0:00:02 > 0:00:04On the streets of our cities, there's a growing problem
0:00:04 > 0:00:08that's becoming more visible than ever - homelessness.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Today is Homeless Sunday, a day when churches
0:00:10 > 0:00:15around the country unite to find practical ways of offering help.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18And I'm joining my church on their regular 4:00am tea run
0:00:18 > 0:00:20here in London.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Welcome to Songs Of Praise.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48On the programme, I help bring breakfast to the homeless
0:00:48 > 0:00:53in Covent Garden and hear how much warm food and a friendly face mean.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55This is the highlight of my week.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59The Reverend Kate Bottley meets a remarkable 13-year-old
0:00:59 > 0:01:02who's bringing hope to the homeless in Preston.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05One of the really inspirational things from the Bible
0:01:05 > 0:01:07that I read said that it doesn't matter about your age,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09as long as you're making a difference.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12And we visit the man putting an ingenious roof
0:01:12 > 0:01:14over the heads of those in need in Bristol.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27January is one of the hardest months to be living on the streets.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30According to the charities Shelter, Crisis and Housing Justice,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34the number of rough sleepers has doubled since 2010.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Increasingly, it's churches who are offering the help that's
0:01:39 > 0:01:43so desperately needed. Not just here in London, but all over the UK.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46And our music comes from right across the country, offering
0:01:46 > 0:01:50words of hope and reassurance that God's love is for all.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53And we start with a hymn that's based on Psalm 23 -
0:01:53 > 0:01:55The King of Love My Shepherd Is.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45It's 4:00am here in London.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47A little bit earlier than I'm used to getting up,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51but my daughter Lily and I have come to join volunteers
0:03:51 > 0:03:53from our church, All Souls, in London,
0:03:53 > 0:03:55on the Saturday morning tea run.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58We've done this before, so we know what we're letting ourselves in for,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00but I'd forgotten how cold it gets, Lily.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02- Come on, Dad, let's do this. - All right.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Our first job is to help the team prepare the food
0:04:07 > 0:04:10and hot drinks to take out to people on the streets of Covent Garden.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14The work is part of ASLAN - the All Souls Local Action Network.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18And since 1988, volunteers have been helping every week.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23My 20-year-old daughter and I used to help out here each month, but
0:04:23 > 0:04:28this is the first time we've been able to come for a couple of years.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Prayer is an important part of the team's preparations.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33We know through the love of God that there is hope,
0:04:33 > 0:04:38whatever circumstances that they've got, that you can give them hope.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42By 4:45am, the van is fully loaded up
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and we head off to Covent Garden in Central London.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48By day, it's full of tourists, but at night,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52this affluent area is increasingly home to rough sleepers.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56And a hot breakfast is eagerly awaited.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59- That looks nice.- I'm enjoying my... - You've got raisins in there, have you?
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- Raisins in porridge. - I saw it being made.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- I wasn't going to have any, but I put raisins in instead of sugar.- Yeah.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- I've got to watch my weight. - I was going to say, you're healthy!
0:05:07 > 0:05:08THEY LAUGH
0:05:08 > 0:05:12This is the most sensible hand-out that the homeless get.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17Because it's the only place at 5:30am you can get hot food.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19That's a life-saver for these guys.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22I've been coming here for the last 10 years.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25They're as regular as clockwork.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27They're nearly as good as a Swiss watch, actually.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29THEY LAUGH
0:05:29 > 0:05:33There's a good reason why the tea run is so early in the morning.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34We go out at 5:00am,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38when people are most likely to be suffering from hypothermia.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42And we are trying to improve standards of care and support,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46with God's help, but also with training from the local council.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Some of our guests say that they don't actually open up to anyone
0:05:49 > 0:05:51until they know a volunteer for two years.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56So it's about long-term trust and building relationships
0:05:56 > 0:06:00before you can then really get alongside someone and help them.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02There's always that chat, which people need
0:06:02 > 0:06:04because you don't chat to people when you're on the street.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05Nobody wants to know you.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08But you come here, you have a laugh, you can have a giggle.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11If you've got a problem, you talk about it, problem's gone.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16I thought homeless people would be, like, drunk, drug addicts
0:06:16 > 0:06:18and they would be dirty and smelly,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21but I've found that's not the case.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23They just seem to have fallen on hard times,
0:06:23 > 0:06:25but, you know, are looking after themselves.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30It's not just food that the volunteers provide.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32They've given me advice when I needed it,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34when I was feeling down, depressed and whatever.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37They say, "We'll pray for you", and I know they do.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40And sometimes their prayers have been answered for me,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42whether it happens through this or that.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44But prayer works. I do it myself.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48A lot of people that I speak to who live on the streets
0:06:48 > 0:06:50feel they have no hope.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53And if we read the Bible, we see if we trust in God,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56he doesn't say we're going to have an easy time in our life,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00but if we can believe in him and cast our cares onto him,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04then, you know, by grace, you know, we are saved.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43My daughter Lili and I first volunteered
0:10:43 > 0:10:45on the All Souls Tea Run when she was just 17.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49I just forgot how rewarding and how great it feels
0:10:49 > 0:10:52to give back, I guess.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55You know, the reason we did this the first time,
0:10:55 > 0:10:59was because I wanted to teach you that...we actually live quite
0:10:59 > 0:11:02privileged lives and we should be giving back.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05- Yes.- I wanted to teach you a lesson, I ended up learning
0:11:05 > 0:11:06just as much as you.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Our next hymn reminds us that Jesus is the light
0:11:10 > 0:11:12and offers hope in the darkness.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Which is particularly relevant at this time of year,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17as Friday is the Feast of Candlemas,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21which celebrates the presentation of the young Jesus in the temple.
