A team from the Manchester office of Lloyds Banking Group spent the day at the Booth Centre on Monday as a team building charity event.  They spent the morning serving drinks, giving out toiletries, washing up and sitting and talking to people.  They prepared a buffet lunch for everyone and then ran a quiz in the afternoon.  It was a great day which was fun for people at Centre and a real eye opener for the staff, who learned all about why people become homeless and the effect it can have from people who are living through it.  They have also been busy fundraising and collecting donations for the Centre. 

Thanks for all your hard work!  If anyone is interested in organising a team building day for their staff please email Amanda - [email protected]

Neil's story is the second in a short series of case studies about people who have recently come to the Booth Centre for support.

"I started coming to the Centre as I needed something to eat and drink. I became homeless after I sold my house. While I still had some money from it I was fine, but when it ran out I had nowhere to go. I didn’t have a GP or benefits and I was just walking the streets.

It took me a while to get used to coming to the Centre but they began to ask me what help I needed and suggested how I could get some accommodation. I am now registered with a local doctor, am receiving benefits and have somewhere to live, as well as being in touch with a mental health worker. I feel healthier and the activities provided at the Centre have rekindled my interest in the arts. I am doing more things for enjoyment, and the other people who come to the Centre are nice.

I am doing a number of courses at the Centre but what I would particularly like to do is to learn the guitar. I am quite keen to go and do courses at other places. Ultimately I would like to live overseas one day. My short term goal is to buy a guitar, as my music is really important to me. At the moment the most urgent thing would be to buy a CD player and radio. My flat is really quiet and empty."


Update: We bought Neil a CD/radio and Matt has given him some CDs. We are currently looking to provide a guitar for Neil in time for the start of the beginners guitar class at Back On Track, an Adult Education Centre on Swan Street.

Thank you to all the people that have given permission for us to share their stories. Names and some details have been changed to protect anonymity. 

Richard's story is the first in a short series of case studies about people who have recently come to the Booth Centre for support. 

"I lost my flat because I started getting into difficulty and didn't ask for help in time. I ended up sofa-surfing for a number of weeks. I came to the Booth Centre because I knew they wouldn't judge me. 

I have formed friendships through the drop-ins and activities here. I really enjoy helping other people who are in a similar situation, or who are struggling more than I am. I can often give other people advice because I've been there too. 

I like keeping busy and having something to do with my day. I am busy job searching at the moment and making the room in my hostel more homely. The bedding I have has cigarette burns in it and the pillows are flat, and although everything is clean it would make a difference to get some decent bedding. I suffer from insomnia quite a bit and I think it would help with that. It would also be something that I could take with me when I move into my own place.

Previously I've worked in the catering industry and the Booth Centre has helped me develop my skills in cooking, which is a real passion of mine. It would be great to help run the cookery classes at the Centre at some point. It can be hard to cook hearty meals for myself and friends without quality pots and pans though, and I'm keen to keep up my cooking skills for when I get back to work in the future. 

I am a very organised person and I like structure and boundaries when I'm working, but coming to the Booth Centre and doing activities like the art class are great because I feel like there are no right or wrong answers, and I can just get creative, express myself and have a laugh."


Update: We bought Richard new bedding, as well as some pots and pans. Richard is currently on a work placement with Business in the Community and we are now helping him to apply for his own flat.

Thank you to all the people that have given permission for us to share their stories. Names and some details have been changed to protect anonymity. 

We have launched a new website to advertise all the services run by day centres in Manchester and Salford: www.homelessinmanchester.org 

Please visit the site to find out more about what services are being provided and how to make referrals.

The Booth Centre is backing a new anti-begging campaign in Manchester which urges members of the public to give to charities rather than giving to people begging on the streets.  The vast majority of people who beg are not homeless and most of the money they recieve will be spent on drugs or alcohol.  The more money they get the larger their habit becomes and the harder it is for them to move away from this lifestyle which destroys people's health and their self esteem.  Even if people are sleeping rough they can claim benefits and you do not pay for hostels with cash, they are paid for through Housing Benefit - so if people tell you that they just need some money to get into a hostel for the night, it just isn't true.

The Manchester Evening News covered the story this week
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/homeless-charities-back-clampdown-manchester-3420946

You can listen to Sam Walker's BBC Radio Manchester phone in from Thursday 16th May http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p017mb9h