Earlier this month I met with Jad Adams, Chairman of Nightwatch, and he kindly updated me on all the great work which Croydon Nightwatch does in supporting the homeless and other vulnerable people in Croydon.
They help people at every level of homelessness from the street homeless to those in hostels and bed and breakfast accommodation as well as vulnerable former homeless people who need ongoing support to stop them becoming homeless again.
I was delighted to meet the Monday team of cheery volunteers as they prepared the food bags and warmed the soup to hand out to the clients who attended that evening. It was a warm evening and a queue was already building as the Nightwatch volunteers prepared their tables on the steps of Bernard Weatherill House.
It was good to have the opportunity to speak to a number of clients as they sipped their hot drinks and to find out a bit about the problems which they are experiencing. It was particularly interesting to hear from one lady who goes along just to have a chat with people – she lives nearby and is lonely.
Nightwatch is currently running its Harvest Festival Appeal.
They are asking for cans of soup (not packets) and would also be grateful for canned vegetables, meat and fish which they can distribute to people who have basic cooking facilities. Cans of fruit can be given to people who have no facilities at all and canned milk is also popular. At 60 Park Lane, Croydon CR0 1JE – Near Fairfield Halls roundabout
Donations can be dropped off:
On: any Sunday in October between 7.30pm and 10.30pm
At: The Hall of the Croydon Society of Friends (Quakers) - 60 Park Lane, Croydon CR0 1JE – Near Fairfield Halls roundabout
Further details about Nightwatch including information about how to volunteer or make a financial donation can be viewed at; http://croydonnightwatch.org.uk/
