Marylebone Project

The Marylebone Project are now one of the largest women's hostels providing 112 long and short term beds for homeless women. They offer essential facilities and support to women who visit the rough sleepers drop in at the Marylebone Centre. They deliver education, employment and training opportunities and meaningful activities  in order to support service users into independent living. They empower homeless women into independent lives.

They are doing fantastic work with an ethos that each woman is a very special person and through the themes of Spirituality, hospitality, empowerment, resettlement, they believe they are and will continue to make a lasting difference.

How do we help? We donate through our branches or an area:

Holy Innocents, Willesden Area - as a branch we donate toiletries as Christmas gifts, Easter eggs at Easter and throughout the year we donate bedding, and essential kitchen equipment for those setting up home.

Edmonton Area - because many of the women now attend college, paper, pencils folders etc. are required; all donations will be gratefully received. 
 

If you would like to find out more about the Marylebone Project click on the links below:

http://www.churcharmy.org/Groups/245011/Church_Army/ms/Marylebone_Project/About_Us/About_Us.aspx

https://en-gb.facebook.com/maryleboneproject

Furnish Project - ended May 2020

The Willesden Area had participated in an annual project which all branches participated in. Members donated the contents required for bedding boxes and kitchen essentials and also donated money to buy these.
Early last year, 2020, we filled 50 boxes, hosted at Holy Cross Greenford, for delivery to Furnish. These were ultimately distributed between: 
- Hestia Domestic Abuse Prevention
- Hillingdon Women's Centre
- SBHG young people 1st tenancy
- South Ealing Homeless Shelter.
 
The project has unfortunately had to be terminated since the Furnish charity ceased to exist as of May 2020.

We are currently exploring other avenues for continuing to support the agencies that needed the boxes we filled.
Furnish is a registered charity set up to  re distribute unwanted good quality furniture to vulnerable and homeless people referred to them by partner agencies. Furnish is part of the Shepherds Bush Housing Group that covers West London.
 
  History
The foundations of Furnish lie in the 1960s when members of St.Stephen’s Church in Shepherds Bush were deeply concerned about the appalling condition in which parishioners lived.  Slum landlords were exploiting private tenants charging extortionate rents for rooms in run-down properties.
 
Rev. John Asbridge, the vicar, called together a group of people drawn from the parish and contacts to acquire and administer property for letting to needy families.  Social unrest and the chronic shortage of decent housing meant slum landlords enjoyed a free rein.  People were being compelled to pay high rents or were being kicked out.  Families of four or five lived in one room with a kitchen on the landing and a shared bathroom.
 
“Cathy come Home” was a film screened by the BBC in 1966, was watched by seven million people.  Form the first time it brought the issue of homelessness to a main stream audience.  Shepherds Bush Housing Group was formed in the aftermath of increased public awareness of homelessness.  They now own and manage more than 5,000 homes as they believe that affordable homes of quality are the foundation of our society.  They help a number of housing associations and residents within specific West London Boroughs.  
 
The Willesden Area has been helping with the Furnish Project for at least 12 years.  Furnish is a charity that helps the homeless and those in need. They provide clients moving into a new home with furniture and the MU provide bedding and kitchen essential boxes.  Clients are referred by social services and other agencies. This year, there was a gentleman from the Ealing Churches Night Shelter. This gentleman was moving from the night shelter into a new room and was very cash and resource short. He had also just got a job.  

Branches raise funds to purchase either new bedding or essential kitchen items.  They do this in a variety of ways; some have collections from their church communities others fundraise throughout the year.   They meet once a year (Oct half-term) to pack boxes supplied by the Furnish Charity.(see below)

2018 they packed 60 boxes of basic bedding and kitchen equipment.  Boxes have been given out to a safe house for women and children,  Staying First - a debt and advice service, clients going through hard times, Clients moving into totally empty properties,  and some to Africa to the Angel Foundation - which helps with underprivileged youths

DOUBLE BED BOX             SINGLE BED BOX
2 Double Sheets (new)                      2 single sheets (new)                    
Under Blanket (new)               Single under blanket (new)                
2 Pillow Cases (new)               1 Pillow (new)           
2 Pillows          (new)               Pillow case (new)           
1 Double Duvet (new)             1 single duvet (new)            
Duvet Cover   (new)                Duvet  cover (new)
Towels (new)                           Towels (new)          
Extras please                           Extras please 


Suggested contents for KITCHEN ESSENTIALS BOX new or very good condition
4 Mugs or cups and saucers             
4 tea plates                 
4 bowls                                   
4 dinner plates                                   
Pan large                    
Pan small
Frying pan                                         
Can opener                
Tea towels                             
Set of cutlery 4 knives, 4 forks, 4 teaspoons, 4 dessert spoons                   
Extras please






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