community partners

St George’s Crypt has been serving the homeless and vulnerable of Leeds since 1930.  While the charity has expanded and contracted since its conception it has always stayed true to its core values: to support homeless and vulnerable people in Leeds to achieve stable and positive lives.

To this end the charity now runs a range of health and well-being activities, a drug and alcohol recovery project, independent supported flats working with alcohol dependents on a reduction programme.

The strategic partnership has focused on finding more effective and innovative ways of working that impact on health and health inequalities in the population that St George’s Crypt serves. Further benefits have been the identification of useful volunteering and placement opportunities which not only enhance the student experience and enable students to develop academic, employment related and personal skills but also contribute to St George’s growing agenda.

The Community-Campus Partnership with Leeds Beckett University has promoted collaboration to promote learning, teaching, research and develop the work the charity does to support homeless people in Leeds:

• Student projects e.g. business, occupational therapy
• Research and evaluations e.g. a council project on vulnerable populations
• Knowledge exchange – e.g. Professors in Men’s Health and Nutrition have delivered training at the Crypt and a worker from the centre has delivered training to students
• Joint funding bids