'Our core mission hasn't changed', says Worcestershire homeless charity on its 40th anniversary
Maggs Day Centre is today marking forty years to the date since it opened its doors for the first time in Worcester to support those who were homeless
Forty years to the day since it first started providing help for homeless people a Worcestershire charity says it's vital that support continues for years to come.
Maggs Day Centre was launched in Worcester on the 21 December 1985 following the death of John Maggs who died alone in a derelict building after years of homelessness the year earlier in July.
His death led to agencies and community leaders along with the churches of All Saints and St Nicholas coming together across the city, with All Saints helping to secure the charity's first home in the former St Alban’s Church.
It's now set to mark its 40th anniversary today with a carol service at All Saints Church in Worcester, with it confirming its focus on ensuring no one in Worcester is left unseen, unsupported or alone remains the same.
"Our core mission hasn't changed, Maggs exists to support people who are homeless or vulnerably housed to meet them without judgement and to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and hope, but the context around this has changed dramatically," said Melissa Blewitt, the fundraising, communications & relationships manager for the charity.
"The cost of living crisis, rising rents and growing pressures on public services mean that more people are reaching crisis point than ever before.
"So while our mission is the same, the need is greater and the work is more urgent, we've grown our services far beyond the original day centre from practical support to like clothing, meals and healthcare access which help people move forward sustainably."
Since it opened its doors the charity has also grown its services to Malvern, along with a clothing project which helps those who need it from the likes of sleeping bags and bedding to clothing and houseware.
In its national plan to end homelessness which was launched last week, the government announced a £3.5 billion investment over the next 3 years to ensure action is taken towards ending homelessness and rough sleeping.
It also outlined three key pledges it wanted to be achieved by the end of this parliament in the strategy, one was to halve the number of long-term rough sleepers, another being to end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families and the final one to prevent more households from becoming homeless in the first place.