Crisis (charity)

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Crisis
Crisis logo
Founded1967
FocusDelivering services to people in the UK experiencing homelessness and campaigning for change on their behalf. "Together we can end Homelessness"
Location
  • London, United Kingdom
Websitecrisis.org.uk

Crisis is the UK national charity for people experiencing homelessness. The charity offers year-round education, employment, housing and well-being services from centres in East London, Newcastle, Oxford, Edinburgh, South Yorkshire, South Wales, Croydon, Brent and Merseyside, called Crisis Skylight Centres.[1]

As well as year-round services Crisis runs Crisis at Christmas, which since 1972[2] has been offering food, warmth, companionship and vital services to homeless people over the Christmas period. In 2016 almost 4,600[3] homeless people visited Crisis at Christmas, which was run by about 10,500 volunteers.

Since its inception Crisis has been a campaigning organisation,[4] lobbying government for political change that prevents and mitigates[5] homelessness based on research commissioned and undertaken by the organisation.[6]

Jon Sparkes has been the chief executive of Crisis since 2014.[7]

History[]

According to Crisis, the charity was "founded in 1967 in response to the shocking Ken Loach film Cathy Come Home shown the previous year, and a publicity campaign led by reforming Conservatives William Shearman and Ian Macleod highlighting the plight of homeless people".[8][9] The drama-documentary Cathy Come Home was first broadcast by the BBC the previous November.

Since the sixties Crisis has evolved to meet the changing needs of single homeless people, campaigning for change and delivering services to help people find a route out of their homelessness across the UK.

It was one of the seven charities nominated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to receive donations in lieu of wedding presents when the couple married on 19 May 2018.[10][11]

Crisis Skylight Centres[]

Crisis Skylight Centres are accredited education, training and employment centres, offering practical and creative workshops in supportive and inspiring environments, together with formal learning opportunities that lead to qualifications and finding work.[1]

Crisis Skylight London opened in 2002,[12] with a Crisis Skylight Cafe social enterprise opening on the same site on Commercial Street in East London in 2004. In 2007 Crisis Skylight Newcastle opened its doors,[13] followed by Crisis Skylight Birmingham and Crisis Skylight Edinburgh in 2010 and Crisis Skylight Oxford[14] and Crisis Skylight Merseyside[15] in 2011.

Crisis at Christmas[]

Since 1972 Crisis at Christmas has been offering food, warmth, companionship and services to people experiencing homelessness in London over the Christmas period. The project is run almost entirely by around 10,500 volunteers, making it the largest volunteer-led event in the UK.[16] In 2016, about 4,600 homeless people come through the doors. All buildings used as Crisis at Christmas Centres are temporarily donated.

Services offered at Christmas include internet access, entertainment, food and drink, healthcare, opticians, podiatry, dentistry, natural healing and hairdressing.[17]

During the key winter period Crisis at Christmas has centres in London, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Coventry and Birmingham.[18]

Campaigns[]

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. "We know that homelessness is not inevitable. We know that together we can end it."[19]

No One Turned Away[]

In October 2011 Crisis launched a campaign to improve the assistance and support provided by Local Authorities to single homeless people.[20]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Get Help - our Skylight Centres". Crisis. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". www.crisis.org.uk. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Together we will end homelessness". Crisis. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Together we will end homelessness". Crisis. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Rough sleepers from EU countries in Birmingham hit record levels". Birmingham Live. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  8. ^ "A visual timeline of our history". Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Obituary: William Shearman". The Guardian. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Royal wedding: Harry and Meghan ask for charity donations". BBC News. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Royal Wedding Charitable Donations". The Royal Household. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Bringing hope to troubled souls". 10 January 2007.
  14. ^ "Old Fire Station is ready for business". Oxford Mail. 24 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Crisis Skylight Merseyside". Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Archived copy". community.crisis.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ "Archived copy". www.crisis.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Crisis at Christmas". crisis.org. 30 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "Together we will end homelessness". Crisis. Retrieved 31 December 2019.

External links[]

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