While sleeping rough, John struggled with alcohol addiction. He suffered a bad fall whilst living on the streets and now walks with a crutch and sometimes experiences seizures. 

When John was helped off the street by outreach workers, it was important for him to have somewhere accessible to stay. He has recently moved into a self-contained flat, with a small kitchenette in a Thames Reach hostel.  

How the Essentials Fund has helped

As a former pastry chef, John was keen to get back into cooking.

With help from the Essentials Fund, John purchased an induction hob and pans. These essential items have enabled him to feel more independent and motivated.

John is excited for a fresh start and in his words, to ‘get better’. He wants to re-start his career as a chef and hopes that cooking on the hob will help refresh his memory and skills.

When the time comes for John to move on and leave the hostel, he can take his hob with him.

Please support our Essentials Fund this winter.

Thank you so much for giving to our Essentials Fund. Your gift will make a real difference to people recovering from homelessness this winter. 

We look forward to keeping you updated on the impact of your kind donation. 

Thank you again. 

Photographs and writing created by members of the Deptford Reach community have gone on display at Deptford Lounge, as part of a project with arts charity Create.

Participants created the artwork as part of a 12-week project run by Create, and funded by the Deptford Challenge Trust. Guided by two professional artists, photographer Alicia Clarke and writer James Baldwin, the members of Deptford Reach explored a variety of photographic techniques (including reportage and still-life) and writing styles (including monologues and short stories) in order to express themselves and find their voice.

The resulting artworks are now on public display in the windows at Deptford Lounge until the New Year, and can be seen for free by passers-by.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of the workshops,” said one of the participants. “I like to do different things with my mind, like using the camera, writing and all that. I enjoy coming here to do it because it gives me something to do instead of sitting down indoors all day doing nothing. It helps me with my mind doing different things.”

Deptford Reach’s ‘Speak With My Voice’ partnership with Create has been running 2008. The project gives vulnerable adults the opportunity to work creatively with professional artists and one another, using photography and creative writing to break down barriers, build relationships and trust, reduce isolation, enhance self-confidence and self-esteem, and have fun.

Nicky Goulder, founding chief executive at Create, said: “This important project gives vulnerable adults the opportunity to work creatively with our professional artists and one another, using photography and creative writing to break down barriers, build relationships and trust, reduce isolation, enhance self-confidence and self-esteem, and have fun. Never has this work been more important, at a time when everyone has experienced increased isolation, and it has been a privilege to enable these participants to express themselves and enhance their wellbeing over the past few months. I hope everyone enjoys the exhibition, which demonstrates their talent so wonderfully.”

Jordan McTigue, lead manager at Deptford Reach, said: “This year has seen our work at Deptford Reach look quite different. While we usually operate as a day centre, we are now providing a floating support service to ensure vulnerable people in the community are not further isolated by the pandemic. Taking part in creative projects is something we know is incredibly beneficial, and well received, towards mental wellbeing, and we’re really pleased that this exhibition with Create is taking place at the heart of the community.”

Alicia Clarke, Create photographer, said: “It has been my pleasure to facilitate photography workshops with attendees of Deptford Reach. Taking inspiration from some famous photographers’ work, and discussing the meaning behind images, were key parts of our workshops, and it was so inspiring to then see the world interpreted through the eyes of the participants. There were lots of diverse interests within the group and I feel that everyone found ways to express themselves, and to enjoy the work of their peers. We had so much fun!”

James Baldwin, Create writer, said: “The group chose to focus on screenwriting and adaptation, speech writing and rhetoric, monologues for theatre, poetry and song, and short stories. Across this display you’ll find the pieces of work that each writer feels represents their voice best. Like a photograph captures a single moment in time, the writer’s writing captures them on that day, in that mood, with those thoughts. A literary snapshot documenting unusual times.”

This Christmas, we’re delighted to be partnering with Social Bite, who are the largest deliverers of freshly made free food to people who are homeless in the UK. They have just launched their Christmas Meal Appeal in association with Just Eat, in order to provide up to 200,000 meals for homeless and vulnerable people over the festive period.

Until Christmas Day, whenever you order a takeaway from Just Eat, you can choose to donate at checkout and help provide a meal for people experiencing homelessness, with each donation being matched by Just Eat.

The Christmas Meal Appeal was officially launched this week by Helen Mirren, and is being supported by other well-known faces including Rob Bryden and Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy.

The funds raised by the appeal are being distributed to a number of charities including Thames Reach in order to support homeless and vulnerable people this Christmas.

‘Thames Reach is honoured to be part of this campaign with Social Bite,’ said Thames Reach Chief Executive Bill Tidnam. ‘This year has been challenging across all our services helping vulnerable people away from street homelessness, but the efforts of communities coming together to help each other has been really encouraging.

‘Our work centres around helping people find decent homes, build supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives, an important part of this is supporting people who are moving away from street homelessness, who are working hard to build a home, but who are often struggling with loneliness and isolation.  For them the idea of festive food is important, perhaps most importantly because of what it represents and we are very grateful to be one of Social Bite’s recipients this winter,’ he added.