Coronavirus Update – Message from our ChairmanIt is with great sadness that we must close the Drop In sessions until such time as the situation clarifies and it is safe to meet once again.
On Tuesday 17th March, we opened and provided a takeaway cooked meal and sandwiches. These were served from the entrance to Trinity, limiting the contact between volunteers and guests and also guest to guest. Many of the volunteers are either in the at risk category or have family members who are in this area, as well as the guests who are also potentially at risk, and we cannot and must not put anyone’s health in jeopardy. May I suggest that in the enforced break from action we use the time to pray. Pray for the guests, pray for the volunteers, pray for our town and country. David Together All the Way – The Levellers Support Bury Drop In
Bury Drop In and the Levellers work together at the start of their UK tour to collect donations from fans.
After a busy Christmas period, Bury Drop In were thrilled to receive a Facebook message from Matt Savage, Keyboardist from the Brighton Celtic influenced folk-rock band, the Levellers. He asked us if we would like to join them at The Apex, for the start of their UK tour, to collect donations from fans to raise the issue of homelessness in the local area. You can imagine our delight at the prospect of being on hand to collect donations and promote our work to a sold-out audience over two nights, Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 February 2020. It didn’t take long to arrange sufficient volunteers to man the stand. We were asked to arrive at 5.30pm on the first night to meet with some of the band members and to provide us with enough time to set up before the doors opened to the public at 7pm. Fans came through the doors armed with bags of items including toiletries, socks and underwear. Lots of photos were taken during the course of the evening and uploaded to Facebook to record the generosity of everyone’s donations. During the performance, some of our volunteers flocked into the auditorium to watch the concert. The band finished at 22.45pm with the hit song, Beautiful Day, and as fans came out they came over to chat to us and donate lose change. We found that many of our volunteers enjoyed the first evening so much, they came back on the second night to help out again. Over the course of two nights, we collected money and large amount of items. We cannot thank the Levellers fans enough for their compassion and encouraging words. Following on from the two night event, we received a message from Matt and the band, he said, “Just wanted to say a massive thankyou to you for being part of what we are trying to do…hopefully you got plenty of more donations and raised money for your very worthy cause…Many thanks for everything you do to help others in need. All the best. Matt, Charlie and the Levellers family xx”. High Sheriff visits Bury Drop In
Pictured L-R: Clive Eminson, Jackie, Designated Safeguarding Lead/Trustee, and Roz Eminson, High Sheriff of Suffolk.
Last Friday we were pleased to welcome Roz Eminson, High Sheriff of Suffolk to Bury Drop In. After her visit, Roz thanked us in an email saying, "Thank you so much for giving us your time to talk through some of the major issues and difficulties you face when trying to help your clients. It was interesting to see the way you work together with different agencies...I was also pleased to...have conversations with your trustees which certainly provided some harsh facts... Meeting the young lady who was a ballerina and hearing her talk about her situation highlighted very clearly just how difficult it can be to help those whose lives have become so complicated.
AGM & Service of Thanksgiving
We welcome everyone to join Bury Drop In for our annual general meeting to be held at Garland Street Baptist Church on Sunday 29th September 2019.
Talented sketch artist Jurek rebuilds life with help of Bury Drop In
Summer Newsletter available to download now
Ministry of Housing Visit Bury Drop In
Printmaking Exhibition held at Theatre Royal, 19/20 June 2019Here are a collection of photos taken from an exhibition to showcase the prints that our guests have produced during the printmaking workshops in collaboration with the Theatre Royal. The exhibition was located in the Greene Room Bar during the performance of the More Things Change and set up in the environment of the Drop In.
The More Things Change
A new performance by Theatre Royal Community Company. This new play devised by the company, performed by the company, including song, music and a beautifully written script by Danusia Iwaszko is now available to book for. The play explores themes of homelessness and other social issues in Bury St Edmunds over the past 200 years and explores how things have changed or not. Come and be surprised by what will be an uplifting, enlightening, funny and moving evening celebrating the theatres 200th anniversary and the stories gifted to the theatre by community participants during the past 4 years.
Tickets are available now and can be booked via box office Theatre Royal. Click here to book. Free Event at West Road Church 'One step Beyond Addiction'
'One Step Beyond Addiction' event at West Road Church on Sat 13th April at 7pm. For free tickets call 01284 723737
Looking for Change Campaign Launched in Newmarket
Donations Received from Waitrose Community Matters,
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A big thank you to everyone who used their Waitrose green tokens to support the work of the Bury Drop In. A grand total of £583 raised!
Also, thank you to the parents and pupils of the Creative Education Centre Suffolk who raised £210 for us. Plus, thanks to Mountain Warehouse for their support. |
Town Cuts Rough Sleeping Amid Homelessness Crisis
Tanya Mercer, Reporter from ITV Anglia visits the Bury Drop In. To read the full article and watch the video footage, visit: www.itv.com/news/anglia/2019-01-07/town-cuts-rough-sleeping-amid-homelessness-crisis
Latest Newsletter - November 2018, Issue No. 7
Our newsletter is available to download now. Read all the latest from Bury Drop In.
| Download November Newsletter |
Bury Drop In Launches Looking for Change Campaign to Combat Homelessness in West Suffolk
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Bury Drop In has launched a campaign to help make the most of donations given to homeless people on the street. The Looking for Change campaign is backed by a number of partners including West Suffolk councils, Ourburystedmunds BID, Suffolk Police and Bury St Edmunds Town Council.
To read the full article, visit www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/looking-for-change-campaign-launched-to-help-the-homeless-9047923 |