BUSINESSWOMAN Donna Gillingham is urging visitors to one of Swindon’s leading business parks to pop their spare pennies in a pot to help the town’s homeless.

Donna, who runs specialist sales and marketing recruitment agency Ardour, on Kembrey Park, is placing more than 40 collection jars with neighbouring companies on the business park to raise funds for the charity Threshold Housing Link.

The organisation provides accommodation for homeless people in the town.

Donna said: “Threshold helps anyone, whatever their situation, including alcohol or drugs. It is a charity that is on the ground in Swindon doing vital work.

"As the cold weather kicks in, we should all feel for those who have no home at this time.”

Born in Wroughton, and a former pupil of Ridgeway School, Donna said: “I knew I wanted to help a local homeless charity and went down to meet them, to see what I could do.

“Forty jam jars may be only a small amount but a company with, say, 20 staff could fill a jar a month.

"It’s all about trying to make a difference – however small.”

Threshold is not the only charity that Donna and her team –Laura Simmonds, Jeremy Jarvis and four associates – have helped.

They have also worked with Swindon-based Inner Flame, which helps young people between the ages of 14 to 25, who may not have had the best of start in life, by building their confidence and job prospects.

They have also worked with The Samaritans, collecting unloved goods to go on sale in stores around Swindon, and giving advice to callers to enable them to find new pathways back to work or opportunities.