News

Everybody wants Pants for Christmas

GCHQ 17 Dec 2014


USPA NEWS - A GCHQ spokesperson said, "Each Christmas, as part of a Civil Service Local South West initiative, we have joined our civil service colleagues in the South West of England to support local homeless shelters.
Over a week in December, staff at GCHQ's Cheltenham site collected over 100 bags of items for GEAR Projects, a charity for the homeless in Gloucestershire.

GEAR had asked for donations of new underwear, food, toiletries and sleeping bags and staff rose to the challenge, named Pants For Christmas, with a grand total of 125 bagfuls collected.

Colleagues at RAF Brize Norton also donated eight brand-new military sleeping bags.

GCHQ has been supporting GEAR for several years. As well as making donations, staff have visited a shelter to learn more about how the charity works and the good use it makes of the items it receives.
The GEAR Projects

Their Mission

To relieve sickness, poverty and distress amongst the vulnerable, homeless and street homeless population of Gloucestershire.

Why are they needed?

The average life expectancy of street homeless people is nearly half that of someone living in good quality housing. Through the support they offer, they can help protect their community from drug and alcohol related crime.

Photo Sources: GCHQ, GEAR Projects, Crown Copyright

more information: https://www.gearprojects.org

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