As Christmas Day draws nearer the iconic image of the spurned couple trying to find a place to rest their aching limbs is more resonant than ever; whether the sight of Syrian refugees via our TV screen or huddled figures in the doorway of city centre shops, the feeling of helplessness and sadness are the emotions I share with many.
This time last year I was volunteering at St Luke's church in the city centre, AKA The Bombed Out Church. I mention this because the time spent there brought me into contact with a fare number of the homeless and street drinkers in the city. The people running the site for the last 10 years were an Arts Organisation called Urban Strawberry Lunch. Existing on a tiny budget and a team of volunteers they had built up a good relationship with this community, we referred to them affectionately as the 'Homies'.
I first got to visiting the place regularly when a meditation class I was attending began a session within the church. For those who haven't been there, the exterior walls are all that remains of the church, the interior had been turned into a little green oasis and it was here that we collected for our group meditation. My struggles with depression at this time were most acute and these meditations offered a rare period of calm for me. As my confidence grew it made sense to offer my services to this place, this was around 2012
The job was varied, I might be tending the garden, helping on the door, working on the bar/coffee bar, whatever was needed really. Lots of the volunteers had stories of recovery and vulnerability and it was good to combine practical tasks with people related stuff. The space allowed people to come in and contribute what they could afford as long as they were respectful. To the street drinkers this required them to be not drinking within the walls. These rules were clear and understandable to all; many a time when the drinking scene was kicking off on the pavement outside the church would double as a time out zone. Connections made in the rough and tumble of daily life would encourage the self same people on a better day to take an interest in some of the other activities that were happening, music, theatre, art, film; it was an eclectic program of stuff that evolved week to week. Artists of various disciplines would rock up asking if space could be found to showcase their work. The maxim "if we build it, they will come' could of been made for this place. We even doubled as an animal rescue at times, injured birds were brought by the Homies for some TLC and there was often a dog within the Homies gang getting fussed to bits. Another thing the volunteers shared was a love of animals.
It's been a tough time of late for those involved with the church. First USL lost their Arts council funding late 2013, the cash strapped council had an offer to take it of their hands from a property developer and the church closed its doors over winter 2013/14. Supporters gathered round however and began campaigning for more planning to be given to this iconic Liverpool building. It did close in the Summer but this time the builders went in to shore up the existing building for future generations for the people of Liverpool.
I believe that none of this would've happened without USL initiating the project in the mid- noughties. The church would have continued its inexorable decline that had been its lot since the incendiary bomb landed in 1942. I very much doubt that any other organisation could manage to include such a wide range of the people of Liverpool in their activities. As it stands the decision as to who will take on stewardship of the church post refurbishment is undecided. If there is any justice in this world.......
This time last year I was volunteering at St Luke's church in the city centre, AKA The Bombed Out Church. I mention this because the time spent there brought me into contact with a fare number of the homeless and street drinkers in the city. The people running the site for the last 10 years were an Arts Organisation called Urban Strawberry Lunch. Existing on a tiny budget and a team of volunteers they had built up a good relationship with this community, we referred to them affectionately as the 'Homies'.
I first got to visiting the place regularly when a meditation class I was attending began a session within the church. For those who haven't been there, the exterior walls are all that remains of the church, the interior had been turned into a little green oasis and it was here that we collected for our group meditation. My struggles with depression at this time were most acute and these meditations offered a rare period of calm for me. As my confidence grew it made sense to offer my services to this place, this was around 2012
The job was varied, I might be tending the garden, helping on the door, working on the bar/coffee bar, whatever was needed really. Lots of the volunteers had stories of recovery and vulnerability and it was good to combine practical tasks with people related stuff. The space allowed people to come in and contribute what they could afford as long as they were respectful. To the street drinkers this required them to be not drinking within the walls. These rules were clear and understandable to all; many a time when the drinking scene was kicking off on the pavement outside the church would double as a time out zone. Connections made in the rough and tumble of daily life would encourage the self same people on a better day to take an interest in some of the other activities that were happening, music, theatre, art, film; it was an eclectic program of stuff that evolved week to week. Artists of various disciplines would rock up asking if space could be found to showcase their work. The maxim "if we build it, they will come' could of been made for this place. We even doubled as an animal rescue at times, injured birds were brought by the Homies for some TLC and there was often a dog within the Homies gang getting fussed to bits. Another thing the volunteers shared was a love of animals.
It's been a tough time of late for those involved with the church. First USL lost their Arts council funding late 2013, the cash strapped council had an offer to take it of their hands from a property developer and the church closed its doors over winter 2013/14. Supporters gathered round however and began campaigning for more planning to be given to this iconic Liverpool building. It did close in the Summer but this time the builders went in to shore up the existing building for future generations for the people of Liverpool.
I believe that none of this would've happened without USL initiating the project in the mid- noughties. The church would have continued its inexorable decline that had been its lot since the incendiary bomb landed in 1942. I very much doubt that any other organisation could manage to include such a wide range of the people of Liverpool in their activities. As it stands the decision as to who will take on stewardship of the church post refurbishment is undecided. If there is any justice in this world.......