Christmas building search

We need buildings for our Christmas centres

In these difficult economic times, more people face losing their jobs and homes. Crisis has been supporting homeless and vulnerably housed people with essential services for 40 years. Today our work and the services we deliver are a vital lifeline to those suffering as a result of the downturn and those who are already vulnerable and too often forgotten.

In addition to our year-round work, every Christmas we provide food, companionship and essential services to over 2,500 homeless and vulnerably housed people in a network of temporary centres across London.

Do you have a building that could help us provide this in 2012?

Where do we provide our centres?

Crisis runs nine centres across inner London.

• Day centres for people living in hostels and vulnerable accommodation
• Residential centres for rough sleepers and people with specific needs

We open our centres from 23 to 30 December inclusive. We prefer our centres to be within Zones 1 or 2 as they are easily accessible to volunteers and clients alike.

The buildings we need

This year all of our day centres are being hosted by colleges and schools in inner London. However we still need buildings to house our residential and specialist centres.

Buildings should:

• Be between 20,000 and 60,000 square feet
• Have large areas for communal use
• Have kitchens or areas that can be converted into kitchens
• Have external space for parking
• Have toilet and washing facilities or space and drainage for them to be installed
• Be clean and dry throughout
• Be close to public transport links
• Be preferably away from residential areas
• Be available from mid-November or before

Location

This year our target areas for the buildings we still need are the boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Islington, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth and City Of London.

What do we provide at our centres?

Crisis at Christmas centres provide far more than just food and a bed. They are places of engagement, comfort and interaction where our guests can:.

• Have a health check-up in one of our medical centres
• Get professional dental care
• Get essential help with housing issues
• Engage in a wide range of activities - from arts and crafts to IT
• Get advice on learning and job opportunities
• Indulge in a range of esteem-building therapies
• Enjoy a full programme of entertainments and sports activities
• Get to meet old friends and make new ones in a safe and comfortable environment

Last year over 85 per cent of guests said that Crisis at Christmas had made a positive impact on their lives. Over 650 people used our medical centre and 180 people went to the dentist - for many it is their only chance during the year. 286 people visited the opticians, and we found housing solutions for over 120 guests.

Will we look after your building?

The Crisis set-up team is experienced in creating stimulating and comfortable environments that are far removed from the traditional image of ‘shelters' and ‘soup kitchens'. These environments allow our guests to receive services and enjoy their Christmas with dignity and in a place that makes them feel valued.

Whether it is transforming a disused office block in Moorgate, a school in Islington or creating a ‘village' inside the Millennium Dome or London Arena, the Crisis Team always respects the buildings in which we operate, leaving them in the same state (and often better) than that in which we found them - vitally important when 1,000 students return from their Christmas holidays just four days after we vacate the premises - as happened at our schools and college-based centres last year).

Previous building donors

The following companies and organisations have donated buildings for our use at Christmas in the past few years:

British Land, Land Securities, London Development Agency, Ballymore, GE Property Services, Callington Estates, English Partnerships, BBC, Tate & Lyle, Westminster City Council, Southwark Council, Wellcome Trust, Fidelity, Prudential, Newham College, Schools Plus, Pearl and Coutts, Hammersmith and West London College, City of London Academy

References can be provided from previous landlords on request, but here is a sample of the feedback we have had:

"Wellcome Trust worked with Crisis Christmas on a centre for up to 300 people. Crisis met tight deadlines in getting the centre ready, both in satisfying the various property and legal issues and carrying out physical works. We were impressed throughout with the professional approach and enthusiasm of the Crisis team."

Alan Lynch, Property and Infrastructure Investments, Wellcome Trust

"We found Crisis staff extremely professional and helpful to deal with. The arrangements were made quickly and to our complete satisfaction.

The day centre programme itself was very successful and we were greeted on our return from our winter closure by our buildings being, if anything, in better conditions than when we handed them over to Crisis.

We received extremely positive and sometimes moving testimony from the homeless people who used our centre over that period. It was clear from this that our small gesture had made a big difference to these people."

Martin Tolhurst, Principal, Newham College

If you can help please contact

Ian Richards on 07738 149702 or email ian.richards@crisis.org.uk

Mick Bateman on 07738 149701, or email mick.bateman@crisis.org.uk

Thank you and best wishes