A CHARITY is delivering water bottles and other essentials to hospitals and the homeless in the North West.

The Hajja Naziha charity (HNCO) based in Burnley are committed to helping the homeless people of East Lancashire, who are highly at risk during the coronavirus outbreak.

HNCO started by making coronavirus health packs to give to the vulnerable and distributed them those that are homeless.

Inside the health packs are dettol soaps, antibacterial wipes, handy tissues, a water bottle, and an NHS leaflet.

Gulshan Rehman, who runs the group said: “So we initially made coronavirus packs to help those that wouldn’t be able to help themselves during the lockdown.

“We made them for the homeless and distributed them and asked everyone to help us in raising funds to do this.

“We reached well over our target of £1000, and they were greatly received by the homeless community.

“They wouldn’t have anything to help them keep safe otherwise.”

In addition to this, the charity wanted to help NHS staff, as they are on the frontline.

They handed out water bottles to Royal Blackburn Hospital and are making packs to with basic toiletries.

Ms Rehman said: The packs for the hospitals contain tinned food, pyjamas, tea, coffee and sugar and more.

“We are currently running that fundraiser while we donate water bottles to all hospitals with our first huge drop at Royal Blackburn Hospital a week ago, and this was also greatly received.

“The NHS staff are important to us as they are on the frontline and are the ones who are going to be saving all of our lives.

“We are ever so grateful to be able to do something back for them.”

HNCO did not stop there, as they also got their van out and started delivering essentials to the elderly and vulnerable in conjunction with a local spar shop in Hillingdon.

In January they won Most Recommended Charity of the year at the British Muslim Awards for all their work.

The charity helps efforts towards projects helping to feed the needy, provide water aid to third world countries and emergency relief to disaster-stricken places.

Every other Wednesday, HNCO joins the community in a Homeless Outreach evening in Burnley, at Thompson Centre car park, where those in need can go for a hot meal, tea, fresh fruit, cold drinks and more.