SPITALFIELDS CRYPT TRUST
Registered UK Charity No: 1075947
Founded in 1965, Spitalfields Crypt Trust helps people who are facing homelessness and drug and alcohol addictions to transform their lives. They aim to address peoples’ needs holistically – from housing, employability, health to social connections – all of which need careful attention to make sure people recover in the long-term.
Based in the heart of Shoreditch, East London, the charity supports the community with a number of programmes which include:
ACORN HOUSE
This is a 16-bed hostel offering a therapeutic programme for homeless men. Based in Shoreditch, the hostel sits above the charity’s Training and Development centre, next door to its two social enterprises, and is surrounded by their community gardens. On site they have trained counsellors, support workers and a therapeutic team, who guide residents through the rest of SCT’s services in the local area. Acorn House itself specialises in addiction recovery. The therapeutic programme offers abstinence-based treatment, including group and one-to-one counselling, where residents are encouraged to work through traumas and challenging behaviours. The charity works with hard-to-reach clients with complex needs, often those with a history of street homelessness.
MOVE-ON HOUSE
Upon graduating from the six-month recovery programme at Acorn House, residents may be offered a place at the charity’s move-on house in Leyton, London. Its sim is to provide friendly homes for men who are ready to move towards independent living. To support their ongoing recovery, maintain regular contact with their expert keyworker and continue to access the charity’s Training and Development programme and recovery community. Many begin going back to work or college or start work at one of the charity’s social enterprises.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
The Training and Development centre offers a range of activities and training to men and women in recovery from addictions. Students are helped to improve self-esteem, develop creativity, learn skills, and get qualifications to help them move forward in their recovery journey. The centre also support sresidents and students through work experience at the charity’s social enterprises and charity shops. The charity’s Progression Service offers one-to-one support and advice to help people explore opportunities external to SCT such as volunteering, education, and employment.
CHOICES: A LONG-TERM RECOVERY COMMUNITY
Choices is a diverse community of people in recovery from addiction. Members attend Choices to connect with others and build a support network, gain confidence, try new things and support their recovery. Creative projects are run where the community work together over a number of workshops and wellbeing sessions to support positive mental health and wellbeing.
The work of the Spitalfields Crypt Trust provides a complete pathway for people with alcohol and drug addiction and with complex needs. The Drop-In Service sees over 500 homeless people a year, serving around 6,000 meals at the charity’s East London premises. Success rates are high with 50% of people in first-stage supported housing still in abstinent recovery a year after entering the programme and 84% for those in the second-stage of the programme.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND ONLINE CHARITY SHOP
The charity runs an online charity shop as well as two social enterprises that offer a supportive training ground and work experience, improving trainees’ CVs and employment prospects. At Paper & Cup, trainees learn specialty coffee and retail skills. Around the corner, Restoration Station teaches people woodwork, carpentry, and furniture restoration. Every penny made in the social enterprises goes towards supporting the recovery community in the local area.
Find out more about Spitalfields Crypt Trust.