It’s a privilege to introduce our latest issue of Together, the online magazine produced for Crisis supporters like you.
This issue will bring you stories and updates from across our services, to show how we are all working together to end homelessness. Thank you to my Crisis colleagues, our volunteers, and most of all, our members - the people with experience of homelessness - who bravely shared their stories for you to read.
If you have a few minutes please complete the survey at the end; we’d love to hear what you think of the magazine.
People were more reliant on our services than ever before, so thank you for being there by helping us to provide the life-changing support and services featured in this magazine. From all of us at Crisis, thank you. We couldn’t do any of this without you.
Éimear, Editor
6,600
people supported this Christmas
3,200 +
volunteers shared their time, skills and compassion
500
hotel rooms were provided for people experiencing rough sleeping
2 weeks
of respite, access to experts and anything else needed to rebuild their life
20 hotel beds
for women for 12 weeks
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing over the plains
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.
At our carol services throughout December, the air was filled with the glorious sound of our choirs; each one made up of people who have experienced homelessness.
In Edinburgh, Newcastle, Merseyside, Birmingham, Oxford, Swansea, and London, our carol services provided a unique opportunity to reflect on all we have achieved over the year with your help and hear from some of the people who have lived experience of homelessness.
One of them was King, an asylum seeker from Asia. At Newcastle Cathedral on 7th December, King shared her experiences through a very moving speech and poem. You can read some of the verses when you scroll down to the section: King of the world.
This Christmas has been so special for me. For the first time in many years, I have felt love and care from so many people who have helped me on my difficult and traumatic journey. I can look to 2024 where hopefully I can see some light after such a dark period.
King
Thanks to you, Crisis at Christmas helped people build a life beyond homelessness.
Over the Christmas period, incredible supporters like you helped us deliver services from our Skylight Centres across Britain, making last Christmas special at a time of desperate need for thousands of people throughout our country.
Quite simply, your support meant that we were able to help thousands of people who had nowhere else to turn, making a huge difference to their physical and mental health at Christmas – and for the rest of their lives.
Crisis have provided an awful lot of help, from understanding, love, compassion, to food vouchers, telephones, to getting me housed and have allowed me to be me and recover.
George, Member, Crisis Skylight Oxford
Marta, one of our volunteers, sorting food hampers at Crisis Skylight Oxford
Former member Chantal, with her catering team serving nutritious food
Eye test in progress in one of our London hotels
Ewan - Volunteer Head Chef
Ewan already has a day job running event catering at Edinburgh University. It’s enough to keep anyone busy, but he also volunteers as Head Chef for Crisis at Christmas. Here, he tells us a bit about his work.
“Generally, chefs want to look after people. We’re here for the members. Even if it’s just a bacon roll, it’s the fact that someone’s made that for them, it’s a huge thing.
Everyone knows someone who’s been in a bad situation. I came close to being homeless once. It didn’t happen because somebody let me stay in their house. Then I got back on my feet. I always said if I could give something back, I would.
When I joined, we relied on food donations. But there was no wish list. When I took over, I was like, let’s actually write a menu, so then we could go to people to say, ‘can we have 80 kilos of turkey please?’ and that’s what we did.
People are fed all day, that’s the idea. They are in the centre, they’re warm, they’re dry and there’s food, so we just keep going.”
I can’t solve all the problems in the world, but I can feed people.
Ewan
Together we can campaign for change
Housing benefit helps millions of people keep the foundation of a safe, decent home by helping them pay their rent. However, in 2020, housing benefit was frozen by the UK Government. It should cover the cheapest third of private rents in an area, but as rents sky-rocketed, a growing number of people experienced a shortfall between their housing benefit and the cost of their rent.
Thanks to supporters like you joining us in campaigning for an increase, the Chancellor promised in his Autumn statement to increase Universal Credit to again cover the cheapest third of private rents, starting in April.
When we work together we know we can get the lasting changes needed to end homelessness.
Looking ahead to the next UK General Election, we must ensure all Westminster parties sustain this investment and commit to ending all forms of homelessness in their election manifestos.
Join our Make History campaign
Sharon is a Critical Time Intervention Lead Worker in Merseyside, which means she helps people facing imminent homelessness – including prison leavers like John (featured below).
