St. George’s Crypt

What is the Lazarus project? 🤨 The Lazarus project is a public art artwork co-created by users of the Crypt, Pippa Hale and fellow artist David Hawkins. Together on their creative journey they aim to nurture and celebrate the creativity of people who have experienced / are experiencing homelessness and to change public perception. Watch the video below to find out whats happening! Massive thank you to everyone who’s supported this project 💚

You too can hold your own Crypt-mas jumper day at the office! For a donation of just £2, you can get festive and fun in your workplace, while helping a great cause! 🎄💚👏 To find out how, see our website: https://ow.ly/o7KN50UpKUL

St. George’s Crypt operates four charity shops in and around Leeds, in Armley, Pudsey, Morley and Roundhay.  The sale of goods raises funds that contribute to providing other essential services such as accommodation, health and well-being, and Growing Rooms. Our retail outlets also provide volunteering opportunities that act as stepping stones for service users to achieve independence. We recently spoke to Anita, one of our charity shop managers who spoke to us about her responsibilities and Christmas at the charity shops. “I’ve worked at the Crypt’s charity shops for just over 4 years. I started at the charity shops as a volunteer while I was on furlough in lockdown. Because I was at home all day every day, I felt like I just needed something to do. I got made redundant, and then a job at St. George’s Crypt became available. I used to go round the three shops as part of my role, and then I got asked to stay at the Pudsey shop permanently.” Christmas at the Crypt is important for all our branches – whether it be catering, health & wellbeing or our charity shops. We asked Anita about what it’s like at the shops during this busy Christmas season. “Around Christmastime the atmosphere in the shops is great. It’s communities coming together within the shops, we have Christmas jumpers and sometimes customers bring us boxes of chocolates. It’s a great atmosphere and it’s great getting the word out that we are needed at Christmas too. We get both more donations, and more customers around Christmas too. We’ve discovered in the past few weeks that we’re getting donations of mainly toys and bric-a-brac, which we believe is people sorting out their toys before Christmas, rather than after when children get their new ones, which is great for us as it means the people that need them can come and get them beforehand.” We also spoke to Anita about the need for volunteers at the shops and she explained, “There is a need for volunteers – and we are always looking out for volunteers. There is lots of potential, especially if you’re not working and it’s something you want to work towards, volunteering will apply on your CV. I think mainly it’s giving something back to a charity that isn’t nationwide, but local to your community. It’s a feeling that you won’t understand unless you do it and volunteer. Customers who want to volunteer, don’t always understand what exactly it is we do, but when they volunteer with us, they understand the other side of what we do and all the people we support. Also, we make great cups of tea! But definitely, do it.” If you or someone you know are interested in volunteering for us at one of our charity shops, visit the ‘Charity Shops’ section of our website to find out more on how to apply.

A little peek into our Crypt Nativity and Christingle service this afternoon... put on by Lighthouse, in collaboration with St. George's Crypt, filled with Christmas joy and community! 💚🎄🙌

Our talented resident, Donna, at Don Robins house has written a Christmas poem in her recent creative writing session! 🎄💚 It's the morning of Christmas Eve , Santa is sat having a Fanta whilst chatting with the elves sharing banta. All the shelves stacked by elves full of toys, in hope to bring all the joys. The Christmas tree glistens in the centre of the room, flashing lights, candy canes and baubles illuminate and bloom. Over in the far end of the room, the mischievous reindeer play, they can't contain their excitement to go up in the sleigh. In the kitchen Mrs Claus is baking ginger bread men, signing along to festive songs , sounding like a shrieking hen. The reindeers plug their ears and munch on carrots to block out what sounds like a sining parrot. As lunch time rolls around, there's no talk or whisper sound, in the room, non can be found. As it's time to rest in their nest, until Santa suggests it's time to progress. #ChristmasPoem #CreativeWriting #FestiveSeason #ChristmasEve #HolidaySpirit #ChristmasMagic #CreativeResidents

