Dom Pannell's Blog

Crisis Open Christmas 2007

So it starts tomorrow - actually later today.

I have now visited Centre 2, where I'll be based for the next 8 days, to have a look around and get my bearings.

It's 10 Maltravers Street, close to Embankment tube station. In the past it has been the home of the HMCS as well as a mixture of consultancies and other businesses.

On the plus side, there's a manned reception area, the building is centrally heated and is in pretty good nick. Here's a photo of the main day area as it was being set up.

On the downside, there's a manned reception area, the building is centrally heated and it's split over five floors with no lift - at least it will be good for people's cardio fitness... There's one floor for services (medical, housing advice, dependency, clothing, hairdressing, etc), one that will be a general day area with cinema, another for dining, one that has been fitted with showers and finally a floor for volunteers to take breaks between tasks.

There's also quite a low limit on the number of guests we can allow in the building at any one time (150) and since I'll be heading up the welcoming committee at the main (only) entrance for at least the first half of the week, it falls to me to tell people they can't come in. Nice.

I'll try to post more during the week, paying special attention to what is served to eat* but now, I'd best head to bed - I have to be up in five hours...

*for Graham and Sheelagh's benefit

Posted by dompannell at December 23, 2007 12:26 AM