Dom Pannell's Blog

Crisis Open Christmas 2006: Day Seven

Back on the Main Gate, it was largely a quiet day. Guests came and chatted as they went in and out of the centre.

The hot news item during the night was that ten puppies had been born in the makeshift kennels (AKA 'Dogs'). I didn't get to see them unfortunately, but it was a happy note on which to finish the pre-shift briefing.

Dogs is very close to the Main Gate, so several of the guests who came over for a chat are dog owners. Over the years I've been helping at Crisis, I've never ceased to be impressed by the condition of the dogs that live with London's homeless people. As the cliché goes, a dog is a man's best friend - well, from the health of these dogs, their owners certainly look after them well - in some cases, the dog looks in a better state than the person that holds their lead.

The Main Gate never operates completely without hitches and today two banned guests managed separately to slip past us and enter the centre. Bannings occur if a guest, or a volunteer, breaks one of the Open's four rules: no violence, no weapons, no drugs, no alcohol (the latter doesn't apply at the Drinkers Centre). The duration of a banning can range from a matter of hours (if the GBs want a guest to calm down) to several years across all centres. Most result from altercations between guests and lead to a ban for the current Open.

One of the bannees had been sitting just yards outside the perimeter fencing all morning and must have bided his time for the perfect moment - we think it was at a point when Kevin had gone in for some lunch, I was outside speaking to a policeman regarding a missing person that had telephoned to say he was in the centre. An ambulance turned up just then and another of the volunteers left the gate to send it to the entrance at the rear. This was clearly down to poor briefing by me and it is lucky that nothing serious occurred as a consequence. It was a useful reminder of the need for vigilance.

I still don't have a clue how the other banned Guest made it past us, as everyone on the Gate knew what he looked like and had been briefed that he was not allowed to come in.

Both gents were spotted while inside (Kevin collared one of them standing in line at the lunch queue). They were quickly confronted and persuaded to walk outside again. Neither came back during our shift.

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Not sure why, but GB Graeme thought it odd that I turned up with a roast pheasant leg for my breakfast... seems perfectly reasonable to me!

Crisis Open Christmas 2006: Day Six

I was on the Main Gate at the East Centre again today with Kevin, a stalwart who's been on the gate for the past few years and several new volunteers. Once more, it was a lot of fun.

Apart from a 'lively' twenty minute period at the beginning of the afternoon, everything was very jovial and light-hearted and we were able to talk to quite a lot of guests on their way in or out of the centre. The police turned up a couple of times, but went on their way after a chat - once with me and once with a Green Badge. They did point out that local residents had complained about an increase of litter and we agreed to tidy up. At one point two mounted police appeared, although I'm not sure why: pets are not allowed into the centre and the kennels are already at full capacity (seriously though, I can't really see how a horse could be useful, no matter what is happening inside a centre!).

At one point, two of the Green Badges had to deal with an angry Guest who has now been asked not to return this year. The episode was watched by a driver who was waiting to take some medics to another centre. It turns out that the driver was an off-duty policeman (so he didn't get involved) and once calm had been restored, he called me over. He asked me to let the GBs know that he was very impressed by how they had handled the situation and admitted that he would not have "shown anywhere near as much empathy" if he had been in their shoes. Not a bad vote of confidence for the GBs, I reckon.

The sun came out for about an hour, drying the ground after last night's rain and brightening up everyone's mood. Unfortunately it looks as though it won't be back - the weather forecast is for rain and gales over the last couple of days.

Three of the senior volunteers were sounding decidedly croaky - it looks as though the 'Crisis cold' has started to strike, which may mean we're down on numbers for the last couple of days. The number of volunteers is already well below what was expected, so several services did not open this morning. Luckily, other centres sent vols over so everything was up and running by the afternoon.

We slept 330 people last night and that seems to be pretty much the average for the week. It's approximately 10% higher than the estimate I was given at the beginning of the week and this appears to be the case across all the shelters.

