Big-hearted twins organise summer '˜hoedown' in aid of the homeless in Leeds

Twins Becky and Shelley Joyce are hoping people will grab their dancing boots for an American-themed summer fundraiser to help achieve their dream of setting up a homeless hostel in Leeds.
Twin sisters Shelley and Becky Joyce  44, of  Homeless Street Angels. Picture Tony Johnson.Twin sisters Shelley and Becky Joyce  44, of  Homeless Street Angels. Picture Tony Johnson.
Twin sisters Shelley and Becky Joyce 44, of Homeless Street Angels. Picture Tony Johnson.

The sisters, 44, founded the not-for-profit organisation Homeless Street Angels last year, to help feed and clothe those who live on the streets of Leeds and Headingley.

Their goal is to set up a homeless hostel in Headingley called Abi House - named after sister who died last August aged 39 - but need money to support their cause, not least the £5k needed for them to become a registered charity.

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This summer the duo have organised a ‘Homeless Hoedown’ to take place at Oakwood Church on Saturday July 14 from 11am to 3pm. The event will include a Country and Western singer, a bucking bronco, line dancing, a bouncy castle, glitter face paints, tombola and cake sale.

Mum-of-three Becky, of Moortown, said: “It’s going to be a big family fun day - a great laugh for everyone. It’s something Abi would have loved.”

She added: “We’d particularly like to thank Mr Singh from Wow Bouncy Castles who is donating the bucking bronco free of charge for the whole day.”

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Becky said she hopes the hoedown will take them over the line to become a charity, which will then enable them to apply for grants and extra funding to set up Abi House.

She said: “A hostel is so important. There are so many people on the streets and we can’t just put them in a house. It’s not working.

“They need mental health treatment, or drug counselling or treatment, and life-skills”

For more details or to support the cause, visit the sisters’ website at www.homelessstreetangels.co.uk.