Together We Can

Catching Lives is a small grassroots Charity in Canterbury that supports rough sleepers, and throughout the winter months, provides a night shelter for some of the most vulnerable in our community. Sadly, the amount of people coming through the doors of Catching Lives rose by a record 30.6% this last year and the number is expected to increase further this winter.

Historically Catching Lives services have primarily supported rough sleepers, however over the last 2 years they have seen a rise in the numbers of people contacting them who are vulnerably housed and at risk of becoming homeless (most experiencing this for the first time). For the people that Catching Lives supports, it can be a long journey to getting back on their feet and recovering from the trauma of rough sleeping. The night shelter supports someone with a warm meal and safe place to sleep.

Some of you might have seen this video 3 years ago, when we first made it in conjunction with Catching Lives. So much has changed over the last 3 years and the charity reached out to see if we could run the appeal again this Christmas season. While service users have increased, critical funding is desperately needed to keep the service running.

Catching Lives is able to do so much with little funding, £20 can help feed one homeless person at the shelter for an entire week.  We know everyone is feeling the pinch, but if you are fortunate enough to give this season, please consider this small grassroots charity. 

Sadly James Duff, the man who plays the homeless man in the video, has passed away. James was a pivotal person in Catching Lives, having previously been a service user and later becoming a Trustee, James’ loss has been felt across Canterbury and especially within Catching Lives. 

That's why we have launched our annual Christmas campaign in support of homelessness charity, Catching Lives. The appeal, “Together We Can”, hopes to help raise £15,000 to keep the winter shelter running and to keep James Duff’s memory alive, he will always have a place in ours and in Canterbury’s hearts.

To watch the video click the link Together We Can

According to Catching Lives, a homelessness charity aimed at supporting rough sleepers, homeless and vulnerably housed in Canterbury and East Kent, there is even less support available than previous years due to funding cuts. For the people that Catching Lives supports, it can be a long journey to getting back on their feet and recovering from the trauma of rough sleeping. Providing someone with a place to stay, a meal to eat and people to talk to, simple things that most of us take for granted, are invaluable first steps to getting the support they need.

At Herringbone Kitchens we know how fortunate we all are to have warm homes. As a company we have supported Catching Lives, for the past 9 years through donations and by giving our time cooking meals for the homeless. A service particularly close to our hearts is the Catching Lives Night Shelter, which provides 2400 bed spaces over December through to March for people in need. The charity also offers basic meals, showers, laundry and storage facilities.

This year we want to help Catching Lives show the real face of homelessness and to help raise money for the Winter Night Shelter. To encourage businesses and people about the small things we can all do to make a difference, we worked together with Catching Lives to produce a Christmas tale - “Together We Can”. This video is a spin on the popular Christmas Ad’s often ran by large department stores this time of year and has set a goal to help raise £15k to keep the Winter Shelter open.

There were no actors used in the video, the family in the film are Lydia and Rob Merry, clients of Herringbone Kitchens and the homeless man is James Duff, who was previously homeless and then a Trustee of Catching Lives. Red Cape Productions made and produced the film and Maxine Scott produced and recorded the single ‘Together We Can.’ The filming was shot across Canterbury and at the Winter Night Shelter at Catching Lives.

Together there are easy ways to help support the homeless, through giving time or money. Help us help this wonderful charity continue their work keeping people in need safe this winter period - donate here.

Some of the feedback from people who accessed the winter shelter last year –

"I have not had to suffer the severe weather conditions. I have also not had to cope with passers-by at night which could be quite frightening when sleeping flat on the ground. It was a relief and very welcome to be offered the opportunity to have a space in the night shelter."

“Thank you to the churches. Thank you for the peace where we can sleep. Thank you for the tea, coffee and all the food."

Please help this wonderful charity to continue their life saving work keeping homeless people safe this winter.