Every year it's estimated that 400,000 people experience homelessness in the UK. Many thousands find themselves living in hostels and temporary accommodation. CRASH aims to provide a safe and welcoming environment from which homeless people can begin to rebuild the confidence and skills they need to integrate back into society, find employment, and move on to a home of their own.

CRASH is the construction industries charity for homeless people. We are a practical charity and use the expertise, products and goodwill of our industry to transform run-down hostels, day centres, night shelters and training centres into bright, welcoming and safe places. Homelessness agencies have a hard enough time finding money to meet their running costs, never-mind refurbishing their premises. This is why the work of CRASH is so important.

CRASH is unique. As an industry charity we encourage our supporters to get directly involved in helping the projects who ask us for assistance. Thanks to the continued support and generosity of companies within the construction and property sector, in the last year alone CRASH has been able to help over 80 projects by providing professional advice, supplying free materials, and awarding cash grants.

The result of this generosity and practical sharing of materials and skills means that much needed renovation and development can be carried out to a far higher standard than would otherwise be possible, providing a safe and welcoming refuge for people in need.

CRASH is very grateful to be one of the benefitting charities of the Windsor Half Marathon.

For more information on CRASH please visit our website at http://www.crash.org.uk or call us on 020 8742 0717. We would love to hear from you.

Case study below:

Companions, volunteers & staff outside Emmaus Greenwich; a homelessness project supported by CRASH

Agency name: Emmaus Community
Project name: Emmaus Greenwich
Project type: Accommodation
Location: Greenwich, London

The project:
Emmaus Greenwich is an enterprising and practical project which gives homeless people the opportunity to get off the streets and into a structured life within the Emmaus community.
Emmaus companions are encouraged to utilise the skills they have and to develop new ones during their stay. Some look after the home-making, while others work on restoring and decorating furniture & craft items in the workshops, or help run the shop.  Refurbished items are sold at affordable prices through the Emmaus shop which enables the community to be self-sustaining. On joining the Emmaus community all Companions make a commitment to stop claiming benefits and work to support the community that is helping them.

Reason for development:
Emmaus Greenwich applied to CRASH for help with the development of their shop. If the community can increase the amount of furniture that they refurbish and sell on through their second-hand shop, they will be able to generate more much-needed income. They therefore want to construct a single story extension of the shop.

How CRASH intends to help:
The total cost of this development is £100,000, 50% of which is being raised by Emmaus Greenwich; the other half will be provided by CRASH. CRASH will also give added value to the project through the provision of professional expertise and by supplying materials.