On Wednesday 16th March the Master Glover, accompanied by CPC Chairman and Past Master Roger de Courcey and Liveryman Minnie Harris, visited Providence Row. The Glovers have supported Providence Row with an annual gift of gloves for several years, but due to the pandemic this was the first time we had been able to visit in over two years.
Our host was the Grants Manager Tom Hill, who showed us over the centre, making a point of introducing us to staff members who use our gloves; from the Welcome Centre where warm gloves are given to clients, to the needle exchange where staff use our clinical gloves, to the rooftop garden, where our gardening gloves enable staff, volunteers and clients to grow so much of the food used by the centre.
The garden is a prominent feature of Providence Row. As well as providing an astonishing variety of ingredients for the kitchen, garden coordinator Julie Floyd runs accredited training courses to help clients back into employment. The garden is also a tranquil yet productive oasis away from the bustle of the streets.
Many of the centre’s projects have had to be suspended or curtailed during the pandemic, but their outreach workers have continued going into the homeless community and offering mental and physical support.
Services in the process of restarting include employability progression, peer mentoring, accredited training schemes and well being sessions, including art and music therapy and film and gardening clubs.
Connect with us