Going to where the needs are

Providing daily essentials for homeless and vulnerably housed people living in London.  London CityAid provides food, drink, clothing, toiletries, blankets and sleeping bags to vulnerable people.

The most important aspect of the work is to provide a listening ear to those people who just want to talk and share their thoughts and concerns.

In recent years London CityAid has been supporting Eastern European people who have found themselves homeless after arriving in London in expectation of a job, only to find there was not one waiting for them as planned.

The Soup Run Forum in London is coordinated by Housing Justice

A day in the life of London CityAid

Lots of things happen behind the scenes before the MRCT team of volunteers go to London.

We ensure that each person is prepared for the trip and has read the guidelines produced by the charity on working with homeless and vulnerably housed people.  A team of between 5 to 8 people attend every trip to London.

The transport for London CityAid is coordinated in association with Harlow Community Transport.  The minibus will usually have between 9 to 15 seats with storage room at the back for provisions.

The Maybury Centre takes in the clothing, blankets and sleeping bags where they are sorted, bagged and labelled, then delivered to the MRCT lockup in Clover Field.   Donations come from various agencies, such as, the Salvation Army, churches and individuals.

It’s Tuesday and time for London CityAid -

• 4.45pm

  The minibus is ready to start the 'run!

• 5.00pm

  Cakes, pies and pasties are collected usually from bakers across the town.  The ones that did not sell on the day of the run, nothing is wasted -

• 5.30pm

  Various equipment is picked up by the minibus, such as, the water urn for hot water and then they collect the clothing and provisions from the MRCT lockup -

• 7.00pm

  Pre-packed and labelled sandwiches arrive from the Gateway Christian Fellowship -

• 7.20pm

  The team meets at Potter Street Baptist Church Hall in Harlow and travel to London -

• 8.15pm

  The team arrive outside the Army & Navy store in Victoria where between 30 to 60 people congregate.

  Some are homeless, others live in hostels but like to come onto the streets at night to meet their friends over a cup of tea, chocolate, coffee, cake or pie.  Many Eastern European people are also homeless  and visit on London CityAid.

  The team spend up to 3 hours here serving those who come with refreshments and clothing provisions, books etc.

  This is a valuable time to listen and to talk with the people on the street -

• 11.15pm

  –Time to pack up and travel home to Harlow, tired and looking forward to our beds.  The minibus is unloaded then returned and most of the team is home between 12 midnight and 12.30am.  

  We never really know what we have achieved but feel privileged to be able to give support to people in need and make plenty of new friends in the process.

Dates of future London CityAid -

 Help needed

• Volunteers for London CityAid

• Provisions – tea, coffee, chocolate, long life milk, cuppa soup, sugar, blankets, sleeping bags, male and female clothing, boots and shoes, toiletries, plastic cups, towels and flannels or donations.

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