Diane Bennett – Press Release December 2016
Diane Bennett has been an outstanding advocate and provider for the homeless, poor and desperate in the town of Evesham and the surrounding area. She started Caring Hands, which provides resources including food, clothing and practical help in 2003. She has worked voluntarily for the most part, giving an average of 40 hours of voluntary service per week on top of a poorly paid job over a period of 12 years. Since 2013 she has been employed 2 days a week and this rose to 3 days in 2014 and 4 days in 2015. We hope to have money to support her full-time in the near future. She has built up a huge groundswell of local support for Caring Hands and volunteers now help from many of the local churches as well as secular organisations.
Diane’s self-denying example is inspiring, and alongside this she still helps to run Bidford Youth Club and does most of its administration. She also serves as a Street Pastor and on the boards of local organisations such as Evesham Relief in Need charity and the Homeless Partnership. Literally thousands of people have found essential help and sometimes life-saving help (clothing and shelter in cold weather, medical intervention through health checks and friendship and support for those who feel hopeless and suicidal). She has stayed true to her original vision and although her desire for a drop-in centre, articulated at the very beginning of the project, is not yet realised, she still looks for that in the future. She is one of the most self-effacing people one could meet, yet is an example to us all.
Diane’s contribution to the position of the homeless and those on low incomes and struggling with the benefits system is immense and transformational. She has built up tremendous community support for Caring Hands and has inspired and led the organisation through some difficult times personally and for the organisation. She shows integrity and compassion for all those who come to Caring Hands for help and has consistently provided impetus and inspiration for those in need, including those who have been victims or perpetrators of crime. She thoroughly deserves recognition for this outstanding work.