I had a look in the dining area before leaving the centre this evening and was impressed to see that all the tables had been set, just like a restaurant. If only the morning shift had sufficient volunteers to do something similar - traditionally, the morning shift operates with fewer vols than is ideal, the night shift manages with next to no vols and the afternoon shift has so many vols that half of them spend their time sitting, smoking and drinking tea wondering why they bothered to turn up*

The housing service seems to be doing a roaring trade, which is great news. The statistic that I care most about each year is how many Guests we manage to get on the road to proper housing. I hope I'll know the full figures by the end of the week.

Only one more full day to go. I expect to be on the gate again, so I guess I should dig out my hat.

*I'm taking the mickey a bit, but based on my experience over the past six years, it's not a million miles from the truth.

Crisis Open Christmas 2006: Days Four and Five

Ha! So three COC Green Badges read this blog (GB Stuart told me this morning that he'd read my Christmas Eve entry...). I note that a grand total of none of'em goes on to leave a comment... ;-)

I didn't write an entry yesterday because several of us went to the pub after the shift finished and after a couple of pints, all I wanted to do when I made it home was to go to bed.

I was in the dining room again yesterday, doing the same thing as the previous two days, but with half the volunteers! Numbers always fall off after Christmas Day, although I don't remember the drop being quite as much as this year.

Notwithstanding the lack of vols, breakfast and lunch were served on time and we managed to clean the place up before the afternoon shift came in to take over (I did leave one guest fast asleep on his chair for the new shift to look after - I figure if someone is tired enough to sleep despite two vacuum cleaners working busily around them, there is a high chance that they need the sleep and should be left where they are, so we did).

Today brought a whole new source of fun: I was on the Main Gate, which is the welcoming committee for any guests entering the centre.

During setup last Saturday, when we erected the perimeter fences, we used some of the fencing panels to create a 'gate' comprising a passageway of approximately three metres width. This passage is where female volunteers pat down guests to try to ensure that nobody brings booze or other unwanted items (mainly booze) onto the premises. Once frisked, guests are then given a wristband that allows them to access services and Crisis to aggregate data on where resource are consumed during the Open. Then they are directed to an information point inside the centre where they can find out about what is on offer.

Once again, the general volunteers I worked with were tremendous and succeeded in maintaining a light-hearted atmosphere, in which guests were, for the most part, happy for their clothes and bags to be checked. Occasionally someone would object to having their beer cans taken off them, so they sat outside the entrance to finish them off before going in. I'm pleased to report that they largely cleaned up after themselves, which made tidying very simple indeed (thanks Kevin).

At one point a couple of bobbies walked past on their beat. They showed general interest in how the centre was going and were impressed by the number of guests who are being catered for. They went on their way, waving to a group of soon-to-be guests who were tucking into a couple of bottles of White Ace. The laissez-faire attitude that the police show to the Open is one element of the latter's success: guests are generally VERY wary of authority and institutions, so would not welcome a heavy police presence.

Over the course of the day I gave out over a packet of cigarettes to guests (a smoke goes down nicely after White Ace...). Ciggies are extremely useful as an excuse to chat to guests or to deflate moments of tension or high spirits, so Crisis provides a sporadic supply of them to volunteers to give to guests. Personally, I have always found it most effective to stop and have a smoke with guests if I have time (yeah, yeah, smoking is bad for me, yeah, yeah... I'll give up again in the new year...). I'm not sure if I'm the only volunteer to cadge cigarettes from guests, but I've formed a loose bond with some guests who might otherwise be unsociable and, unlike some vols I see, I don't generally have the problem of being swamped by guests looking for a free fag (they reckon I'm as likely to ask them for one back).

Most of the day was free of incident and quite jolly, although one guest did have to be escorted off the premises when he became too lively (he'd come in for food, but was too late for lunch and was not best pleased). I worked as a barman in a nightclub for two years in my younger years and every night was far more 'lively'!

Five days down, three to go. I wonder what tomorrow holds...

Crisis Open Christmas 2006: Day Three - Christmas Day

Ironically, when I rushed out this morning, having overslept, I had to step over a couple who were sleeping in front of the door of the building I live in. When I returned after a busy day in the dining area (see yesterday's entry for details... very little was different except that we fed more people - I was involved in no incidents), the couple were settling down again for the night.

As I unlocked the main door to the building, the bloke asked me in French if I had any blankets to spare. I told them I'd have a look. I doubt if any of my neighbours would be over the moon to learn that the couple now have one more sleeping bag with which to fend off the cold in our doorway, but hey! What do you want me to do? It's Christmas Day!!

