Former Carry On and EastEnders actress, Dame Barbara Windsor, has visited award-winning homeless charity Caritas Anchor House (CSAN member).
Located in Canning Town, one of the most deprived areas of the country, Caritas Anchor House provides accommodation and support for up to 210 single homeless people each year, addressing the root causes of homelessness through training, education and personal rehabilitation.
Born in Bethnal Green, Dame Barbara is delighted to support an innovative centre that’s just a stone’s throw away from where her acting career began – in Stratford’s local theatre workshops.
“It is with great pride that I support Caritas Anchor House and I was thrilled to see the progress being made in the building of new accommodation flats to help the homeless in the local area. The warmth and community feeling within the building is inspirational and we must not forget the importance of such a place for people who find themselves falling on hard times.”
As a Patron, Dame Barbara has helped to raise awareness and funds for Caritas Anchor House’s £15.3 million Home and Hope Appeal, an integral part of which is the construction of 25 move-on flats. The flats are designed to help homeless people achieve a sustainable transition back into independent living and are due to be completed in December 2016.
The Home and Hope Appeal will improve and expand Caritas Anchor House’s services to help homeless people and will equip marginalised and vulnerable people in the local area with the skills needed to turn their lives around. When completed, the Home and Hope Appeal will leave a lasting legacy for Caritas Anchor House and the wider local community.
Keith Fernett, Chief Executive of Caritas Anchor House, said, “All of our residents were delighted to meet with Dame Barbara Windsor, a true East End hero, and her words of encouragement inspired them all.”
Roseann, a resident of Caritas Anchor House, said, “It was great to chat with Dame Barbara. She was really understanding of mine and the other resident’s situations and encouraged us to ‘Carry On’ and achieve our goals.”
For more information or to donate online, please visit www.caritasanchorhouse.org.uk
