For the past couple of years, me and Mikey have been volunteering in the evenings to help people sleeping rough in Liverpool. We do this alongside other volunteers who are part of a collective, sharing their time and resources to help others.
Mark’s involvement
The outreach project is a setup of volunteers who go out each week to support homeless people who are on streets in Liverpool. Mr Old Hall Street Kitchen Outreach was set up by a chap who experienced homelessness himself, before receiving support from a guy who owns The Shankly Hotel.
On average there can be up to 20 volunteers out on Tuesday and Thursday evenings each week. It feels like a family, we’re there to help and it has been a very good success. As well as giving out drinks, food, clothes and care packs, we chat to people and offer advice if they’re willing to listen. These guys could die on the street and really rely on the kindness of others for their survival.
Before joining this group, I’d done homeless outreach for more than 40 years and a lot of the people on the street already know me. I enjoy giving back, speaking to people and helping in any way I can. You get some people who don’t want to come off the street for whatever reason, but we treat everyone equally with compassion, and if we can help them, we will.
Some of the items we share out are donated by Emmaus Merseyside as an act of solidarity to help people in need. Emmaus has helped with coats for winter, other clothes, socks, food, meals and hygiene products. There’s plenty of other people and organisations who help with donations and support too. We get food from various outlets and The Shankly Hotel provide us with some free storage.
I’m really worried for this winter as we know more people are getting thrown out and forced to go on the streets. We are preparing for it now by making sure we’ve got stuff available and keeping in touch with services across the city who can provide rooms and support.
Mikey’s involvement
Before coming to Emmaus, I was homeless and it was this outreach group who got me off the streets. As soon as I got a roof over my head I wanted to give back and help others who were in the position I was in.
With Mark and the other volunteers, I’ve been doing outreach for about two years now. We meet up at The Shankly Hotel, load the trolleys with clothes, food, teas and coffees, and then we go around Liverpool city centre, helping anyone who needs it.
I can’t describe the words I feel when I help people as I know what it’s like to be there. I know what it’s like to be in those doorways and not speak to people for days. As soon as the teams come up with the little trolleys, you get to speak to someone and feel human again.
It’s going to get a lot more busier. More and more people are ending up on the streets due to what’s been going on with the increase in prices and energy bills. I chat to people about anything and everything. There was a mum and son, a couple of weeks ago who hadn’t eaten in days, and we fed them, and they were saying they’d lost their home due to uncertain circumstances. It was really sad and it’s getting worse and worse.
The outreach is good for people’s mental health, giving them that bit of trust and help. We’ve helped a few homeless people off the streets and I’m keen to keep volunteering as I know what it’s like to be there.
To find out more about this outreach project, get involved or donate items, visit the Mr Old Hall Street Kitchen Outreach Facebook page.