They also now have a map with the addresses of three of the Crisis centres.

The girl told me that they are French and will return to France tomorrow. I told them they could chuck the sleeping bag when they've finished with it.

I'm sitting here wondering how they ended up here, clearly having been living rough for several days.

Maybe I could have (should have?) done more. Perhaps I should have invited them inside - I have two double beds in my flat, after all. A small voice tells me I ought to walk outside now and ask them in for something warm to eat and a hot shower.

I'm not going to though.

Here I am being 'all charitable' by helping at a homeless centre during the day, yet I can still turn my back on a pleasant, civilised couple who are about to kip down in the cold on my doorstep.

I don't feel particularly proud right now. I'm not sure if I will be able to sleep with my decision, but I've made one and I've sticking with it: I've given up a sleeping bag and explained where they can go for shelter. So why do I feel like I've just made a half-arsed attempt to do some good?

Ho hum.

Joe died this evening. Adieu Joe.

Crisis Open Christmas 2006: Day Two

Well, I can't complain about the food not being on time today, as I charged with controlling the queues for breakfast and lunch - under the wing of Graeme the 'Green Badge'* who I was working with for the day.

Along with 30 general volunteers, we kept the flow of hungry guests moving in the dining hall and ensured that everyone who wanted to eat was served with food, before returning to the main 'day area' where they can benefit from the many services on offer, or amuse themselves by reading, watching television or whatever they prefer doing.

Both meals had meat and vegetarian options and were served as quickly and efficiently as possible, thanks to the kitchen staff who were led by a particularly good-natured female chef. As always, there was a lack of equipment, in particular trays, but the volunteers were able to recycle these in something of a production line.

The food was good, which meant that the atmosphere was friendly throughout. Hooray!

The only other tasks I was needed for involved persuading guests to leave toilet cubicles. While privacy is respected, we always have to be on the guard against drug use on site, so if a cubicle is occupied for an unusually long time, suspicions are aroused and the incumbents encouraged to leave. The lavatories are also in high demand because of the number of guests, so it's important to keep them as clear (and clean) as possible at all times. Today we had to wake up several guests who had fallen asleep in the loos - this can be due to various reasons, not least a lack of sleep the previous night. I was involved in three incidents, all of which ended happily with the resident leaving after a short discussion (only one of which became heated).

It does become rather hot in the dining area and I was glad when I had to take the bags of rubbish that had been filled during lunchtime out to the centre's skip - it was nearly three o'clock in the afternoon and the first time I'd seen natural daylight and breathed fresh air since starting at 7.45am.

Working in the dining area has one huge benefit: I've started meeting some familiar faces among the guests - people that I've got to know over the years and about whose lives I know a little. As always, the year since we last met has been mixed: very good for some, very bad for others, generally somewhere in between. The opportunity to speak to guests is why I became hooked on the Open Christmas in the first place and it feels good when they recall my name and greet me with smiles.

Roll on Christmas Day!

*Green Badges are the big cheeses at Crisis centres - they give up a crazy amount of time each year in order to plan and run the centres during Christmas week. I've mentioned previously that a centre is a huge logistical exercise and the Green Badges have the respect of guests and volunteers alike for their efforts and the untold sacrifices they make year in, year out. That's despite their collective sense of humour (I know that at least two GBs will read this!!).

Crisis Open Christmas 2006: Day One

Well, that's over. I've been back home for three hours, most of which was spent asleep, 'cos I was knackered when I got back in.

It was an early start (two hours earlier than I normally have to begin work) and it'll be the same again for the next seven days.

I took the tube to Liverpool Street at 7am and walked the remaining short jaunt to Rodwell House on Middlesex Street. Things were just kicking off and I spent much of the first hour welcoming volunteers and sending them up to the fifth floor to be told what they should expect over the coming day. While they were being briefed, I chatted to Stan who arrived shortly after 8am to be first in line for the pre-announced opening time of 2pm.

