St George's Crypt Visit ~ Class 3

Over the last two weeks the children in Class 3 have visited St George's Crypt in Leeds. 

We were shown round by Verity who told us lots of information about the crypt. These flowers were sent from M&S in Wetherby and they are put on the tables in the dining room to make it feel more like a hotel. 

The crypt was founded by Don Robins in the 1930's. He opened up the crypt underneath the church to provide shelter for homeless people in Leeds. They had to sleep next to the dead bodies. Eventually the bodies were removed and buried in the cemetery at Lawnswood. The crypt could then be opened up properly to the homeless. 

This photograph shows the nurses from the local hospital going to the crypt to volunteer after they have finished their working day. NHS workers still support the work at the crypt today. 

Lots of food is donated daily and the chef has to make hot meals using whatever ingredients are available.

There are also plenty of donations of clothes. People visiting the crypt in need of a warm coat or jumper can choose the one they like best. 

The crypt provides a warm bed for the night for many people who are homeless. They can stay for one night or they can keep coming back for many nights. No-one is turned away and in the cold weather when they are very busy extra mattresses are put on the floor or people sleep on chairs in the dining room to keep out of the cold, but everyone in need is made welcome. 

 The crypt doesn't just provide a hot meal and a bed for the night. An important part of their work is to get people off the street and back into housing and work. Everyone at the crypt has someone to talk to that can help them to sort out their problems. They also offer lots of activities to make people feel valued and to improve their skill set such as reading and writing, cooking, art and sewing classes and even singing lessons! The garden is beautiful and is tended by the homeless. It has won Britain in Bloom gold awards which is an amazing achievement. 

We ended our visit in the crypt chapel so we could take to time to reflect on our experience. We said the Lord's Prayer together and we gave a class donation to the crypt charity. 

I think this is a visit that the children will carry in their hearts for a long time.