Dean had been addicted to Class A drugs since the age of 13. Eventually, his relationship with his parents, both substance users, broke down and Dean’s mum left the family home. His father found it difficult to look after Dean and his brother so eventually they were taken into care. This started a downward spiral and for 20 tumultuous years […]
Omar’s Story
At just 17 years old, Omar is the youngest person living in the Centre’s Hostel. Born into a rough area of London, he worried his life would get sucked into criminal activities and gangs, so he took the brave decision to leave home. With support from the Centre he has just been accepted by Barclays to do a business internship, as […]
Catherine’s Story
After spending the last few years as a full time mum, Catherine,42, wanted to return to work. Her husband provides an income, but now that her son in old enough she desperately wants to improve their financial situation. She says without the support of the Centre she would have already given up. “When I arrived at the Centre I was really […]
John’s Story
“Becoming homeless can happen to anyone. I had always thought that most homeless people were drug addicts or lazy. I never thought it would happen to me. Like lots of people I came to London thinking of all the opportunities. I want to be a journalist, and although I didn’t know exactly how I would make it happen, I wanted […]
Laura’s Story
Laura left Morocco to come to the UK when she got married, aged just 17. The marriage didn’t work out, and eventually she ran away. Despite being so young, Laura managed to build a life for herself in the UK. She is now 56, and has spent her life working hard, and even gave much of her time to fostering […]
Jordan’s story
“I’ve been in the hostel for five months. I left home about three years ago after falling out with my Mum. I was living here, there and everywhere. I wasn’t sleeping on the streets every night but I know what it feels like – at the time all you worry about is the next thing, feeding your belly and where you […]
Theresa’s Story
Theresa was born and grew up in France, but moved to the UK as a teenager to study and learn English. While she was here she met a man, but once they were married she suffered terrible domestic abuse. Too ashamed to go home to her family in France, she built her life around her two sons. When her sons […]
Chris’s story
“I want everyone who supports the Centre to know, that they are making a difference, that they are investing their money in a good place. I have gone from nothing, to all this opportunity.” For many people the Centre was the place that gave them the space and the chance to rebuild their lives. It is wonderful when Chris came […]
Elizabeth’s Story
Elizabeth is happily working in the Cardinal Hume Centre charity shop, as she rebuilds her confidence and her life. She came to the Centre after loosing her job and her home, but thanks to the Centre staff she looking forward to a brighter future. When Elizabeth lost her job as a care worker, she could no longer afford her flat, […]
Best of British
We have been running a new employment programme in our hostel, Best of British, to help our young people develop key skills. The more exposed young people are to different work places, the better their understanding of what employers are looking for. The Best of British programme was launched to increase workplace awareness, through visits to various local employers. The […]
CSAN Trustees Needed
CSAN comprises over 40 Catholic charities and Caritas organisations who work across England and Wales, providing support to families and children living in poverty, prisoners, victims of crime, refugees, older people, homeless, disabled people and travellers. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching (CST), CSAN works with some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in England and Wales. CSAN members are […]
Paul Goggins
A man with a passion for justice and a champion of all those living in poverty and homelessness. We are deeply saddened at the death last night of our Chairman, Rt Hon Paul Goggins MP. Paul was Chairman of our Board of Trustees since April 2012 and a friend and supporter of the Cardinal Hume Centre for many years before […]
Christmas arrives at the Centre
The Centre is abuzz with activity, as volunteers help us prepare for our Christmas celebrations. From decorating, to present wrapping, the Centre is feeling festive, thanks to the willing helping hands from local companies and schools. Last Wednesday a team from Ricoh UK came to decorate the Centre. Volunteers from Deutsche Bank came to decorate the hostel. Both teams did an amazing job, and […]
A Boy called Basil
Matthew Pate was so impressed with the Cardinal Hume Centre he decided to choose Basil as his confirmation name. ‘Basil Hume died two months before I was born, but remains in memory as a person of great faith. Before I began my Confirmation course I knew who Hume was, but knew very little about him. But it was during the […]
“London is…”
One of our newest ESOL students, Edgar , is a keen poet. He recently showed his teacher a notebook full of poems he had written in his native Spanish, with each one carefully translated into English beneath. One of these poems, pictured below, was used as the inspiration for a musical composition performed in December by a group of students and Wigmore […]
The Centre gets it’s Bake On!
The fundraising team got baking and just a little bit competitive to launch the Centre’s first Great Christmas Bake Off. From a Yule Log, to Cranberry and walnut brownies, to Festive Cupcakes there was an array of tatsty goodies on offer for staff and volunteers to buy – with some sampling several of the baked delights! Everyone was on a sugar high and the […]
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat”
Between April and September this year, 350,000 people in the UK were fed by a Foodbank, and the problem is growing. Unfortunately, here at the Centre, like the rest of the country, we are seeing more and more people who are struggling to feed their families. To make sure people don’t go hungry, the Centre works with the Westminster Chapel Foodbank. Every month, […]
Advent Carol Concert
On Tuesday 3rd December, the Centre will be holding its annual Advent Carol Service, for clients, staff and donors to celebrate together. The candlelit service will be held at 6.30pm in the Sacred Heart Chapel, Horseferry Road, with music from the London Oratory School Chamber Choir. Afterwards, guests are invited to stay for warm mince pies and mulled wine in […]
Catholic charities highlight risk of criminalising children
The following letter appeared in the Times newspaper on Wednesday 31st October. Dear Sir, Whilst we recognise the harm that anti social behaviour can cause victims, especially vulnerable and elderly people, we have serious concerns about many of the proposed changes within the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, coming before the House of Lords tomorrow. As a coalition of […]
Our Charity Shop Needs You
Could you spare a morning or afternoon to volunteer in our charity shop? As well as being an important source of revenue for the Centre, the shop is the public face of the Cardinal Hume Centre in our local community. Recently refurbished (thank you John Lewis!), the shop (on Horseferry Road. SW1) now mirrors the warm and friendly welcome of […]
