Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

As a result of the coronavirus, The Three Pillars, a charity formed by Freemasons in Peterborough and the surrounding areas to help feed the homeless, had to cease its operation in Peterborough, which created real concern about how those on the streets were going to cope, writes Craig Bunday from Peterborough Freemasons.

In the short term, the outreach team at Peterborough City Council was able to provide accommodation in a local hotel for the Street Friends.

But the public house attached to the hotel, which was originally able to supply meals, has had to close under the current Government guidelines. This presented a  dilemma that the people were safe in the accommodation, but had no facilities for food.

However, The Three Pillars charity was able to put together breakfast/brunch goodie bags for the residents, which started with 80 packs, but has now risen to 125.

The Freemasons have helped support rough sleepers during the coronavirus pandemic

The Peterborough Homeless Helpers donation hub (PHH) has now put the charity in touch with the Peterborough Soup Kitchen (PSK), therefore enabling both organisations to combine resources and set up a network of support. The Three Pillars now buys the contents for the goodie bags and delivers them to the PSK, who then pack the bags and deliver them onto the hotel for the following morning, while the PHH provides hot meals for the evening.

This is a full-time operation, but by combining the support of the three organisations, they have been able to ensure that the Street Friends are well looked after.

Cambridgeshire County Council and Fenland District Council have also approached The Three Pillars as they had also located people in Peterborough in similar situations and so they have now also been included in the service.

In addition, The Three Pillars have liaised with Marks and Spencer through Dayle Duguid, a member of Vale of Nene Lodge in Peterborough. He runs a scheme called Neighbourly, which donates surplus food stock from the shop to charities helping the homeless. With this new link in the chain, the charity hopes to make use of perfectly good  foodstuffs that may otherwise go to waste.

It is good to see Freemasons working alongside other organisations in the community to achieve a common goal.

If you want to know more about Freemasonry in the Peterborough area, please visit www.northants-huntsmasons.org.uk or call the Ellindon Masonic Centre on 01733 331948.

To find out more about The Three Pillars Feeding The Homeless Charity, please search for them on Facebook.

Coronavirus: Working together to support Peterborough’s rough sleepers

Comment Guidelines