John Lewis Stratford City names East Potential as charity of the year

Published by Ashley-Rae for East Thames Housing Group in Communities and also in Housing

Social regeneration charity East Potential has been chosen as John Lewis Stratford City’s 2012 Charity of the Year.

The partnership brings together twoStratfordorganisations that care about being a force for good and making a real difference to the lives of the most vulnerable people in the area.

Throughout the rest of 2012,  Partners (employees) atJohnLewisStratfordCitywill be fundraising for East Potential, with the money going towards a range of programmes which prevent homelessness and allow young people to improve their lives.

It’s the first charity to be supported by the department store, which opened its doors in the newWestfieldcomplex in September 2011.

“We’ve been a local charity for 16 years and we’re deeply rooted in this area. It’s great to see John Lewis making such an effort to be part of the community. With the Olympics around the corner and this partnership, it’s shaping up to be a big year for us,” said Pamela Gardner, a director at East Potential.

“We do a lot of work in this area to help prevent homelessness. We provide foyer accommodation for young people aged 16-24 at risk of becoming homeless and the support needed to help them back on track. We also help people get jobs and generally improve their lives. It’s hugely rewarding work and we’re ecstatic that John Lewis wants to support us.”

Community Liaison Coordinator for John Lewis Stratford City Terry Saunders said it was a great privilege to support East Potential.

“Together, our aim is to provide vital support through community projects involving many of our passionate Partners, so that we can help East Potential continue its life-changing work in eastLondon. I'm certainJohnLewisStratfordCityand East Potential will write a success story that will become the benchmark for big business working in partnership with a brilliant project to make a real difference,” Terry said.