St George'S Crypt, Leeds

Jonathan, tells his Story
My name is Jonathan I’m 29 years old and originally from Leeds. Earlier this year I was in full-time work. Unfortunately, I lost my job around March due to substance use. After losing my job I got heavily into class A drugs, like crack cocaine and I started using spice. I had used drugs since I was a teenager, but spice was something new to me, it is such a dangerous drug and within a few months it can cause so much damage both mentally and physical...ly.
In August I got evicted from my home and was facing being on the streets, homeless. I came to the Crypt for a meal and started chatting with one of the staff members over lunch. The staff member took me to a private room where I basically had a breakdown and opened-up a bit more about what was going on and that I was at the darkest point of my life.
The Crypt came to my rescue, they didn’t let me spend a single night on the streets, they immediately gave me a bed. I have been here 4 weeks now and I’m in recovery and 4 weeks clean.
Had I not come to the Crypt, I would have continued using drugs, but now Just being in this building, away from certain circles and certain friends has helped me to stay clean.
The Crypt supported me to get on the housing list, in the meantime, I have a roof over my head here until I get permanently housed this takes a lot of weight off my shoulders.
Although St George’s Crypt is a religious organisation they don’t push it on you in any way. I am quite religious myself and intend to attend the services. There are also opportunities to volunteer, again this is not pushed on you, but I like to volunteer and help in the kitchen whenever they need an extra hand.
The staff is great, and besides the provision of meals, clothing, toiletries, and accommodation I also get a lot of other support such as access to physiotherapy and boxing classes.
Being here has also opened a network of support such as housing, Support Workers, and Doctors for both physical and mental health issues. The Crypt also offers support to get off drugs through their Growing Rooms project which I think is a great service.
I get a great deal of valuable support and advice from St George’s Crypt, you can tell the staff are not here just for a paycheque, they really care about people. ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------
WE RELY ON THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SUPPORTERS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OFFER VITAL SERVICES TO THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE NEEDING OUR HELP EACH YEAR. TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE VISIT: https://stgeorgescrypt.org.uk/?p=3150
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Are you are going to the Chapel Allerton Arts Festival tomorrow? .. So are we! Our stall will be at the top end of Well lane, so come and say hello

Joe Booth - Nurture Catering Volunteer
Joe first came to St George’s Crypt on a work placement, which was part of a catering course he was taking at Thomas Danby College. Once the placement was complete Joe just carried on working in the kitchen as a volunteer.
This was six years ago and Joe is still as enthusiastic about his role as ever. Joe says:
... “I like the fact that I can make a difference in someone’s life because sometimes I may be the only person that the client sees and talks to all week. By striking up a conversation, asking someone their name, how they are and what they have been up to, this obviously make me feel good but more to the point it makes that person feel better about themselves and less isolated"
Nurture is the food and catering arm of St George’s Crypt, catering for our residents and day service users.
Read more about Nurture Catering here: https://stgeorgescrypt.org.uk/?avada_port folio=education
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https://twitter.com/BBCLeeds/status/10348 70590614724609

Members of St George's Crypt Growing Rooms rehabilitation programme, in partnership with BBC Radio Leeds, have been working on the BBC Open Air Project for the past few months. The guys were invited to take part in a number of workshops run by BBC Radio Leeds where they were given a taste of broadcasting. The project was designed to improve their confidence and develop new skills for future endeavors.
Be sure to tune in to BBC breakfast show live tomorrow 30th August at 7:30... am for the interview with John Davis our Therapeutic Drug Worker and Christine Lane our Training & Engagement Manager.
Growing Rooms members Stephen Laws and Andrew Holland will be on BBC Radio Leeds on the 31st August from 12 until 1p.m.
To learn more about the Open Air Project, follow link: https://bit.ly/2BXfsJp
And to find out more about our Growing Rooms Project follow link below: https://bit.ly/2MBg38t
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https://twitter.com/RugbyLeeds/status/103 2967240327606272

26 DAYS TO GO! “I really want to raise funds to support and continue the Growing Rooms program long after I’m gone. To raise awareness of the project, the issues of homelessness, addiction and alcoholism not as separate issues but as part of the same triangle of obsession”
See John’s marathon story here: https://bit.ly/2M8GFxC
... The Growing Rooms is 100% funded through charitable donations so to support John and support the amazing work he does click here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/johnd avis1
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Last week Growing rooms members enjoyed a fun filled day trip to Blackpool.
The Growing rooms project at St George’s crypt enables residents to address their addiction issues and engage in our recovery programme to make the changes to their lives free from addiction. In Growing Rooms we recognise people as individuals and that addiction is only a small part of who they are. Recovery involves much more than just stopping drinking/taking drugs. Through cognitive behaviour group therapy and applying the principles of the 12-step recovery model, we offer a solution to addiction/alcoholism. To find out more please follow link: https://stgeorgescrypt.org.uk/?avada_port folio=vaccines

Meet Olivia: Development Officer - Retail & Fundraising
My role focuses mainly on recruiting new volunteers, this ranges from individual volunteers who want to help serve the evening meal twice a week, or work on reception, or support at an external site (the options are endless!), to corporate groups who support through their CSR days prepping and serving lunch on a one-off basis. I am contacted by many different groups and individuals who want to get involved, with individu...
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Our lovely bright young NCS volunteers will be doing a food drive at Sainsbury’s on the Headrow, Leeds on Friday 24th Aug. Pop along and say hello or why not make a donation to get our harvest collection going. Thanks for the great support.

