Community Life

The Croydon based charity was established in 1976 following the death of a homeless man on a park bench in the borough.

Thirty years on, the charity is finding its workload has grown substantially. Over the last decade, its client group is being continually increased by those suffering from poverty.

“We’re appalled and of course there’s tremendous pressure on our resources … we set up as a homeless organisation …. what we’re now operating as, is a maintenance organisation to help people who are in extreme poverty”, laments Jad Adams the charity’s chairperson.

With 20 of the capital’s boroughs ranking amongst the top 50 local authorities in England with at least one of the measures of deprivation, it’s not surprising that this situation is not only being seen in Croydon. 

The government is failing vulnerable and poor people says Jad:

"I think the government knows exactly what’s happening, they have the statistics …. the government is very well aware of that … but they see the figures and we see the people”.

Watch the full interview with Jad and see him and some of his team in action on the streets of Croydon by logging onto the video above.

What are your thoughts on the growing level of poverty in Croydon? Do you think there is a growing gap between the rich and the poor? Let me have your views. Email evadney.campbell@bbc.co.uk