Then I was equipped with a walkie-talkie and given my first task of the day: Chad, another Key Volunteer, and I worked with a team of approximately eight vols (it varied over the course of the morning) to position metal fencing around the perimeter of the centre in order to control how guests approach the main building. Despite concerns that we didn't have sufficient materials, by about midday we'd finished the job with a few spare panels of fencing left.

By this time, Stan had been joined by around fifteen others, keen to get inside out of the cold and make use of the services that the Open offers guests. I spent the next three hours on the Main Gate, chatting to increasingly chilled guests and vaguely organising them into a queue - you can't do much more with a growing number of people, several (though definitely not most) of whom have decided to warm themselves up with cans of strong lager and/or cider - at 9% ABV Special Brew is always a favourite tipple on these occasions.

Evidently preparations on the inside went to plan because we opened the doors at the scheduled time and within thirty minutes had welcomed in over a hundred guests. This number doubled over the next hour and by the end of the shift at 4pm, the estimated number of guests was 310.

I spent the rest of my time helping out on a number of small tasks, helping to coordinate people with my walkie-talkie and rescuing one male guest who had fallen asleep in the loos. The general atmosphere in the centre was very jovial and relaxed.

There was a lack of food today and what was there was only ready quite late, but the Main Gate crew did have the opportunity of a few minutes inside drinking superheated soup, which generally did the trick of warming our cockles.

All told, the first day of the East Centre was a very good day with few incidents. Let's hope it stays the same for the rest of the week.

Right now I'm nibbling on some very good cheese and Italian sausage, washed down with half a bottle of Italian red wine (a Primitivo from Puglia, since you ask). I’ll be off to bed soon, to grab a few hours sleep before heading back to the centre.

Crisis Open Christmas 2006

You know how bored you are just after Christmas? You're away from work (which is probably good) but you're stuck with your family watching rubbish films and getting fat for the third day in a row and you're becoming stir crazy.

Well, don't do it!

Sign up now to volunteer at the Crisis Open Christmas 2006 (it's the button to the right of the menu across the top).

I've been volunteering for the past five years and I've just submitted my online application form.

If you want an idea of what's involved, I wrote a diary in 2004. Don't worry, you don't have to do the whole week (although I will). You don't even have to do Christmas Day (in fact, I'd recommend you don't if you're free for any of the rest of the week - they have so many people on that one day, you could end up sitting down all day drinking tea). They do like you to sign up for three shifts, but many people do just two.

It's not for everybody and if you're of a nervous disposition don't sign up for the Drinkers Shelter (which is where I started - I loved it).

If you do come along, you'll get a lot out of it in terms of achievement and personal growth. Guaranteed.

Ho, ho, ho!

Just one week to go.

In case you're wondering what Santacon is, you can read my write up from last year's event here.

Professional, sober, upstanding? Me? Yes, of course. Don't you love the idea of 400 santas hitting London's centre on the busiest shopping day of the year?

To get you into the mood, here's the real story behind Father Christmas.

What's really worrying, though, is that Pillow Fight Club is returning to London the day before! Next weekend promises to be exhausting.

Quite stunned.

I met up with a bunch of chums this evening at the Tower Hotel next to Tower Bridge, London.

I met some, but not all, of these chums through the Ecademy. Over the years, most of us have now left - in my case I haven't been a member for at least a couple of years.

Coincidentally an Ecademy meeting was being held at the same hotel.

It's late, but I am trying to come to terms with the sight of the Chairman of the Ecademy, Thomas Power, physically shoving one of my friends across the hotel balcony and then shouting at him. The expulsee had previously been a member, but his Ecademy membership expired recently. He had wandered into the meeting room (the meeting was finished and the doors wide open) to speak to someone he knew.

My friend almost knocked down the hotel's Christmas tree.

As my friend said later "if I was thinking of rejoining Ecademy, I'm certainly not going to now!"

I am still outraged.

Another Saturday...

... OK I only had a couple of pints in the pub this time. The George Inn on Borough High Street to be exact.

I met Sven and Marie-Hélène, together with their Swiss friends Gabi and Freddie, to have a wander round Borough Market. It's a great place with very high quality produce, if a tad expensive at times.

Anyway I've put my name down for a butchery course run by the Ginger Pig. Well, they are award winners...

The course should start in the new year. On Tuesdays.