Work of Marylebone Project featured by BBC London

In the run up to Homelessness Sunday (30th January), the work of Church Army’s Marylebone project has been covered by the BBC London website. A report by the BBC’s Louise Scrivens includes an interview with Shaza, one of the hundreds of women who are homeless in London for whom the Marylebone project provides hope. Click here for full story.
 
Edwin Bates, Church Army’s Homeless Projects Co-ordinator and Church Army board member, stresses that the project will have many challenges to face during 2005 to maintain and improve a highly professional service that is focussed on “sharing faith through words and action”. Bates adds: “Improvement in our relationships and networking with other registered social landlords will be essential if we are to continue to reduce the length of time residents stay with us, whilst increasing the number of women with whom we have contact. Resettlement of women who have been institutionalised continues to be a problem, more so under the Supporting People Initiative. Organisations have become reluctant to take on longer term support referrals. We may need to consider creating a unit to accommodate such women or find an agency that will. “
 
Church Army has pioneered work with homeless women  since 1891 and the women’s day centre was opened by HRH Princess Margaret in 1996. The project is unique in that it has a distinctly spiritual dimension with “exploring your faith groups” around the themes of Christmas and Easter and bible study sessions available for residents to drop into during lent and Advent.  The project, which is reliant on donations from churches, individuals and trusts provides all its services free of charge to the most marginalised and vulnerable women through a needs led philosophy of operation in line with its Christian ethos.
 
Over 700 women each year access the services of the project and many women come with complex and multiple needs not always just related to their homelessness, but often inter-linked with experiences of abuse and exploitation which lead to a fragmented and chaotic lifestyle. Carol Jones hostel Manager comments: “ It is important that we offer a new experience for women - an environment in which they feel safe and supported.”
 
Visit the  page for more information about the work of Marylebone Project and to access the latest Annual Report.