Author Archives: Kris

Posters created for SFTS make a great Xmas gift!…

Grey Design London have produced a set of 10 Limited Edition prints for Shelter from the Storm.

Timed perfectly for Christmas, owning one shows both a generous heart and impeccable taste.

What better way to donate £45 to SFTS?

These make a great gift for someone you know, and an even better gift for someone you don’t.

Each beautiful poster costs £45.

Pay per poster to justgiving.com/sfts (no gift aid applicable)
Or by bank transfer to sfts 20-74-09 60263249

Make sure to reference your name and poster on payment, then email us at mail@sfts.org.uk and we’ll arrange delivery.

A visit from an ex guest: Emma’s Story

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I’m from Tower Hamlets but I’d been living in Wales for 13 years. When I came back at the end of 2014, I was at rock bottom. Both my kids were living with their fathers and I was only seeing the older one. I’d been staying with a family member but they asked me to leave and I became homeless. I was so frightened!
When I came to Shelter from the Storm in November 2014, I was in a pretty poor shape. It seemed almost impossible to get out of the horrible place I’d found myself in. The Shelter looked after me and helped me apply for a place on the Pret Apprenticeship scheme. I just took to the work, I loved it; being part of a team and achieving great results. I’ve just returned from the Isle of Skye where I’ve been on a ‘Rising Star’ programme, I was one of just a handful apprentices picked to go with senior Pret staff. It was amazing! I love my job and I’m determined to get to the top.
It’s 7 months since I left the Shelter and I can’t believe how my life has changed. I’m engaged to Mickey who I met at the shelter, I’ve been promoted and had a pay rise and I’m having proper contact with my youngest.
The shelter really helped me sort myself out. It’s nearly a year since I first came to SFTS and I can’t believe how great and bright my future seems.

Farewell Stephen and Matt…

We’re sad to announce that Stephen Fixman and Matt Shefras are stepping down as Trustees.

For the last 4 years they’ve been an amazing support to the work of SFTS as both volunteers and Trustees.

When we were given 28 days notice at Elmore Street, they pulled out every stop to find us our new premises, pulled all the strings known to man to get us accepted as tenants and recently secured the extension of our lease.

Without them, we could well have joined the ranks of our homeless guests

We wish them both all the best for the future

Thank you guys, we’ll miss you!

 

Give a caffe sospeso today

A caffè sospeso or suspended coffee is a cup of coffee paid for in advance as an anonymous 488236_445137408901302_1426433633_nact of charity. Some say the tradition is over 100 years old and began in the working-class cafés of Naples. Someone who’d had a bit of good luck would order a coffee but pay for two. Later, a poor person could ask if there was a sospeso available and would then get a coffee for free.

If you’ve ever wanted to buy a hot drink for a homeless person but worried that the money might be spent on something harmful, this is your chance.

Text CAFE13£2 to 70070

We promise that your £2, the price of a cup of coffee, will go directly to providing food and drink to London’s homeless.

In these cold hard times having a lovely cup of coffee is a small treat most of us can afford. Share that pleasure with our guests.

Xmas fete 2011 success

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Thank you so much to everyone who visited, worked at, organised and promoted our xmas fete on Islington Green last weekend. It was a huge success and we raised close to £6000 which will go a long way in helping us help our guests in 2012.

Come on down to Shelter from the Storm’s xmas fete 2011

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Come one, come all to the festive event of the year: Shelter from the Storm’s xmas fete from 12-6pm on Islington Green, Angel, on 17 December.

We have all sorts of fun, festive things in store: santa’s grotto, gifts galore, a kids craft area, mulled wine, hot food, cakes and mince pies, vintage clothes, books and art.

Good times. And it’s all for a good cause. It’s free to attend and all the money raised from the event will go straight back into Shelter from the Storm.

You can also take part in our raffle bonanza – tickets are only £1 each – and be in the running to win some awesome prizes, including:

  • Arsenal Family Stadium Tour
  • de Longhi Espresso machine (£250)
  • Fortnum & Mason Hamper £250
  • ghd hair straighteners
  • Dom Perignon Vintage Champagne
  • An iphone
  • A blackberry
  • 6 fragrances (Armani, Gucci and Hugo Boss), mixed men’s and women’s
  • 4 tickets to watch Soccer AM Live
  • 3 pairs of tickets for comedy shows
  • Hairdo Pimps & Pinups Spitalfields
  • 3x£20 Voucher Vintage stalls Camden Passage
  • Fruit Hamper Taylor & Son Chapel Market
  • £20 voucher from “The only place for pictures” 216 upper street
  • de Longhi Espresso machine worth £250.00
  • Bouquet of flowers voucher Theberton st. florist)
  • DAB Radio (Chapel St Electrical Store)
  • 2 tickets to a West End Show
  • 3 boxes of Prestat chocolates
  • 2 Tickets for Justice at Brixton Academy – Feb 2012
  • 2 Tickets for NME awards tour at Brixton Academy – Feb 2012
  • Front Cover Make up kit
  • £20.00 Foyles book token
  • 2 tickets Shaftsbury theatre
  • Lunch for 2 at Rochelle canteen
  • £50.00 voucher Pizza East

If you want tickets, get in touch at mail@sfts.org.uk.

Lock the date in now, people – it’s going to be big. Looking forward to seeing you there.

But if you can’t, you can always support our xmas appeal at www.sfts.org.uk/xmas.

Guest stories: Ayoke

Meet Ajoke, one of our former guests. When Ajoke joined us, she had been rescued from sex trafficking. We provided a safe, caring environment in which to sleep and, as our guest, we supported her through her pregnancy and secured legal representation for her, which enabled her to gain leave to remain. She recently moved into her own flat but visits regularly – mother and baby are doing well.