It seems the last time I was writing this page for the magazine, Fr John was in the Holy Land and I was wishing you all a successful 2009! Where does the time go?
This time last year I was excited and apprehensive about spending part of my Christmas working for Crisis in their Rough Sleepers Centre. This year I am just excited. We have secured the same building in East London and we will be opening our doors on December 23rd for 300 of the most vulnerable rough sleepers in London. We are hoping that this year the weather will be kind to us and that the snow will stay away, at least for that week.
Crisis at Christmas is reaching its 40th year. Whilst we should celebrate the dedication of the many tens of thousands of volunteers who have made this possible, it is a scandal that we are still needed at all. In 21st century Britain, it cannot be right that some people are left with no option but to sleep rough, but Crisis at Christmas still exists 40 years on, in fact, we are busier than ever, as homelessness begins to rise again.
Crisis has achieved much in the past four decades to persuade successive governments and other agencies to tackle homelessness. With the recession, unemployment and rising living costs, homelessness is already rising, and this is before cuts to benefits, support services and housing really start to bite. We must not turn the clock back; no one wants to see a return to the days of cardboard cities in our town centres and underpasses.
During the year Crisis offers support and advice to the homeless. They have accredited education, training and employment centres which offer practical and creative workshops along with formal learning opportunities that lead to qualifications and finding work. They have health days which offer free health checks and first aid training and of course they support and help people to find accommodation that they can call ‘home’ once again.
So my four12hour night shifts are booked, including Christmas night, I expect like last year I will do more than four nights. I am looking forward to meeting up with my fellow volunteers and making new friends. I would like to think that many of last year’s ‘guests’ will not be returning this year, some will be celebrating Christmas in their new ‘home’. Unfortunately most will be returning and empty places will be filled with new homeless people.
So Christmas for me will be divided between my immediate family and my rather large extended Crisis family.
St John’s will be supporting Crisis again this year. For those of you who don’t know, the idea is that you send one Christmas card to your friends at church and the money you have saved is put in the donation box for Crisis at the back of church. Cards can be pinned up on the notice boards.
Over 2000 years ago an innkeeper opened up his stable for a family in need. Crisis will be opening its doors again for the 40th time this Christmas.
I wish you and your families far and near, a very happy and holy Christmas and a joyous and successful 2012.
Kathy Lawrence (Churchwarden)