Whitechapel Mission 2024
The Whitechapel Mission has been serving the homeless and marginalised since 1876 – including a day centre, skills training and career advice, activity programmes and specialist support for complex needs. By encouraging each person to address the issues which caused their homelessness, they help them to gain the skills and confidence to make lasting changes in their lives.
They believe everyone deserves a chance, regardless of their background, race or religion. They are open to all, without exception.
Every day of the year, they welcome the weary faces of men and women facing despair. Many have tried surviving on the streets. Others are encountering homelessness for the first time after losing jobs or facing personal crises. Hundreds of people literally feel that they have nowhere else to turn for help. But through your gifts, they are there for them in a time of need, and they do this without public funding.
They offer a Day Centre which is open 365 days of the year, opening their doors at exactly 6 am and are open to anybody who walks in, without exception.
A free breakfast is served from 8 am each and every morning of the year offers a large choice from cereals to a full English. Over 300 breakfasts are provided each day.
Showers are available Monday to Friday from 7 am until 10 pm, with fresh clothing available every day. They operate one of the largest clothing stores in the UK, with van loads of clothing arriving every week from supporters all over the country.
They have advice services to encourage and assist people regardless of background, to improve their lives with pointers to other services such as Street Link.
Computers are available to improve lives, by equipping people with the skills to sustain tenancies, gain employment and integrate into the wider community.
We at SYMC have supported this mission in previous years by donating towels and new underwear together with hotel toiletries, giving them to Maggy and Colin to take each year. However nowadays they can only go to London by train and take the hotel toiletries.
Maggy preached at SYMC on 11th February and we had a retiring collection for the Whitechapel Mission, raising an amazing £77.50. There was also a Hymn Sing at Crowthorne Methodist Church on 17th February which also raised £700 with gift aid raising that to £875.
Thank you so much for all your kind donations, whether toiletries or money it makes a huge difference to people who have absolutely nothing.
Keg