0:11:21 > 0:11:22Traditionally, it was a time
0:11:22 > 0:11:25when people brought their candles to be blessed in church.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Now, lots of us feel powerless to help
0:13:58 > 0:14:00when we see people sleeping rough on the streets.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02But one young teenager was determined
0:14:02 > 0:14:04to do something meaningful to help.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06The Reverend Kate Bottley went to meet her.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Like many cities,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Preston in Lancashire has a growing number of homeless people.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18It's a problem that really struck 13-year-old Megan Holmes.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19I was shopping with my mum,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22and there were all these homeless people on the streets with nothing,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- and it really, really pulled on my heart.- And what happened next?
0:14:25 > 0:14:29So, I went home and I researched and I spoke to a few homeless people
0:14:29 > 0:14:32and a woman that works in a homeless shelter
0:14:32 > 0:14:35and found out what they needed and not just what I thought they needed.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38And came up with a bag containing essential items,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40and that was the Hope Bag.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Today is a big day for Megan.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48She's launching her latest Hope Bag at her church's charity shop.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Megan, talk me through what's in a Hope Bag.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52There are a lot of essential items,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55that when I spoke to people on the streets, they said they would need.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57So, a hat and some thermal socks to keep them warm
0:14:57 > 0:15:01because, obviously, it's very cold. And we've got some hand sanitizer.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04They don't want to feel dirty, so it's good to have them in there,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06and tissues and wipes and water.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10This is an information leaflet which guides them to places to go
0:15:10 > 0:15:12and places where they can go and seek help.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14And what's this?
0:15:14 > 0:15:16So, this is a foil blanket.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19The idea is it's a lot more practical than a normal blanket,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21because it's waterproof and windproof.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24How old were you when you first had the idea?
0:15:24 > 0:15:28I was 11 when I came up with this idea, now I'm 13 now.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29That's amazing!
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Did no-one say to you at any point, "Come on, you're only a child.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36"This is a bit too big of a project for you to take on"?
0:15:36 > 0:15:39There were always going to be them people, but I didn't listen.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42One of the really inspirational things from the Bible that I read,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44said that in 1 Timothy 4:12,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47it talks about how it doesn't matter about your age,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50whether you're old or whether you're young, it shouldn't matter
0:15:50 > 0:15:52what you do, as long as you're making a difference
0:15:52 > 0:15:55and you're doing what you set your heart on doing, it doesn't matter.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Earlier today, Megan joined her regular congregation
0:15:59 > 0:16:01at Crossgate Church in Preston
0:16:01 > 0:16:03to tell them all about her little bags of hope.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And that's why it's good to give them something that has value
0:16:06 > 0:16:08and worth, and considers their needs,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10not just what we assume they need.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13APPLAUSE The bags cost £4.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17And people who buy them can either leave them to be distributed
0:16:17 > 0:16:20by the charity shop, or hand them out themselves.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22You've got armfuls!
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- How many bags are you buying? - I'm buying 10 today.
0:16:25 > 0:16:2710? That's amazing!
0:16:27 > 0:16:29I mean, you know, you buy 'em a cup of coffee,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32but how many cups of coffee do they have in a day?
0:16:32 > 0:16:34But this, I think, is just so fantastic.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37It's a real gift, isn't it, really?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39The thing is that they see Jesus in me.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43When I give this, it's not from me, it's from Jesus.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46At the moment, the bags are only available through
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Megan's church in Preston, but she hopes the idea will spread.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53So, this is Anthony, he was one of the first homeless people
0:16:53 > 0:16:57that I spoke to and he helped me with what to put in the bags.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58Yeah, I think it's a brilliant idea.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01You know, the fact that somebody has had the consideration
0:17:01 > 0:17:05and the thought to go about and do it, and yet at such a young age,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09to do it is just inspiring to us homeless people.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12And it's the fact that somebody's there who's got a heart,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15and you know that you're loved and somebody cares for you, really.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19What a remarkable young lady!
