£1,000 boost for Hollie Gazzard Trust

Members of local charity Hollie Gazzard Trust are celebrating after their CRUSH support programme for teenage victims of domestic abuse has been successfully rolled out thanks to Vodafone’s Community Connection Award.

Hollie Gazzard Trust was selected by the Vodafone store team in Gloucester to receive the £1,000 award back in October, 2015.

The charity run by Nick Gazzard, was set up to help young people (between 13-19 years of age) whose lives have been affected by violence and domestic abuse. Thanks to the £1,000 award, the charity was able to offer a structured programme of support and empowerment to a number of local teenagers who have witnessed, expressed or are at risk of domestic abuse. The tailored programme of counselling and group therapy is designed to help these victims move forward and form safe and healthy relationships with others.

Nick Gazzard, entered the charity for the award and said “It was great to be chosen as the Community Connection Award winner by Vodafone – we are a relatively young charity and all the acknowledgement we receive can only help raise the awareness of what we are trying to do in Gloucestershire and beyond.“

Vodafone’s Community Connection Awards, launched in 2014, have already made a difference to more than 100 local communities across the UK. Selected by local Vodafone staff and aimed at supporting local causes, the awards have been used to help support everything from new equipment for soup kitchens and day centres for the elderly to helping people with disabilities to take part in sporting activities.

Mark Wolstencroft, Vodafone Store Manager in Gloucester said “We’re delighted that the £1,000 Vodafone Community Connection Award has been able to help local teenagers who have been suffering domestic abuse – Hollie Gazzard Trust do amazing work, and we really hope they can help many more people for years to come”.

Check out how other charities have already used their Community Connection Award, or for further information on the Vodafone Community Connection Awards please see Vodafone Social, the official Vodafone blog: http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2015/02/02/vodafone-community-connection-awards/

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk