To mark 80 years of dedicated service to helping the homeless and disadvantaged of Leeds, St George’s Crypt is holding a music fundraiser at Temple Works on the 8th October. The day of live bands and DJ sets is part of the 80 Campaign which celebrates past achievements and aims to secure the future of the charitable organisation by raising £80,000 over the next ten months.
The original idea of providing support and shelter for local men hit by the 1930s Depression came from the Rev. Don Robins who convinced his parishioners to help clean the crypt area and donate food and clothing. Seven decades on, St George’s Crypt have expanded to include hostel accommodation, horticulture and food projects, a training and engagement programme and night café as well the original drop-in service based in the church. Above all, the Crypt organisation provides a space for those in need to relax, worship and attain a sense of peace in the face of daily hardship. (The full history of the Crypt and how it was founded and developed can be found on their website)
Cheryl Harrington, Lead Fundraiser at the Crypt, told me that they were beginning to see the impact of the current financial crisis “with a number of people presenting who have lost jobs and homes directly due to challenging economic circumstances”. She continued to say that the organisation was braced for further individuals accessing their services as the impact of cuts take hold over the coming months.
I asked Cheryl how raising £80,000 would benefit St Georges Crypt: “We will use £80k to develop training and engagement activities; to pay for three compassionate bed spaces for people in severe need; and to ensure that our drop in centre accessed by 80 people on average a day is kept open.” Asked about the principal challenges facing the charity, Cheryl highlighted the “increasing complexity of issues being brought by clients” and commented on the need to bring “key skills to enhance employability” and in “helping them to see that there is a way forward in the face of so many perceived obstacles”.
The most wonderful thing about the Crypt is that they really do make a positive difference to people’s lives, as is evidenced by the fact that 24% of paid staff were once clients. This success is what motivates the organisation and hopefully it will encourage further engagement and support from Leeds citizens… which leads me back nicely to Temple Works on Saturday 8th October! Please come along between 2pm-Midnight to enjoy the following entertainment:
Bands: Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Mexanines, Inlaze, Neve, The Riatines, Montez, Real Women, Retrolettes, The Runaway Truth, Dean Murray (of Biscuit Head and the Biscuit Badgers) Kog Moorcroft
DJ’s : A. Ashdown, Stefan Groove, Emma Raver Redfern, Tim H,
Poets: Raftery the Poet, Spencer Robertshaw
Admission is by donation ~ food and drink available ~ over 15s only.
http://www.templeworksleeds.com/2011/10/03/the-crypt-music-festival/