0:17:19 > 0:17:24And what a brilliant idea, so simple and yet so transformative.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Our next hymn by Stuart Townend is a reminder
0:17:27 > 0:17:30that God cares for everyone, and that he's the king of kindness.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36# Come, all you vagabonds, Come all you "don't belongs"
0:17:36 > 0:17:39# Winners and losers, Come, people like me
0:17:41 > 0:17:44# Come' all you travellers Tired from the journey
0:17:44 > 0:17:47# Come wait a while, stay a while Welcome you'll be
0:17:51 > 0:17:54# Come, all you questioners Looking for answers
0:17:54 > 0:17:57# And searching for reasons And sense in it all
0:17:59 > 0:18:02# Come, all you fallen And come all you broken
0:18:02 > 0:18:05# Find strength for your body And food for your soul
0:18:05 > 0:18:09# Come to the feast there is room at the table
0:18:09 > 0:18:11# Come, let us meet in this place
0:18:12 > 0:18:15# With the King of all kindness Who welcomes us in
0:18:15 > 0:18:20# With the wonder of love and the power of grace
0:18:20 > 0:18:23# The wonder of love and the power of grace
0:18:40 > 0:18:43# Come, those who worry 'bout houses and money
0:18:43 > 0:18:47# And all those who don't have a care in the world
0:18:48 > 0:18:51# From every station and orientation
0:18:51 > 0:18:55# The helpless, the hopeless, the young and the old
0:18:55 > 0:18:58# Come to the feast, there is room at the table
0:18:58 > 0:19:01# Come, let us meet in this place
0:19:01 > 0:19:05# With the King of all kindness who welcomes us in
0:19:05 > 0:19:09# With the wonder of love and the power of grace
0:19:09 > 0:19:12# The wonder of love and the power of grace
0:19:30 > 0:19:33# Come, all believers and dreamers and schemers
0:19:33 > 0:19:37# And come all you restless just searching for home
0:19:40 > 0:19:43# Movers and shakers and givers and takers
0:19:43 > 0:19:46# The happy, the sad, the lost and alone
0:19:50 > 0:19:53# Come, self-sufficient, with wearied ambition
0:19:53 > 0:19:56# And come those who feel at the end of the road
0:19:59 > 0:20:02# Fiery debaters and religion haters
0:20:02 > 0:20:06# Accusers, abusers, the hurt and ignored
0:20:06 > 0:20:10# Come to the feast, there is room at the table
0:20:10 > 0:20:13# Come, let us meet in this place
0:20:13 > 0:20:17# With the King of all kindness who welcomes us in
0:20:17 > 0:20:20# With the wonder of love and the power of grace
0:20:20 > 0:20:24# The wonder of love and the power of grace
0:20:24 > 0:20:28# The wonder of love and the power of grace! #
0:20:43 > 0:20:44Talk to any of the people here
0:20:44 > 0:20:48and the one thing they desire is a home, just somewhere to live.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Sadly, that's a distant dream for many.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53But one man has come up with a very creative solution in Bristol.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Jasper Thompson is a man with a vision.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00He's been in the Army, he was then a chef,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03and last year, he set up this community project.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06He's developing this derelict site in Bristol into a village
0:21:06 > 0:21:10made from shipping containers, for people without a home.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14That's a container we're going to develop into a micro flat.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17As you can see it, it's rubbish!
0:21:17 > 0:21:19But when we finish, it'll be fantastic.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26This must have been a changing room for a football team.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Local school maybe or a local sports centre.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32It may be hard to imagine, but when Jasper has finished,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34the containers become small homes.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38Jasper has four on site waiting to be transformed
0:21:38 > 0:21:40and five that he's already converted.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Each of the containers, all the furniture in them
0:21:43 > 0:21:46and the work to convert them is donated.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Everything you can see in here, from the windows to the lights,
0:21:50 > 0:21:55the sofa, microwave, fridge, all donations.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58We've got one lad living here at the moment,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00he was currently living in his van.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03So, he's here now and trying to get himself up on his feet.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07And then in a few months' time, he should be sorted.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13If I need a builder, carpenter, a window fitter,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I just put an appeal out.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18There's always someone out there who'll want to help you, you know?
0:22:18 > 0:22:20There's no point trying to do it on your own,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22I could never do this on my own.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Thanks for popping down.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26God's set a path for you
0:22:26 > 0:22:30and he expects you to follow that path, you know.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33It's taken me a while and it always takes people a while,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36or it takes something in life to realise
0:22:36 > 0:22:39God has chosen me for this, you know?
