A SWINDON estate agent has made a commitment to help local homeless people by donating 10 per cent of house sales commission to a homelessness support charity.

Primary Homes & Lettings, in Commercial Road, a long-established family business, has pledged to support Threshold Housing Link, Swindon’s longest-running homelessness charity, after noticing the increase in rough sleepers in the town and wanting to try and help improve the situation.

Dean Wilde, business partner, said: “We believe that charity begins at home but it shouldn’t end there.

“For the whole of 2018, Primary are committed to contribute 10 per cent of all house sales commission to Threshold Housing Link.”

Partners at the business hope Primary Homes’ success in the coming year will also work to the advantage of Threshold Housing, helping them support vulnerable and disadvantaged local citizens.

“They believe future clients will appreciate the benefits of dealing with a family run business that is contributing some of their profits back into the community in which they live.

“We are all aware of the rise in the number of rough sleepers on Swindon’s streets and wanted to do more than just buying them an occasional coffee,” Dean explained. After speaking to Threshold and learning that the number of Swindon’s homeless had increased by 62 per cent in the past year, we decided to ‘do our bit’ in our community and we hope to raise awareness at the same time.”

Michael Keenan, Threshold’s business manager, said: “It’s tremendous that Primary Homes and Lettings are so strongly supporting us in our Business Against Homelessness initiative.

“Their commitment is heart-felt and incredibly well received by our charity at a time of ever increasing need.

“Their pledge clearly communicates the passion and care they have for our local community and directly supports critical human service work that will improve the life opportunities of some of the most vulnerable members of our society by supporting their chance to change.”