Beginnings Reading

Focus is delighted to announce that it is supporting the charity New Beginnings Reading, a local organisation helping the homeless to integrate back into society following a period of poverty or financial hardship. As well as being the beneficiary of our fundraising we are further helping the charity by collecting and donating goods and volunteering our help.

New Beginnings Reading was formed in 2017 with the aim of helping the homeless in Reading by providing warmth, food and other essential items, temporary short to midterm overnight accommodation and assisting individuals to access services designed to help them become self-sufficient.

Central to the aims of the charity is the refurbishment of The Queens Arms in Great Knollys Street, Reading, creating an alcohol-free pub serving free food and drinks for the town’s homeless and needy. Once this is completed homeless children and their families will be able to use The Queens Arms as an after-school café, it will provide a safe and welcoming space, a hot meal, room to play and peace to complete homework.  Later in the evening it will become an all-night café where the homeless can come to eat, socialise and sleep and begin their journey back into society with the help of volunteers at the charity.

Central to the philosophy of the charity is the knowledge that a person must feel secure before being able to make a start on rebuilding their life.

J H W Finch, Commercial Director at Focus, has been instrumental in developing this relationship. He commented: “Focus is working in collaboration with New Beginnings Reading to support and fundraise as much as possible for this remarkable project. Enjoying a hot meal and having somewhere to relax and feel secure is fundamental to thriving in life and while homelessness is a problem in our own local community we will do all we can to resolve the situation.

“It is particularly gratifying to know that we are supporting individuals in our area who are experiencing hardship and everyone at Focus was in agreement that this was where our efforts should be concentrated. Members of staff are already thinking of ways we can help both in the refurbishment and then going forward as the café is up and running.  We are all looking forward to seeing it fully operational.”

New Beginnings Reading (https://newbeginningsreading.org) is based at The Queens Arms, 24 Great Knolly Street, Reading RG1 7HL and is registered with the Charity Commission.