“I work with people who are nearing release from prison or are in approved premises, like a hostel. They usually only have 12 weeks to secure new accommodation, so we need to help them find somewhere suitable to live, fast.
The biggest challenge is the lack of affordable housing. So we often work alongside someone to help improve their income, either by maximising benefits or getting a job. For example, if they want to become a labourer, we may help them onto a course.
I recently finished working with John, who was able to get a private tenancy quite quickly. But our work didn’t end there, as John had lost contact with his son and was unable to return to his job as a carer.
John’s crime was alcohol-related, so he started with AA. Over the months, his mental health improved and we explored what he could do for work. He enjoyed gardening, so we found a community gardening course for him. After that, he got a part time volunteering job and is now looking to start his own business. He’s also going through the court system to re-establish contact with his son."
Seeing someone like John put their past behind them, make a home and start a new life is the highlight of what we do. And none of it would be possible without the compassion and support of people like you. Thank you.
Sharon
This is a story of a real member's experience but we have changed his name to protect his privacy.
King is an asylum seeker living in Newcastle, who is building a life beyond homelessness and overcoming immense trauma.
While waiting to be granted asylum, people like King have no access to public funds and are unable to work, often trapping them in homelessness.
With the help of Crisis Lead Worker Emma, King worked to improve her mental health, and gained confidence through poetry and art. Crisis will always support people who find it difficult to access or are excluded from services.
King’s painting will be exhibited at the Clarendon Fine Art Gallery in Newcastle, as part of a fundraiser for Crisis.
I have struggled with my mental health. Emotionally, this is very difficult and challenging to explain but through my painting, I hope to have illustrated the trauma of losing hope and freedom.
King
Meet Stuart, Crisis volunteer and supporter
In 1999, Stuart had a comfortable life, with a lovely home, partner and children. But in the space of a few days that summer, everything changed. This is how he
became part of Crisis:
“I lost everything and would have found myself on the streets if it hadn’t been for the kindness of friends. I spent a few nights here, a few nights there, always leaving before I outstayed my welcome. I slept in my car on a couple of occasions because I was too embarrassed to ask if I could sleep at somebody’s house – again.
Compared to many of our Crisis guests, I was very lucky. After a few difficult weeks I had found somewhere stable to live and I was beginning to piece things together. But Christmas was looming and I was dreading spending most of it on my own, only seeing my children briefly.
Then I remembered Crisis, and that’s how I became a volunteer at Olympia on Christmas morning. The first job I ever did on shift was to help serve breakfast.
Since then, I’ve become passionate about doing anything I can to help Crisis. I give a monthly donation and leaving a gift in my Will is another great way to help.
Now I know my support for Crisis will help the next generation."
Farewill is the UK's top-rated will-writer
Using Farewill to write your Will is quick, easy and can be done from your own home. It’s completely free for Crisis supporters, but there’s no obligation to leave a gift to Crisis.
To write your Will for free with Farewill, visit farewill.com/crisisstuart1.
Or for more information about leaving a gift in your Will, contact George Shelley on george.shelley@crisis.org.uk or call 07814 654362.
Thank you so much for reading this issue of Together, we are so grateful for the support you give to Crisis.
If you have a few minutes please complete our feedback survey we’d love to hear what you think of the magazine.
Thank you so much for the support you give to Crisis. If you would like to continue to help people leave homelessness behind for good, please consider making a regular donation.
a month could help could pay for personal hygiene items to support someone’s dignity and self-worth.
a month could help provide someone with information and advice to support their journey out of homelessness.
a month could help fund one of our support workers to help someone budget and manage their expenses as they settle into their new home.
a month could help provide someone with one-to-one support in finding a secure place to live, so they leave homelessness for good.
Or
could provide a warm welcome to a Crisis service and help someone take their first steps out of homelessness.
could support someone to access volunteering opportunities, helping them to connect with their community and gain valuable work experience.
could provide someone with the basic essentials they need to settle into a home, such as a kettle, pans and microwave.
Or
Photo credits: Angela Franklin, Kimi Gill, Fran Hales, Rob Melen, Sam Mellish, Max Miechowski, Donna Riddington