Another powerful story from our Growing Rooms Ladies program ⭐ Michelle recalls spending last Christmas alone in a flat surrounded by paraphernalia. “I ended up crying in bed on Christmas Day,” she remembers. The following day, she visited her father’s grave, overwhelmed with despair and uncertainty. This year, Michelle looks forward to celebrating Christmas surrounded by her Growing Rooms family. “I can’t wait for Christmas this year, I really can’t,” she beams. On December 31st, she will mark 60 days clean, and she’s excited about what the new year holds. “Now that I’m here, I have absolutely no intention of leaving. It’s been a Godsend, it really has." We are so proud of Michelle’s progress and can’t wait to see her continue to thrive in recovery 💚 #RecoveryJourney #GrowingRooms #SupportAndRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #CommunitySupport #WomenInRecovery #HopeAndHealing #Resilience #christmas #storytime

Everyone is getting into the festive spirit! Our Growing Rooms Ladies decorated their tree last week and it looks fabulous... The whole Crypt family is looking forward to this Christmas! 💚🎄👏

Can you help the homeless this Christmas? We need your help to bring hope and light to our clients' lives by writing a message of hope. 💚🎄 Donate a small amount and leave a message for us using this link: https://ow.ly/t5N550UofQk

Growing Rooms Ladies is our recovery centre for women who are drug or alcohol dependant. It is an abstinence-based programme lasting from 12 to 15 months where women complete 12 step activities and get experience in working through volunteering roles. We spoke to a woman, Courtney who recently enrolled in Growing Rooms Ladies who kindly shared her journey into recovery. “I’ve been to a couple of treatment centres before, nothing like this though. I’ve never heard about this, but my friend was in detox, and someone told him about it. He was waiting for a bed, and he told me how good it was, so I rang. I had an assessment and being from Cumbria they let me do an assessment over WhatsApp which was on a Tuesday and then they rang me on the Thursday and told me I could come in the next week." When asked about her previous experience at similar organisations she explained, “I’ve been here 10 weeks now. The one I was in before was very different to this. At the other one, you get your phone taken off you, you weren’t allowed out on your own and no bank cards. I felt lonely there. But here, I can see my family and I have freedom. I can facetime my daughter. It’s so much better for me.” Many other rehabilitation centres are mixed gender. Growing Rooms and Growing Rooms Ladies are separate with different housing for both parties. “It’s way better being in a women’s only space, I feel like I can be more vulnerable. My relationship with my daughter is fixing itself. I speak to her every morning and every night and any time I feel like I’m struggling without her I can talk to her and talk to the other women who understand what I’m going through.” We asked Courtney how she feels going into Christmas and the New Year enrolled in Growing Rooms and she said, “In the new year, I’ll still be here and just keep reaching out to the women around me. Christmas last year I was on my own and using. I’m nervous about Christmas but I’m so excited just to have people around me. It’ll be miles away from where I was a year ago. Even putting the tree up, stuff like that, it was so nice, we had a real laugh doing it. We all decorated it together and played Christmas music, which is stuff I’ve never done before.” We always ask our clients what they would tell someone thinking of taking the steps towards recovery, Courtney explained, “One million percent do it, definitely. I don’t think it’s shouted about enough. Do it. You’ve got nothing to lose.” We cannot continue working to support women like Courtney and those in Leeds who need it most, without your help. To support us further, please consider donating using the box below. You may be the difference someone needs to change their life. To donate and continue helping women like Courtney, please see: https://ow.ly/CyHn50UrM2S

✨ We’re so grateful for every donation! Look at these beautiful handmade Christmas decorations that were gifted to us—they bring such a thoughtful touch of Christmas cheer to the Crypt! 🎄 Thank you for helping us make this season a bit brighter. 🕯️ #HandmadeDecorations #ChristmasCheer #GratefulHeart #SupportLocal #HolidaySpirit #ChristmasGifts #CraftedWithLove #FestiveSeason #CommunitySupport