Woolly way to help the homeless

Sir -  Your readers may well have read recent shocking headlines about homelessness households in the UK rising by 17 per cent over the last year.

I’m writing to you about St Mungo’s Woolly Hat Day on Friday 4 November when we’re asking people to generously support our work with homeless and vulnerable people by putting a hat on and raising funds and awareness.

At St Mungo’s we support rough sleepers off the streets and into emergency accommodation, help people recover from homelessness through housing, health and skills services and work to prevent people ending up without a place to call home.

St Mungo’s Woolly Hat Day is a fun way to show your support as we’re reminded about those sleeping on the streets when the weather turns colder.

Schools, offices and community groups are supporting us, along with celebrity campaign supporters Martin Freeman of ‘Sherlock’ and comedian Ed Byrne.

Please get involved by hosting a hat themed event, sponsoring someone to wear a hideous hat or simply pull on that trusted old beanie for the day and text WOOLLY to 70099 to donate £3.

Find out more at www.woollyhatday.org Everyone who took part last year helped us raise vital funds so we could support people to get their lives back on track. Thank you and please enjoy and support Woolly Hat Day 2011.

Tanya English, Executive Director of Fundraising and Communications, St Mungo's Grifin House, Hammersmith Road, London.