Please note, the above photo was taken before the pandemic.
Paragon Bank PLC have made a very generous donation of £10,000 to SoundCafe Leicester which will further support the work of the City centre based charity with people who are homeless, isolated and vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.
SoundCafe normally meets every week in the Grand Hall at St Martins House, next door to Leicester Cathedral and works with those who are homeless or socially isolated by providing a safe creative space to explore, grow and express their artistic talents. Guests listen to and perform music, they sing together, are encouraged to write poetry, prose and undertake arts and crafts. Guests of SoundCafe report that by having meaningful daytime activity they feel able to cope better day to day. This is backed up by surveys and research.
The charity relies almost entirely on voluntary donations and thanks to the generosity of its supporters has helped over 280 vulnerable and homeless adults, their guests, who have attended its café sessions since it started in October 2014.
The donation will also benefit SoundCafe choir who rehearse each week in the Cathedral. Research has shown that if people sing together then their feelings of well-being and self-esteem improve.
The Venerable Richard Worsfold, Archdeacon of Leicester and official Visitor to the SoundCafe Bishop’s Mission Order, said, ‘The news of this generous financial support from Paragon Bank is wonderfully encouraging. SoundCafe is one of the exciting ways in which, as a Diocese, we have been able to partner with others and see real transformation in the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. I am delighted to see these partnerships now further expanding into the business community, helping to secure SoundCafe’s future at this challenging time of increasing need’.
Due to covid-19, SoundCafe are unable at the present time to provide the usual invaluable daytime activities and opportunity for support to their guests. The Paragon Bank donation will enable the charity to plan new ways of delivery for the future as they emerge from the pandemic. Creativity and adaptability are at the heart of SoundCafe and this will be critical as we all find new ways to offer support whilst adhering to social distancing requirements.
Roz Burch, Chair of Trustees said, “We are delighted to have received this donation at a time of greatest need. Many of our guests have found the support from SoundCafe has meant they can make real changes in their lives; we are all facing unprecedented change in our lives and we must be ready to face new challenges and ways of delivering our service. All this will only be possible with the help and financial support that significant donations like Paragon Bank make.”