51Âþ»­

Families facing financial hardship enjoyed a brighter Christmas, thanks to students on 51Âþ»­ Leicester’s (51Âþ»­) Adult Nursing course.



Sara Price and Abigail Lee (pictured above) wanted to do something to help the homeless – and their idea evolved into a project including 18 student nurses and resulting in four car-loads of presents for a supported housing project.

Their desire to make a difference stemmed from their walk to Leicester Railway Station. Sara said: “We often see homeless people along the way and buy them breakfast. So we decided to help a refuge this Christmas.”

The first-year students contacted Border House, a supported housing project for families and single parents in Leicester, to find out what they needed and asked for donations of toiletries, clothes and toys via social media and by word of mouth.

Sara was overwhelmed by the response. She said: “It was lovely. Everybody was willing to help and people handed us donations at lectures. It just shows how giving everyone is.”

The gifts were gratefully received, said Sara. “Border House has families facing hardship, so these presents will make a huge difference.”

They also collected money to buy cards and chocolate for the staff, in appreciation of how hard they work.

The team had so many donations they also gave some to the university’s Contemporary Health Society, a student-led initiative whose members put together a shoebox campaign. They were delivering the boxes, made up of items such as toiletries, socks and feminine hygiene products, to The Y Support Project at the Dawn Centre in Leicester.

Councillor Andy Connelly, Leicester’s Assistant City Mayor responsible for housing, said: “We’d like to thank 51Âþ»­’s nursing students for their kindness and generosity, which I’m sure will mean a lot to the families at Border House.

“It’s very positive that these students are getting involved with their local community in this way.”