0:22:39 > 0:22:43And I feel, honestly feel that I've been chosen to do this,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45by God, you know.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48The idea is that people are given a roof over their heads
0:22:48 > 0:22:51for up to a year, until they get back on their feet.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54A lot of the work is done by volunteers, like Carl,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57who knows what it's like to be homeless.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00I was sleeping rough outside of a church in the West End,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03called the Commonwealth Christian Fellowship.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05And I met a gentleman named William Jones,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09and he's getting on now but I believe he helped save my life.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14And he spoke about how Jesus loves me, how he wants to save me,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16how he wants to be a part of my life.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Sorry, it makes me feel a little emotional when I think about it,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22because I remember that day, you know, and I'll never forget it.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28And yeah, we did a little prayer, and it sort of went from there.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32We have a slogan with Help Bristol's Homeless,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34and it's, "Together, we can make a difference."
0:23:35 > 0:23:37More and more containers are being donated,
0:23:37 > 0:23:41and Bristol Council has just given him land to create a permanent site.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44There's no end to Jasper's vision.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48You're looking at that container now, and to you, it's just...
0:23:49 > 0:23:50A container!
0:23:50 > 0:23:55But you know, for me, we will turn that into a launderette.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57What we're trying to develop here
0:23:57 > 0:24:00is everyone being neighbourly toward each other.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03And that's exactly what we want on this site,
0:24:03 > 0:24:08some sort of neighbourly spirit and kindness.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09We love you, Rachel, we love you.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Back in central London, the Tea Run is still busy.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03There's often no quick fix for homelessness.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Some of the people here today are no longer living on the streets
0:26:06 > 0:26:08but still need support.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Are you in a hostel at night or do you...?
0:26:10 > 0:26:13At the minute, I'm in temporary accommodation,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16which is like on a weekly basis, so I could be out next week.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I just don't know where I am at the moment.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23Which is why it's very hard to let go of what's important to you.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Because next week, I can be on my arse again.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29And if I give this up, I'll have to start over again.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Even those who are now in permanent accommodation
0:26:34 > 0:26:36come back to meet up with old friends.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40It's a great help, and something to look forward to.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42That's right, meeting people, getting out of the loneliness
0:26:42 > 0:26:44of being on your own, that sort of thing.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46That's why I...
0:26:47 > 0:26:49By befriending people on the Tea Run,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52the volunteers can be the catalyst to finding them a home.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56It makes a big difference now, if I look back.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Because at that time,
0:26:58 > 0:27:03I didn't even have a place to sometimes have a shower.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05So, one of the Tea Run men,
0:27:05 > 0:27:09he helped me to have a shower in his office.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12So, I realise that people are very nice.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15And you've turned it around, cos you're not on the streets any more?
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Yeah, I... For that, really say thank you, God.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24Because I believe that without God's help,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27it's very hard to get out from anything.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31We just want to bring companionship.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33So, not just about people who are thinking about
0:27:33 > 0:27:37the problems all the time, but you know, the cheerier things,
0:27:37 > 0:27:38like things to be grateful for.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41- We've heard a lot of laughter today. - Yeah, yeah.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44- It seems a sort of fun, nice atmosphere...- Yeah.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46- ..given the people are in difficult situations.- Yes.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50As dawn breaks over London, it's time for the team to head back
0:27:50 > 0:27:54for their own breakfast and a chance to reflect on their experiences.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58What I found the most touching was the fact that although
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Dad and I haven't done this for a long time,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04people seem to still remember who we were
0:28:04 > 0:28:06and what I've been doing.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Friends don't remember that much about me, but they remembered!
0:28:10 > 0:28:12And it was just so lovely,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15and that's what I found really rewarding today.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Quite a number of people feel there's no hope for them,
0:28:18 > 0:28:20for their future.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Perhaps they feel no-one loves them,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24but if we can get the message across that Jesus loves them...
0:28:26 > 0:28:29..and with our help, perhaps pointing them in the right way,
0:28:29 > 0:28:35in a practical way, then they'll find some hope in their future.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Well, every time I've done the Tea Run, I've always felt tired
0:31:17 > 0:31:19but I felt really uplifted.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21And today was no different.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23Right, that's just about it for this week.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Coming up next week - the Reverend Kate Bottley marks 100 years
0:31:26 > 0:31:28since women were first given the vote
0:31:28 > 0:31:32by learning about pioneering Christian women, past and present.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35And at Hampton Court Palace, Josie d'Arby gets to see
0:31:35 > 0:31:38a rare piece of Elizabethan Christian history.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42We end with a hymn that expresses the eternal hope
0:31:42 > 0:31:44that faith in God brings.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Until next time, goodbye.