Suicide Prevention Grant supports mental and physical wellbeing

Read our interview with St George’s Crypt to learn all about their Suicide Prevention Grant and their ambitions for the future.

 

Can you tell us a bit about St George’s Crypt?  

St George’s Crypt is a Leeds-based charity dedicated to supporting the homeless, marginalised, and vulnerable. Our work now spans much more than our original single-site, drop-in service: our organisation offers a comprehensive ‘pathway service’ aimed at breaking cycles of homelessness and dependency. Established in 1930, we have evolved our services significantly whilst retaining our core mission – 2025 is a special year for us as we celebrate our 95th birthday. 

We now operate social enterprises in retail and catering, providing development and training opportunities for clients. Our services, which have expanded since (and in response to) the pandemic, include daily emergency care and diverse accommodation pathways that foster sustainable independence, including our flagship residential addiction recovery programmes. We focus on life and employment skills, alongside comprehensive health and wellbeing support (services such as dentistry, physio, mental health support, creative and social activities). Our collaborative partnerships with statutory and third-sector entities help clients transition from street to independence, from chaos to citizenship. 

 

What has funding from Suicide Prevention Grants enabled you to do? 

The Suicide Prevention Grant has had a transformative impact, enabling us to provide a range of tailored therapeutic outings and activities to support the mental and physical wellbeing of our clients. These activities have been crucial in addressing isolation, low self-esteem, and mental health struggles, helping individuals develop skills, confidence, and social connections. 

The activities funded include arts and crafts sessions, where clients initially attended with support but soon gained the confidence to go independently. Weekly literature and poetry workshops, combined with lunch, inspired creative expression and led to the creation of a writing programme – this culminated in clients publishing a poetry anthology and sharing their work at public readings, significantly boosting their confidence. Other creative and recreational activities such as cooking, gardening, climbing, and fishing allowed clients to learn new skills, enjoy substance-free leisure, and rebuild trust and connections with others. 

Cooking, in particular, became a popular activity, empowering clients to develop life skills while fostering peer support and social interaction. Many clients, for whom cooking was a completely new experience, discovered a sense of pride in their achievements. Outings to places such as Tropical World, animal sanctuaries and local walking trails also helped clients rediscover a sense of freedom and connection with the wider world. 

These activities have had a lasting impact, fostering independence, confidence, and improved mental and physical health for many clients. By listening to our clients and tailoring activities to their needs, we have created opportunities for personal growth and empowerment. Importantly, this funding has acted as a catalyst in enabling us to gain clarity on which activities were the most therapeutic and popular for our clients. 

 

Can you tell us about the impact of what you do on the people you work with? 

The work we do at St George’s Crypt has a profound impact on the lives of the people we support, addressing both immediate needs and fostering long-term transformation. For many of our clients, homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges have led to isolation and a lack of trust in others. Through our comprehensive services and tailored interventions, we provide not only practical support but also a sense of belonging, empowerment, and hope. 

Our programmes help clients develop vital life skills, rebuild their confidence, and reconnect with the wider community. Activities like cooking, creative writing, and therapeutic outings are designed to instill a sense of purpose and achievement. These opportunities often lead clients to discover talents and interests they didn’t know they had, building self-esteem and resilience. Equally important is the peer support and camaraderie that emerges during group activities, helping clients combat loneliness and re-establish trust in relationships. 

The impact is also seen in the way our services help clients move towards greater independence. Whether through training programmes, creative workshops, or social enterprises, we provide stepping stones for individuals to rebuild their lives. Many clients who once felt trapped by their circumstances find renewed motivation to take the next steps towards sustainable living, family re-engagement, employment or education. 

Specifically, the funding from the Suicide Prevention Grant has had a transformative impact on our clients, addressing critical mental health and wellbeing needs. By enabling us to offer a wide range of therapeutic activities and outings, this funding has provided a safe space for clients to rebuild confidence, develop life skills, and foster meaningful social connections. For many, these activities are their first steps towards overcoming isolation and regaining a sense of purpose. Examples of this are: 

• “I have never cooked before in my life and never thought I would. Now I have been involved in making all sorts. I have loved it and now look forward to doing it every time!” – This is the story of a resident in our supported living flats, who was initially hesitant to engage with others. Cooking sessions encouraged them to leave their flat, interact with fellow residents, and gain a crucial life skill. It has transformed their outlook, giving them confidence and a newfound enthusiasm for learning. 

• A creative writing initiative fostered confidence and creativity among clients. Workshops led to published works in a poetry anthology, with clients performing their pieces at public events. One participant overcame social anxiety to host a book launch event, a transformative experience for both them and other clients. 

 

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as an organisation?  

We are currently experiencing a significant increase in demand for all of our services. Economic pressures, including the rising cost of living, have resulted in more people relying on our support. Our dining room is frequently at capacity, placing considerable strain on our resources and increasing operational costs. Similarly, our Health and Wellbeing services, which include showers, clothing provision, activities, and healthcare, are overwhelmed by the volume of individuals needing assistance. To address this, we are expanding our Health and Wellbeing team, but this comes with a substantial financial burden. 

Our Growing Rooms programme, which provides residential recovery support, also runs at capacity, with referrals—especially from prisons—coming in daily. Many referrals are for individuals on short-term sentences who are released with active addiction issues. To meet this demand, we are planning to expand our housing provision for the programme, which will require additional staffing and the purchase of new properties. As our services grow to accommodate more people across Leeds, the associated costs for infrastructure, maintenance, and refurbishment increase significantly. We are perpetually working hard in seeking support to cover these rising expenses, which are critical for sustaining and growing our operations. 

 

How is your organisation preparing for the future, and what kind of funding is needed? 

St George’s Crypt is actively working to address long-term challenges and ensure sustainable growth. One of our key initiatives is becoming a Registered Provider of social housing. This will allow us to build, refurbish, and repurpose properties to house vulnerable individuals, creating high-quality living spaces that provide stability and dignity. To achieve this, we will need capital funding to develop and furnish these residences, ensuring they meet the standards our clients deserve. 

We are also formulating a five-year strategy that will guide the charity’s growth and the development of the Registered Provider status. Plans include rebuilding our Faith Lodge property, increasing capacity from 15 rooms to 23 self-contained flats, which will require substantial investment in capital, revenue, and donations. Furthermore, we aim to extend our lunch service to cover seven days a week, necessitating additional funding for staff and utilities. 

Looking ahead, we are planning a complete refurbishment of the Crypt site to create en-suite facilities, ensuring the space remains fit for purpose for the next 20 years. This is an ambitious project that will significantly improve the living conditions for our residents. To prepare for these future developments, we are actively seeking funding to cover capital projects, ongoing operational costs, and infrastructure improvements. These investments are crucial to meeting the growing needs of vulnerable individuals in Leeds and ensuring the charity can continue to deliver impactful, sustainable support.