A STRUGGLING charity is one step closer to making ends meet, thanks to a £1,000 donation.

Staff at St Luke’s homeless drop-in centre in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, were rallying round organising fundraising events because they were facing a shortfall of £4,000.

Among those events was a sponsored rough-sleeping event in January in which about 50 volunteers spent the night in Victoria Square on one of the coldest days of the year.

The aim was to highlight homelessness as well as raise money for the centre.

Now the centre has been given a £1,000 cheque from bus operator First’s regional charity committee after Julie Draper, one of the two nurses working at the drop-in centre wrote to the firm.

Mrs Draper heard about the fund through her husband, Graham, a First bus driver, who has driven in Bolton for 32 years.

She said: “My husband told me about his company’s charity committee and supported me in the application.

“I was delighted to receive the call to tell us we had been successful.

“The drop-in centre does not receive government funding but relies on the work of volunteers who provide free hot meals and drinks for up to 80 people a day.

“We also provide vital healthcare to these people, along with counselling, housing and debt advice.”

The bus company’s regional committee considers requests for funding and gifts from its staff as well as groups across the north of England.

Wilf Shannon, a driver for First and a member of the company’s charity committee, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to support one of our loyal drivers and their partner by offering financial assistance to a very deserving cause such as St Luke’s drop in centre.”

First operates more than 800 buses across the region and employs 400 people in Bolton.