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Neighbourhood Hero Margaret is determined to help the homeless and those in need
The plight of the homeless and those in need is a cause close to the heart of Cramlington resident Margaret Wright and Cramlington Town Council are delighted to declare her a Neighbourhood Hero.
In fact, it is such an important cause that Margaret set up her own support charity and spends much of her time cooking and distributing hot meals to those in need.
Pre-Covid Margaret would regularly travel to the streets of Newcastle providing hot meals, clothes and other provisions to people who were living rough on the streets. Three years ago, she set up her own charity to assist them, Helping Others Together, and while this charity is still operating Margaret herself has not been able to travel into the city because of the Coronavirus restrictions.
When the pandemic began Margaret, who is 68 and lives in Northburn, was determined to carry on helping others and thanks to support from local organisations such as Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project and The Hope Centre, now provides hot nourishing meals to those in need across the whole of South East Northumberland.
As well as assisting Cramlington residents Margaret, with help from her husband Paul who she describes as her ‘satnav’, delivers meals and other provisions to people in Blyth and Ashington and surrounding areas.
Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project have been working with Margaret since the first lockdown. Claire Gascoigne from CVYP said “We are often given supplies of meat and other foodstuffs that we can’t split so we give them to Margaret to use. She cooks delicious meals and has been an amazing asset for CVYP and the whole community. Our relationship has grown from strength to strength, she uses everything we give her and distributes it with kindness and no judgement.”
Margaret commented “Times are tough for many people and I like to feel I’m doing something to help. I couldn’t do as much as I do without my merry band of helpers Lynn, Sheila, Lesley, Janet and Lousie who cook amazing meals including full dinners, soups and desserts. Pre-lockdown the focus of my work was homeless people who end up in that situation because of a variety of circumstances such as family breakup or mental health issues. The reason they are in that situation is not important, the important thing is to help them and give them a nourishing and hot meal without judgement and with a bit of friendliness. That remains my ethos now, helping people a bit closer to home who are finding life difficult during the pandemic. A nice meal, a friendly face – they may be little things, but they can mean a great deal.
Cramlington Town Council’s Community and Youth Manager Maggie Martin said “Margaret truly is an amazing woman. I am delighted the Council has declared her a ‘Neighbourhood Hero’ – it is a very fitting title.
If anyone would like to offer help to Margaret and the work she does they can contact her via her email: xwrighty52@gmail.com or her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/northeasthot
