Charities supporting homeless people in Nottingham are set to receive a £5,000 donation from local software firm Ideagen, after one of their employees completed a trek to the South Pole.
The money will go to Nottingham Street Aid after Ideagen asked team member, Adam Cooper (47), to pick a charity of his choice in recognition of completing his gruelling Antarctica expedition earlier this year.
Speaking about the donation Adam said: “I chose to spend several nights out in the cold recently, some people don’t have that choice. Being able to help in some way is important to me.
“I live close to Nottingham city centre and when I heard about Nottingham Street Aid, what they do, how they operate and their long-term objectives they sounded like the ideal recipient for this donation.”
Nottingham Street Aid is hosted by Street Support Nottingham, part of an umbrella network spread across over 30 UK towns and cities. Street Support provides information for the public about homeless charities in those cities and how the public can help by donating time, money, or goods.
Paul Scotting, who coordinates Nottingham Street Support’s activities, said: “This generous donation from Ideagen will make a real difference. On any given night there will be 20 to 30 people sleeping rough in the city. But there are hundreds who are vulnerable.
“Any Nottingham charity can apply to the Street Aid fund on behalf of an individual to buy specific items that will help them move on from homelessness.”
Claire Knee, global community lead at Ideagen, said: “We are delighted to be able to help Nottingham Street Aid. Our company values are Ambition, Adventure and Community and Adam’s expedition and his choice of charity, embodies those values perfectly.
“We are a global business, but we’re headquartered in Nottingham, so supporting local initiatives, is important to us.”
Adam skied 80 miles in temperatures as low as minus 30 before tackling the 16,000-foot Mount Vinson (which is a few hundred feet higher than Mont Blanc).
After hearing what he was planning to put himself through, Ideagen CEO, Ben Dorks, promised the donation to a good cause of Adam’s choosing.