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Manchester homeless charity recognised with Royal award for its outstanding work in the community
Coffee4Craig has helped thousands of homeless people across the city
A charity that has helped hundreds of Manchester’s homeless people has been recognised with the highest Royal award any charity can receive.
Coffee4Craig, based in Manchester city centre, was first set up by Risha and Hendrix Lancaster in 2013, and now has more than sixty volunteers.
It was the sudden death of Risha’s brother Craig, who was homeless in Cardiff, that prompted the couple to act.
They started handing out hot drinks to homeless people here in Manchester, telling each person, ‘this is from Craig.’
Coffee4Craig / Facebook
The scheme quickly grew into a hugely popular street kitchen which dished out hot meals three nights a week in Piccadilly Gardens, an area where homelessness is rife.
And in 2017, Coffee4Craig opened up a drop in down Oldham Street, exactly four years on from Craig’s death.
The drop-in centre, known as The Meanwhile, is now located on Great Ducie Street after they were forced to move last year due to renovations.
Coffee4Craig is now the only seven-day-a-week service in Manchester supporting the homeless community.
Volunteers and staff work tirelessly around the clock to provide hot food, showers, homelessness prevention and year-round support to some of Manchester’s most vulnerable people.
Coffee4Craig / Facebook
And, as a result of this remarkable work, Coffee4Craig has now been handed the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.
The award recognises outstanding work by volunteer groups that benefits communities and was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Risha and Hendrix have since expressed their pride on winning the prestigious award, writing: “We would not have won this award without the sheer passion, dedication and commitment from all our fantastic team.
“We are so, so, so honoured to be accepting the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services this year! After a year where the whole world was broken, we are more thankful than ever for our exceptional volunteer team for the incredible support that they give us!”
Representatives from Coffee4Craig will receive the award crystal and certificate from The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Sir Warren Smith.