More people in Brixton’s local community are getting involved in fundraising events and volunteering to help tackle homelessness in the area and all over London. Lambeth was ranked eighth most deprived places within London, 36% of children in Lambeth live in poverty and the rate of poverty is 30% higher than the London average of 27%.

Crisis, a charity fighting homelessness, are holding their Icebreaker Challenge on the December 14, 2019, at 11:00AM. The challenge to jump into the icy pool will take place in Brixton’s Brockwell Park Lido. Crisis aim is to raise money through donations from the public and sponsors for the people braving the plunge, for rough sleepers in the cold nights of winter.

Participants are encouraged to dress in fancy dress for charity. The swimmers jump into the outside swimming pool and swim one width or take part in the relay race. The spokesman for Crisis said “The registration fee of £28.87 equals the cost of reserving a place for someone who is homeless at one of Crisis’ Christmas centres. By taking part, you can help us support homeless people at the toughest time of the year – and  offer  a future away from homelessness.”

The brave swimmers can get family and friends through sponsoring, Crisis encourage a goal of £50 which will contribute to their cause. By donating and raising money, they plan to end homelessness. This is through providing emergency accommodation, providing personal and professional support for rough sleepers and campaigning for more legislation to help end homelessness including housing, benefits and regulating and monitoring local areas.

Another organisation that have dove headfirst into tackling homelessness in Brixton is Brixton Soup Kitchen. They have events such as having Sarah-L, a life coach, to visit BSK on February 1, 2020. This opportunity is said to offer provide career advice and inspiration for those who are homeless or struggle with getting work.

Another organisation that have dove headfirst into tackling homelessness in Brixton is Brixton Soup Kitchen. They have events such as having Sarah-L, a life coach, to visit BSK on February 1, 2020. This opportunity is said to offer provide career advice and inspiration for those who are homeless or struggle with getting work.

Like Crisis, BSK are also having a Christmas fundraiser. On Friday 13, December, they are hosting a music night at The Prince of Wales; hearing from hiphop, R&B, UKG, afrobeats and grime. Tickets are £5 which will help towards the charity, as well as raising awareness for their cause.

The organisation was opened by Solomon Smith and Mahamed Hashi in 2013. The money raised will go towards what the charity has to offer, important things like a warm space, food, donated clothing, legal support including benefits appeals, handling debts, applying for housing, childcare and mental health support. They also services that help find housing, employment, the opportunity to enrol in further education and training. 

Finty-Louise Watts, a local volunteer at homeless shelters around London said “Homelessness keeps increasing…there are so many homeless people. The fact that there are 15,000 more homeless kids than last year is just disgusting, kids shouldn’t be homeless, you shouldn’t have people on the streets. It means society is failing if there are people living on the streets. The Government has failed. Nobody should be fighting every day to eat or shower. These should be things that people have.” 

Volunteers, like Finty-Louise, even go a step further and bring rough sleepers’ food and clothing on the street.  The charity has ties with Lambeth Probation Services, giving them the chance to offer effective rehabilitation when needed. 

Charities like Crisis and Brixton Soup Kitchen also spread awareness and educate the wider public. The average homeless person dies at 44 years old, people sleeping rough are 17 times more likely to be victims of violence, one in three rough sleepers have been assaulted whilst sleeping on the streets and homeless people are nine times more likes to commit suicide. 

Watts went on and said “A lot of people assume homeless people are drug addicts and want to be on the streets because it’s easier and they don’t have to get a job but it’s not the case. I know so many homeless people and before they were on the streets, they didn’t do drugs or drink. They end up doing this to cope with being on the streets…So many people across the UK are one month away from being homeless. One failed card payment. One failed rent payment. People don’t realise how thin that line is from having a house and being okay to being on the streets.”