'I ate out of dustbins before Crisis saved me'

A Crisis at Christmas volunteer has told the BBC how he was able to turn his life around after the service helped him out of a life on London's streets.

Con said he had no choice but to sleep rough after splitting up with his partner and losing his home and job 10 years ago.

He reached out to the charity Crisis after falling seriously ill, and was given long-term support to access healthcare and secure accommodation.

Con - currently in good health and paid employment - says he is looking forward to helping others as the charity opens three special Crisis at Christmas day centres in London.

Over Christmas, Con will be helping serve food and drinks and welcoming people coming in for help.

The centres, in Stratford, Pimlico and Paddington, will be open between 24 and 28 December, providing food - including Christmas dinner - showers, healthcare services, haircuts, clothing and support with housing and benefits.

The centres are open to anyone experiencing any form of homelessness to drop into during that period.

Recalling his first encounter with Crisis in 2015, Con recalled: "It was November, December-time, freezing cold, I hit the bottle... I was depressed, I was eating out of dustbins sometimes, and then I got ill."

Con was rushed to hospital and was found to be seriously ill with cancer and other conditions, he told BBC London.

"That was the turning point for me," he said.

"I was so entrenched and in a cycle. I didn't know who I was any more, I didn't know where I was."

After finding a Crisis at Christmas day centre in Homerton, Con was able to eat, shower and sign up for long-term support to get his life on track.

Crisis helped him get the medical treatment he needed and put him on courses that eventually helped him get a job.

Ten years on, Con now works in local government helping homeless people and also volunteers for Crisis.

"I would never have thought 10 years ago that all this support would help me access chemotherapy and get over my cancer, get into remission, and to access these services and to get to where I have got to today."

He urged those currently experiencing homelessness to seek help from an outreach service or charity such as Crisis.

"Do not be afraid," he told BBC London. "They are here to help you.

"When you're ready, the door will always be open. Accept that help, that's what they're there for."

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