Shergroup’s
homegrown charitable foundation, Sherbet, has started
to help the families it set out to support through its
“helping hand” approach.
Three families have now been awarded grants for items
including a washing machine, tumble dryer and vacuum
cleaner.
Sherforce enforcement officers offered grants to
families they visited when enforcing a High Court
Writ. As part of their conversation with the judgment
debtor, they were able to establish that the family
could be helped by receiving a Sherbet grant.
One parent, visited by a Sherforce Enforcement Officer,
was awarded a new washing machine. The parent was
paying £15.00 per week towards the debt and
said that a new washing machine just wasn’t
a priority. On the application form, the parent had
written that the grant of a new washing machine would
stop the embarrassment of children going around in
dirty clothes.
As part of the Sherbet process, when a grant is made
the item is selected by the charity’s management
team at Charis Grants. The item is purchased from
Comet, which then arranges to deliver the item and
install it in working order. The old item is taken
away to be properly disposed of.
Other families that were helped received a tumble
dryer, to help dry the bedding of a Down’s syndrome
child, and a vacuum cleaner to stop the mother of
an asthmatic child going down on hands and knees to
sweep up the dust that aggravated her youngster’s
condition.
Claire Sandbrook, founder of the charity and a trustee,
said she was “very humbled” by the circumstances
of the families. She went on to add: “Creating
Sherbet has been a very positive step for me personally
and for Shergroup as a whole. People thought I was
mad, but with the support of fellow trustees and the
wonderful support of Master Robert Turner as Chair,
I know the charity can really deliver help straight
into the homes of people who have given up asking.”
As well as offering a grant for an essential home
appliance, people who are awarded a grant are also
offered signposts to other trust funds for water,
gas and electricity to help them with any other outstanding
debts.
Due to the funds that the charity has raised so far,
it is hoped that Sherbet will help 50 families in
the first full year of its operation.
If you would like to know more about Sherbet or offer
a donation to the fund, please contact us at enquiries@shergroup.net.
More information about the work of the charity can
be found at www.sherbetfoundation.com.
