As we head towards another challenging winter, many people in our communities face isolation, loneliness, and homelessness. These are serious problems that can have a devastating impact on people's lives.

That's why I'm walking 90 miles together with my team to raise money for CUF, a charity that helps transform the country's local communities. They do this by supporting projects that provide food, shelter, support and friendship to people who are struggling.

With your help, I can help CUF to continue their vital work this winter. Every donation counts, no matter how small.

Why is it important to help and support local communities?

Local communities are the heart of our society. They are the places where people are most likely to know and support each other.

When we help and support local communities, we are helping to make them stronger and more resilient. We are also helping to create a more just and equitable society.

Here there's some data:

At least 271,000 people are homeless in England today, including 123,000 children. (Source: Shelter)

2,400 people are sleeping rough on any given night. (Source: Shelter)

49.63% of adults (25.99 million people) in the UK reported feeling lonely occasionally, sometimes, often or always in 2022. (Source: Office for National Statistics)

Approximately 7.1% of people in Great Britain (3.83 million) experience chronic loneliness, meaning they feel lonely 'often or always'. (Source: Office for National Statistics)