Help Others, Change Lives
Join us in making a difference in the lives of those in need.
Who we are
Our Story
Central London Catholic Churches (CLCC) came into being in April 2020 as an emergency provision aimed at helping the homeless of Central London at a time when all day centres and retail outlets were closed because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Many, although by no means all, homeless people had been given overnight accommodation under a Government scheme but they were required to leave these hostels at 8.00 am and thus had no way of getting food and drink throughout the day.
Our name reflects the fact that CLCC was originally a consortium of volunteer groups from different Catholic churches in Central London, under the leadership of Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Parish Priest of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Farm Street. London.
Our History
In the beginning, CLCC volunteers operated out of a van parked in the middle of Trafalgar Square dispensing snacks, water and hot drinks to up to 200 people a day. From October 2020, however, we have operated as a twice-weekly lunch service, catering to 50 – 60 people on average each day
Our Programmes
We are currently open twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11.30am-2.00pm, providing our guests with tea, coffee, soft drinks, snacks and a hot sit-down meal served at the table in a relaxing, warm and welcoming environment.
In addition to providing food, drink and a listening ear we can refer guests to medical facilities and advisory services dealing with legal, employment and accommodation matters. We also provide a haircutting service and run occasional job fairs and scripture study groups.
We do not ask guests whether or not they are homeless and they are not required to provide any form of proof about their situation. Not all of our guests are homeless in the sense of sleeping rough but they are, at the very least, in insecure accommodation or are socially isolated and/or in financial need.
What we Need
CLCC is unusual among homeless projects in that everyone who works in it is a volunteer – we have no paid staff – and we do not have any premises costs as, generously, the London Jesuit Centre does not charge us anything for the use of its facilities. This means that we have no overhead and that every penny we are given goes towards meeting the needs of the vulnerable people we serve.
On the other hand, we receive no statutory funding at all and are entirely dependent on donations from individuals and corporate sponsors to continue our work.
It costs a considerable amount to run the service at present and it is likely to increase as the cost of food continues to rise. If you can make a donation to help us keep going, we would be most grateful.
Get Involved
Join our community of volunteers and supporters and help us make a difference in the world. You can donate, volunteer, or simply spread the word about our cause.
Donate
Your donation can help us provide essential services to those in need and make a positive impact in the world. Every penny counts!
Our Impact
With the help of our donors and volunteers, CLCC has been able to make a positive impact in the lives of many vulnerable people.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with us, to learn more about our organization and how you can get involved. Please contact us at:
You Tube Links
Hard Times Featuring Snoop Dog
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ooberfuse/hard-times-feat-snoop-dogg
Please Donate
We will be most grateful for any donation sent to:
Name: Farm Street Church
Sort Code: 60-02-20
Account No: 04835891
Ref: CLCC