Bishop Martyn recently visited The Bridge Homelessness to Hope on Melton Street in Leicester to meet the staff and guests of the charity.
Whilst at the facility, he spoke to trustees, staff and guests, learning about the charity’s volunteers, food service, arts provision and more.
In Leicester, the Bishop is also Chair of the Homelessness Charter and a patron of SoundCafé, two initiatives pioneered by the diocese to support people experiencing homelessness.
The visit came in the same week that Bishop Martyn preached a thought-provoking sermon during a service in lament of homelessness at Leicester Cathedral.
Bishop Martyn said: “The Bridge has a wealth of inspirational people and I came away from my visit full of hope. Even in the toughest circumstances, there is courage, resourcefulness and perseverance on display, and The Bridge exists to encourage these qualities.
“From food to internet access, The Bridge provides the essentials for people who have so little. But more than this, the art and music sessions, together with visits from health and employment professionals, allow people to grow in confidence and take the next step in sharing their gifts with wider society.”
David Fawcett, Chief Executive of The Bridge Homelessness to Hope, added: “I was delighted to be able to invite and welcome Bishop Martyn to The Bridge Homelessness to Hope to see the work that we do and the people that we’re supporting. The charity was established in 2009 with a strong Christian ethos and the support that we receive from different faiths across the city is just amazing.”
