A HOMELESS charity has been given a helping hand in the form of a £7,500 donation.

The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) has given the money to the 700 Club, which provides hotel and emergency accommodation to homeless people in Darlington, as well as providing specialist tenancy support for people with drug and alcohol problems.

The charity also offers the Bridge2Home scheme, which helps clients access private accommodation by underwriting the bond.

John Elliston, chief executive of The 700 Club, said: “Money from the Deposit Protection Service has provided vital support for our Bridge2Home project and has helped us give homeless people in Darlington the possibility of a home of their own.

“Homelessness in any community is a massive concern. Through Bridge2Home we support hundreds of vulnerable individuals, families and couples every year by helping them access private rented sector housing.”

The DPS – the UK's largest supplier of tenancy deposit protection services – began awarding money to charities across England and Wales in June last year, and the 700 Club was chosen among the first round of recipients.

The money has been used to help direct clients away from their usual peer groups, drugs and alcohol, and has also used to temporarily meet shortfalls between rent and housing benefit.

Julian Foster, managing director of the DPS, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the work of the 700 Club and people in Darlington who need a helping hand.

“We’ve been working in the housing sector for seven years, during which we’ve protected over one million deposits, and our Charity Donations Fund is designed to give something back to the communities in which we work.”

New recipients of the fund are chosen quarterly, and applications for the next round of donations close on March 31.

For more information visit depositprotection.com/charity