Glass Door launch Christmas Appeal
Glass Door are committed to supporting people by helping them get off and stay off the streets. This London based charity got in touch with Urban Village LDN to tell us about the launch of their Christmas appeal and animated film narrated by Colin Firth. The film shows how people become homeless and illustrates as Colin says that “homeless people have stories to share and value to give society. Glass Door helps them create a life, not just an existence.”. Melissa Kerschen, Head of Communications for Glass Door and a Fulham resident told us “before the pandemic, Glass Door worked with churches and volunteers from across four London boroughs, including Hammersmith and Fulham. Glass Door has pivoted to offering single room accommodation in central London, but the charity still work closely with partners across West London to provide a casework advice service to those affected by homelessness in Hammersmith and Fulham.”
Glass Door told us that sadly thousands are predicted to become homeless in the coming months and the number of people who are becoming newly homeless is rising. “Data from the CHAIN database, which records information on rough sleepers, indicated more than 11,000 people were seen sleeping rough in London last year, a 3% increase on the previous year. This year, government has less funding to support rough sleepers and with the end of eviction protection measures, plus rises in the cost of living, many predict the number of people needing support out of homelessness will skyrocket”. Last Christmas Alex (not his real name) was homeless, he lost his wife to cancer and his business during the pandemic. “It was the first time in over 30 something years I was alone at Christmas. It’s the loneliness that gets to you,” the former captain in the army recalls “I moved into the Glass Door hostel project. I could take a shower and go downstairs to eat a meal. But even more importantly, I could talk to someone. Staff were so helpful. I felt like someone again.”
Glass Door are seeking donations for their Christmas appeal to give the homeless a room, meals and access to support this Christmas and throughout the cold winter: £32 gives someone an individual room and three meals for the day, £85 provides ten support sessions with a specialist caseworker to hone a CV, prepare for interviews and find employment, £218 funds a “move-on” package with support sessions and a deposit to help move into a stable accommodation, £960 funds a guest’s stay for an entire month in the Glass Door hostel. Lucy Horitz, CEO of Glass Door says: "This year, we have witnessed an increase in people turning to us who are at risk of becoming homeless. We will do all we can to prevent that from happening. But for those who have no other options, Glass Door can provide a warm, safe place to stay.”
Christmas Concert: Sunday 12
On Sunday 12 December at 6.00pm the Fulham Camerata will perform excerpts from “Messiah by Candlelight”. There will also be audience carols and mulled wine at Holy Cross Church, Ashington Road, Parsons Green, London SW6 3QA. Tickets can be purchased on the door for £12/£10 each. Fulham Camerata told us some interesting facts about Handel’s Messiah. It’s been performed at the Royal Albert Hall 524 times since 1872, was originally written for Easter but has become strongly linked with the Christmas season, Handel composed the entire piece at breakneck speed in just 24 days. The 'Hallelujah’ chorus is one of the most famous pieces of Baroque choral music and the most widely known section of the work. Formed in September 2007 Fulham Camerata is an amateur chamber choir, supported by an ensemble of semi professionals, spanning all age groups and various nationalities, led by music director, Harry Castle and you can find out more about them and the concert below.
H&F Christmas Foodbank donations
Local resident Gemma Greenslade got in touch to tell us that the Christmas box donations for the H&F Foodbank is running again this year. It’s an easy way to support members of our local community, simply fill a box with food items and drop it between 8.30am - 9.15am in front of L’Ecole des Petits, 2 Hazlebury Road, SW6 2NB on Wednesday 15 December. The foodbank will then collect the boxes and distribute them. Items you can add to the box include cereal, pasta, soup, biscuits, tinned tomatoes and jam. See the poster for the full list.