We are in urgent need of soap powder
At St Georges Crypt we have close to 50 fully utilized beds per night; that means a lot of bed linen needs constant washing. The clients also all have personal items of clothing that need cleaning! This requires large quantities of soap powder.
In addition we receive about 120 walk-in clients per day of which no small number have clothing that needs washing.
... Our kitchen staff and volunteers all have uniforms that need washing so they can look as good as possible for our meal service.
We need your support. We are in urgent need of donations for large boxes of soap powder as we are running very low on supplies.
It needs to be soap powder because our machines do not take laundry tabs.
You can drop off your washing powder boxes at our main St Georges Crypt site; Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3BR we are open 24/7 or you can drop them off at any of our Preloved shops.
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Mike Lends A Hand
When Mike retired 3 years ago he decided to do something worthwhile and positive with his free time. He considered various options and visited Leeds housing options where he spoke to the volunteer coordinator there about volunteering opportunities.
He was signposted to St Georges Crypt and a great partnership was formed. Mike has been volunteering at St Georges Crypt for just over 2years now, working 3 days a week
... Mike’s role is varied and mentally stimulating, ranging from manning the canteen front desk, liaising with clients and assisting them to access our services such as free meals and showers. When clients come in for the first time looking distressed Mike makes it a point to sit down with them and have a chat, help them settle in and feel comfortable.
In addition to this Mike supports University students in their work here at St Georges Crypt
On his job Mike says: “Not only is the role stimulating, it also feels good knowing that you’ve made someone’s life better than it was when they first came in”
As a single person Mike finds volunteering mutually beneficial in that he gets to meet and chat to a cross section of people, which opens up his own world preventing exclusion, and also keeps him mentally fit while providing a worthwhile and essential service.
There are many more volunteering opportunities so please get in touch and talk with our Development Officer Olivia.quick@stgeorgescrypt.org.uk or telephone on 0113 245 9061.
Click: https://stgeorgescrypt.org.uk/?page_id=84 0 to find out more about volunteering opportunities at St Georges Crypt.
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Positivity from St George's Crypt!

Food, clothing, warmth and shelter; since we opened our doors in 1930 we've been following the same principles, ethos and vision.
The structure of the building might have changed, we've had an extension and are offering central heating instead of a coal stove in the middle of the room (not sure that would pass health and safety...!) but we still have the same offer at the core of our service.

there amazing staff and they have helped me out a lot thank u very much . keep up your good work i wanna job there

thank you for help me to get were I am now and I am trying to help a church in halifaxs now and I am going to try and go there and help out as a volunteer but I will let you all know how it go

being a ex service user of the crypt and faith lodge it's self...i can honestly say that without the dedication and help of the staff i wouldn't have made it...what the organisation offers is a safe warm place of refuge to people who have no place to call home..a meal and showers to those who need it and hope that the clients may find a better way in life to cope with the personal issues they may have..long may you continue being a success st georges crypt and gods love go with you

Would love to say a massive thanks to the st George's crypt this time last year I was in with them and I have the out most respect for all the staff for taking me in and looking after me helping me find a New place to live and a fresh start in life I am now currently in work and have new born twins so in all honesty a massive help in my life due to all the staff especially on Christmas day when I was given presents donated by some lovely people and ill have to call up and make a donation as I said they really do a hell of a lot for people who have nothing and people who are going through a rough time enough respect for you all you do it all year round especially Kim all the other staff I take my hat off to you all :D

Wonderful people who provide a much needed service. X

What a fantastic support network are here , I had the privilege of helping out , lovely place for people who need it x

The work they do for the homeless or even those who have homes and just need a good meal is amazing that is why I am proud to call myself a Crypt Volunteer

The people who volunteer should be praised.Martin was so informative and Daz the Warden was a true gent.

Thank you volunteers and staff at St George's crypt for all your help and support over the last year , You have always gone that extra mile each time we have needed you helping the vulnerable in desperate situations restoring trust and dignity. Thanks again Community Unity

St georges crypt is a really good place.

They helped me when i hit rock bottom.

I have a lot of respect for the staff that work there.. well most of them anyway and i have met some really good people.. people from all differant walks of life.. just want to say THANK YOU to the staff that work there.. keep up the good work.

On behalf of Shelley Over 60’s Ukulele Band I’d like to thank both the staff and guests at St George’s Crypt. Everybody made us feel so welcome. It was a real pleasure to perform for you-a big thank you to Frances, Chris, Gavin and Junior who joined in on percussion. You were all fantastic 😃👍🏻👍🏻

It's amazing! If your not involved in some way prayer support giving etc do it its very worthwhile.

I to was Homless on three occasions before I came to Christ now I'm part of another worthy Homless ministry called 'streetwise'

So get involved with something like this! It will change you life and others around you!!!

Reinhard Bonkie said this ' evangelism is therapeutic'

I am so grateful the Crypt is offering shelter to one of my clients who would otherwise be sleeping rough.Please promote on Twitter .Lets get them some funds.

Heartwarming to see the work of St George's Crypt continuing and developing....grateful for all you do for dear people of Leeds who find themselves homeless and struggling....smiling at my memories of volunteering, and remembering it was always, always about people and respect. God's love in action. Bless you all.

Had a lovely working lunch in Leeds today - delicious sandwiches, rolls, Indian snacks, chocolate cake and strawberries, fruit pots - all beautifully presented and very much appreciated. Apparently it was supplied by you guys, so thank you :-)

Felt really good coming here today as a volunteer and helping out!!!! Will be coming back to help out and donate food for the homeless.....

A lovely place of welcome for homeless people - hope to be a volunteer working there this Winter

A fantastic place whose policy is not to judge but just to help. Awesome people.

When I went to St geroges crypt I didn't like it..Staff member Damion do crack cokecaine in the toilets and smokes weeds outside and has been stoned whilst at work and even smoked in toilets then blaming 5he homeless