Page 5, 21st March 1980

21st March 1980

Page 5

Page 5, 21st March 1980 — Down-and-out in Leeds, London and Canterbury
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Organisations: Day Centre in Leeds
Locations: Canterbury, Leeds, London

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Down-and-out in Leeds, London and Canterbury

IF YOU live in any large centre of population you'll probably be familiar with the sight of a down-at-heels man or woman shambling along, occasionally stopping someone to ask for the price of a cup of tea.
It's easy to have prejudices about such people. Are they meths drinkers? Psychiatric cases? Scroungers perhaps?
Down-and-outs can't be easily labelled. Their plight arises from a number of causes ranging from drug addiction to the humiliation of having arrived in London with no place to live.
London, espcially, has a variety of organisations for down-and-outs. The St Mungo Community Trust, for example. runs a nightly mobile soup kitchen.
It travels from 10 pm to 4 am, stopping in six places. The van has a driver and several volunteers, and operates on a rota system. They need volunteers who are prepared to commit themselves at least once a fortnight, And it doesn't just mean doling out bread and soup. Those for whom St Mungo cater are cut off from human contact most of the time. People spurn them in the streets, so a few friendly words of conversation and the ability to listen makes all the difference to their self-esteem.
Many down-and-outs are alcoholics or psychiatric cases or both. Providence Row, run by the Sisters of Mercy, deals with men and women in this category.
You could help by joining a group of volunteers who visit their night refuge once a week. Again, your ability to be a good listener is what really counts.
The Simon Community have 'a special commitment to "Skidrow". They have two houses in London, and one near Canterbury. Full-time volunteers live a very vocational life, with £5.95 a week pocket money. They work long hours, and are residential.
Co-workers visit a centre when they can, and help in practical ways: making tea, taking people to hospital, and being good listeners.
Most cities have some form of apostolate for the down-andout. One of the best known is the St Anne's' Day Centre in Leeds. They deal with alcoholics and psychiatrics.
Some addresses: Providence (Row) Night Refuge and Home, 50 Crispin Street, London El 6QH. Contact Sister Marie, Tel: 01247 2159.
The Simon Community, 129 Malden Road, London NW5. Tel: 01-485 6639.
St Mungo's Community Trust, 21 Abercrombie Street London SW11, 01-223 4446, St Anne's Day Shelter, 5 Bingley Street. Leeds 3. Tel: 31894.




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