Received with Thanks discovers how the money raised by the Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal has changed the lives of homeless and vulnerable people.
The Connection at St Martin’s, based at St Martin-in-the-Fields, is partly funded by the Christmas Appeal. As well as providing emergency shelter, food and help with housing, The Connection runs a photography project in order to give homeless people a way to share their experiences.
John first came to The Connection in 2010, and this is his story:
I was easy-going, happy, had a lot of friends. Had a life. But that disappeared. Everything I had, knew, owned, disappeared. I didn’t know where to turn. And the friends I had - friends are always friends when you are in a good position. When you are in a bad position your friends are very few.
I found friends here, I found people for whom I’m no relation but they go out of their way to see I’m ok. As we speak I have family members 5 miles from here. They know my situation. Are they doing anything to help? No.
These guys here have been MY family. And If I were to land the biggest job and get the biggest house I would give back hundreds-fold. These people are family to me now.
Christmas Appeal infographic - Friends
I got my place to live through them; I got my job placement through The Connection. They’ve given me everything I need to get this job. Even basic things like a suit and a pair of shoes for interviews. It’s all from here. So, in effect, everything I am today is because of this place.
Since 2010 I didn’t exist, 2010 – 2011 I was a no-one to everyone. These guys have been everything for me. I’m trying to get to the position where I can come back here and (say) you know what, ‘What can I do for you now?’ Honestly I don’t see myself leaving this place. I’ll always come back and say ‘What’s there to do? How can I help?’ But if I can do that, at least some of my demons will go away and at least I’ll go back to being the person I used to be and the person I used to like being.
So I’m a work in progress basically, if that makes sense to you?
John talks about a photography project that enables him to go 'back to how I used to be.'
My Dad always took photos of us and I never understood why. But now when I look at those photos I sometimes know why he did it. Because it’s a way of capturing moments that you can’t have again.
Photography has always been something I used to do and when Sophie (at The Connection) said do you want to come and join us I said 'Yes'. Why not? Again it’s something they have given me that I used to be.
I love different people giving me their ideas and telling me that’s a nice picture. To me it’s just like I’m doing the things I used to do, I’m going back to being how I used to be. It might not mean anything else to them or to anyone else. But when I go back to my room I say ‘I like myself today’ – I’m not angry, I’m not hurt, I’m not angry at the world. But I’m going back to how I used to be.
View John's gallery of photos here
The Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal launches on Sunday, 1st December
Hear how last year's appeal helped Helen furnish a home and David's relationship with his daughter.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites
