Story: Saleema Imam
Photos: Richard Hanson & John Mellor
It’s here again! Building on last year’s success, volunteers from Rainbow’s End once more served up a fashion collection worthy of the West End at Christ Church.
Manager Yvonne offered a free evening of family entertainment to around 100 Burngreave residents. This included a performance by magician Steve Macbeth (who also, apparently, made the secret millionaire disappear!), tasty food and the presentation of certificates to volunteers completing training or for long service.
“We are celebrating”, says Yvonne, “the bountiful support from Burngreave people, which has enabled Rainbow’s End to disperse well over £3k in money, household goods, furniture and clothes to those in need over the last 3 years. In addition we have given grants to the Knit and Natter group, St Peter’s coffee morning and the Vestry Hall’s Allcomers Group, plus sponsoring Greenfingers’ fund-raising run.”
Donations of all types of goods are still needed. Clothes – in good condition or only fit for rags – are welcome. Payments are received from the ‘ragman’ for items taken for recycling.
The management are still looking for local premises to purchase with the money donated by benefactor Simrin Choudrie but a new crisis has now arisen, as the funding for the manager’s post has come to an end.
Rainbow’s End provides not only a source of affordable clothes and household goods but also a meeting point for the community and a place of support and friendship for many refugees and asylum seekers struggling to get by.
