Save the Wayside!
The Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross is in danger of closure. Show your support
A personal note from the editor:
I need your help. I've never made an appeal like this and shall not make
a habit of doing so. But when it comes to the Wayside Chapel, I will gladly make an exception. These
guys are doing incredible work right on our doorstep in Kings Cross, selflessly
helping the people most of us would probably cross the street to avoid.
Each week, I get an email from the Wayside Chapel's pastor, Rev Graham
Long, who is without doubt one of the loveliest and most inspirational people
I've ever met. His emails - sent to his ‘inner circle' of several thousand of
the Wayside's supporters each Thursday - are a brilliantly observed slice of
Kings Cross life. They are sometimes sad, often funny, but always uplifting.
Last week's email was rather alarming, however. We've reproduced some of
it below, but in essence, despite having raised $3.5m of the $7m they need to
survive, the Wayside's tumbledown premises have been condemned and the future
of their work is in jeopardy.
They are hopeful of getting some government support, but they still need to raise a fair amount from members of the public. Should you wish to make a donation, volunteer your services or simply
sign up for Graham's letters to show your support, click here: www.thewaysidechapel.com
I appreciate you bothering to read this and thanks in advance for your
help.
Dan Rookwood
Editor, Time Out Sydney
Here is Graham's recent email that explains the plight in more
detail:
News flash! We are in a spot of real bother with our building. We've
already lost the use of both levels of our theatre. It is boarded up and we
cannot enter it. It is condemned. We have now lost the use of the upper level
of our main building because of fire risk. The third level of our main building
is jammed in every corner with our staff and I have to find somewhere to put
them. The lower levels of that building are full of staff and programme areas.
To say that we are going to be "squashed" will be a euphemism of the
first order.
Our programmes are successful and expanding just as our building is
shrinking. We all know that our buildings are in poor shape. They were probably
in poor shape when Ted Noffs first started making use of them. It is why our
Board has been working tirelessly to replace and refurbish to give us a safe
and effective place.
Our future is really on the line. I wrote to the Prime Minister to ask him to find $2m, matching the gift that the NSW
Government has already made, and we are confident that we can raise the remaining $1.5m we would then need. This is probably the most
crucial moment in our 45 years of history and we need the help of all of our
friends.
Our Board is acutely aware of the OH&S risks posed by our present
situation and I'm pretty sure that if the new building looks like it won't
happen, they will not be prepared to run the risk.
I am passionate that this city and indeed, this country needs the
Wayside Chapel to continue to be a prophetic voice and a place of extraordinary
love and hope for the many who "fall by the wayside" in Kings Cross.
This is what the Wayside is all about:
The Wayside Chapel has
provided unconditional love and support for people on and around the streets of
Kings Cross since 1964. Many of these people have endured lives of great
hardship and struggle with alcohol and other drug addictions, mental health
issues and homelessness.
Each year, thousands of people visit Wayside
for assistance in gaining equitable access to essential health, welfare and
related services. In the past year alone Wayside has provided, amongst other
services, 7,500 meals (either for
free or a handful of change), clothing for 2,688 people and 2,924 counselling sessions with over 2,300 referrals to services and agencies.
A further 50,000 visits were made by people just stopping by for a
chat, a coffee or a quiet place where they can find company and acceptance.
For younger visitors Wayside has a youth
specific safe space – Wayside Youth – which offers a supportive environment for
12–25 year olds with a specific focus on those at
risk in the Kings Cross area.
The Wayside federally funded Day to Day Living
Program offers support for people with long-term mental health issues to
participate in social, recreational and educational activities.
Wayside also runs a series of clinics in
partnership with other agencies and services. These include the Homeless
Persons Legal Clinic every Monday with lawyers from Deacons and weekly primary
health care clinics.
Today, the Community
Services Centre meets people rather than works
on them. We never greet anyone at the door with a clipboard or a form with
boxes to tick. Our door is open seven days a week for all of our neighbours
regardless of their circumstances.
The Wayside provides:
- Showers, low-cost meals and clothing for the most disadvantaged members
of our community
- Referrals for short and long-term crisis accommodation and housing
- Information and advocacy services
- Referral services to health and welfare agencies
- Meeting spaces for self help and community groups
- Weekly on-site legal, health and counselling clinics (we partner
with experts in their field)
- Drop-in activities - including sport, gym, photography and movies
- A judgment-free space for those just looking for a chat, a coffee
or a quiet place to think
Some people are fortunate to
have supportive families, friends and neighbours, good physical and mental
health and inner strength even in the face of great adversity. For those that
don't, there's the Wayside Chapel.
"We are
always keen to give people ‘a hand up' rather than ‘a hand out'. Many people
fall ‘by the wayside' for a short time; we help them find strength to build
upon for a transition to better days. At Wayside we work in partnership with
many people who are expert in the fields of health and mental health but we
continue to be on the frontline. In addition to the many people who present
here to ask for help, there are many more that come just to enjoy a
judgement-free space and there are some who come just to see if they can be of
service to others." Graham Long, Pastor & CEO
A few things Wayside needs
- Volunteers
- Wayside Friends - for
$42 per month you can become a Friend of the Wayside.
- A new building - our
building is falling apart and when it rains outside, it rains inside too.
To keep up our vital work we need $7m for a new building. We've privately
raised $1.5m and recently received $2m from the State Government. We are
hopeful of receiving $2m from the Federal Government and then will be
launching a campaign for the last $1.5m.
Click here to download our
"Save the Wayside Prospectus" or call Wayside on 02 9358 5582.
- Friends to spread the
word about the work we do at Wayside. Together we can work towards
creating a community with no 'us and them'.
- Donations of food and
equipment for our Annual Christmas Day Street Party. Visit our community events page to find
out more
You've read what we think. Now tell us what you think.