For the third year running Islington Arts and Media school opened its doors over Christmas to many of North London’s homeless. As one of Crisis’s special Christmas Day centres IAMS welcomed up to 150 homeless and vulnerably housed people each day over the Christmas period.
The centre at the school offered a wide range of services and activities during the week from healthcare and an optician’s service to housing advice and visits to the dentists. There were hairdressers and masseurs, an internet café and basketball tournaments. Each day a programme of entertainments, films and games ensured that homeless people at IAMS had a Christmas to remember and through the range of services on offer some were able to take their first steps out of homelessness
None of this would have been possible without the support of the school and its students.
Head of Crisis Christmas, Mick Bateman said.
“IAMS was the first school we used as a day centre and it was great to return for a third year and offer our clients such a place of safety and activity. The support from the students and staff has been amazing – especially in the donation of the goodie bags – we have never seen such generosity from a host school before – Thank you”
A guest at our Christmas centre commented
“This place is fantastic – if it wasn’t for here I would be spending Christmas alone and without anything”