WORCESTER Raiders' annual donation to the Worcestershire Homeless Appeal has been made, with players and managers clubbing together to provide food and clothing for those living rough on the streets of Worcester.

Raiders work alongside the Droitwich-based charity, where the gathered bags of food and clothing are sent so they can be evenly distributed around the city to the people who need it most.

Raiders' Co-manager Karl Gormley was the catalyst for this idea a few years ago and explained how it all came about.

"We (Raiders) do a fair bit of charity work." he said.

"We started working with the homeless two years ago and this will be the third year in a row we have done it.

"We already go to Worcester Hospital on Christmas and give presents to the children who are in there, and a couple years ago we started this and it did so well that now we keep doing it.

"Everyone donates some cash and one of the players will go and do a big shop but everything comes from us, the players, coaches, committee, we all contribute to buy all the food and the non-food items as well like sleeping bags, trainers, clothes.

"We got a bit worried about it with the lockdown and everything but it’s done really well, everyone has dug deep."

Gormley admitted that in tough times like these, digging into your pocket and putting a little effort in can go such a long way.

"It’s a tough one at the moment, it’s been an awful year for everyone," he added.

"But for those without a home it’s much more difficult for them so, warm clothing, a hot drink and a hot meal goes a long way and that’s what we try and do.

"It's just us trying to give back to the community really and the charity we do it with, the Worcestershire Homeless Appeal, all their work in Worcester and that’s what caught my eye.

Gormley mentioned how important it was to help out the local area in particular and through teaming up with the Worcestershire Homeless Appeal, they can do just that.

"We like to do the charity work but if we can keep it local and help out the local community that’s a lot better," he said.

"They are based in Droitwich and we will take everything we have got over there and then they also invite the homeless in to provide a hot meal and essentials like biscuits, tea bags, that sort of thing.

"They keep us updated and send us information of where everything is going which is really good.

"They are all volunteers there as well so it’s really good to help them out, they do such a good job and it’s important to us to help them too."

The charity wished to express their gratitude to Worcester Raiders.

"We’re overwhelmed by the support that’s been given by Worcester Raiders," they said.

"It will allow us to able to continue our support to the most vulnerable in our community, donations allow us to free up funds to be used in other area’s, and we hope they continue to support the work we do."