In November, local homeless and addictions charity Spitalfields Crypt Trust (SCT), will celebrate its 50th birthday with a number of local events with Royalty and local dignitaries attending.

From 6.00pm to 7.00pm on Friday 6 November
Seven corporate, community and professional choirs will sing at Spitalfields Market, E1. (1) At 7pm, the choirs will lead a procession towards Christ Church Spitalfields to help open the SCT Sponsored Sleep-In. For more information: www.sct.org.uk/choirs

At 7.00pm on Friday 6 November
The SCT Sponsored Sleep-In begins at Christ Church Spitalfields, E1. This fundraising event takes place in the crypt, where the charity was founded in 1965.

The event aims to help meet the charity’s target of raising an extra £50,000 this year to help fund its progression work which supports people in recovery from addictions get back into work, training or education. www.sct.org.uk/sleepin

“50 years ago SCT opened one of the first shelters in the UK for homeless alcoholic men. Sadly today, there still remains a persistent need to help people through periods of addiction and homelessness, which are rapidly increasing again. 50 people will sleep overnight with us in the iconic and newly-renovated Crypt to help raise vital funds for our work.” Graham Marshall, CEO, SCT.

HRH Princess Alexandra and Councillor Abdul Mukit MBE, Speaker of Tower Hamlets Council, will attend part of the evening. Rev Andy Rider, Rector of Christ Church Spitalfields will also be present.

At 10.30am on Saturday 7 November
The Bishop of Stepney, Adrian Newman, will lead a Celebratory Service of Thanksgiving for 50 years of SCT and marking the exciting newly finished redevelopment of the crypt at Christ Church Spitalfields, E1. www.sct.org.uk/thanksgiving

SCT: a short history
In early 1965, the Rector of Christ Church Spitalfields found a homeless man had passed away on the Church steps one night. Shaken to the core by this, in November that year, he opened up the Crypt as a shelter for homeless, alcoholic men. This was back when Spitalfields Market was a big fruit and vegetable market. Today SCT stills run a drop-in for the homeless serving over 150 visitors a week alongside its other projects:

• 16-bed residential recovery accommodation
• 3 supported houses hosting 22 beds for those ready to integrate back into wider society
• a training and personal development centre teaching over 80 students per term
• 2 social enterprises
• relapse prevention groups and counselling services
• 7 charity shops

ENDS

1. The choirs include: The A&O Singers; The Canary Wharf Choir; CHAPS choir; the New Hanbury Project Choir, Owl Parliament and 3 choirs from Starling Arts.

About the Spitalfields Crypt Trust
SCT is an East London charity providing practical help, support and training to people who have been homeless and suffering from addiction. It runs a drop-in, rehabilitation hostel, personal development & training centre and a number of social enterprises to allow recovering addicts to gain work experience and training. The charity was one of the first in the UK to provide shelter to homeless, alcoholic men.

1. Find out more about the 50th birthday at: www.sct.org.uk/about-us/scts-50th-anniversary
2. Registered office: Acorn House 116-118 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JN. Spitalfields Crypt Trust is registered in England and Wales and limited by guarantee. Registered Charity No. 1075947 Company No 37347930.
3. Follow us on Twitter: @recoverypathway #SCT50 and facebook.com/recoverypathway

Contact
For high-res images or more information, please email communications@sct.org.uk.