Spitalfields Crypt Trust

Join us as we mark sixty years of recovery in East London, and help secure our future for those who need us most.

SCT began as a simple night shelter and soup kitchen in the crypt of Christ Church Spitalfields on 6 November 1965 and has since grown into a lifeline for thousands of people experiencing addiction and homelessness.

Today, SCT offers:

  • Residential addictions treatment programme – helping people work through the causes of addiction and homelessness and build strong foundations for a lasting recovery. 
  • Supported Housing – guiding residents to manage finances and access debt advice, claim benefits and obtain vital healthcare, as well as manage criminal justice issues, and develop the skills to maintain a tenancy and help secure long-term housing. 
  • Training & Development – enabling people to discover new skills, alongside developing confidence and self-esteem. 
  • Housing First Services – supporting exceptionally vulnerable adults with a history of long-term homelessness to maintain a tenancy.
  • Social Enterprises & Charity Shops – offering employment, community, and a sustainable way to shop. 

Today, SCT is at the heart of East London, with nine charity shops and two social enterprises supporting our work and providing opportunities for those in recovery. 

As homelessness and addiction continue to rise across London, our mission is more vital than ever. Support us in 2025 to help more people find a life beyond homelessness and addiction.

The Need Has Never Been Greater

We’re looking ahead to the next 60 years, and we need your support to ensure SCT continues changing lives for generations to come.

  • Rough sleeping in England has risen by 20% in the last year alone, with 4,667 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2024. 
  • London accounts for 28% of all rough sleeping in England, with 1,318 people recorded as sleeping rough in the city. 
  • 94% of frontline homelessness services report that drug and alcohol dependency is a critical issue among their service users. 

For many, recovery feels impossible, but SCT has been proving for 60 years that change is possible. 

Be Part of SCT's Future

This is more than a celebration, it’s a commitment to the future.

We’re not just marking where we’ve been, we’re building where we’re going.

Will you join us by supporting SCT? 

Here’s how you can make a difference:

Donate

Your generosity helps save and transform lives. Every contribution, big or small, supports vital recovery programmes, housing, and training. 

Shop with Purpose

For every £1 spent in our charity shops, a £14 social return is created for the East London community. Shop second-hand, make a difference. 

Get Involved

Join a fundraising event – challenge yourself, run a marathon, or host your own community fundraising event. 

Our 60th birthday is just the beginning...

We’ll be celebrating throughout the year with special events, fundraising challenges, and powerful stories of transformation.

Stay connected and be part of the journey.

Join our mailing list and stay updated with everything we’re doing to celebrate our 60th birthday.

Follow us on social media: @spitalfieldscrypttrust

Together, we can make life beyond homelessness and addiction possible for even more people in the years to come.

Thank you for being part of our story. Here’s to the next 60 years!