The History of SCT

Originally opened for the dead, but dedicated to the living in 1965, the "Crypt" provided a home to many hundreds of men over the years. The Trust was housed in the crypt of Christ Church Spitalfields and from here we began to serve and support this very distinctive client group, offering a residential home and a therapeutic programme. From here we provided a fairly wide range of other services at our front door; tea and soup at various times in the day, blankets in the evening, and even clothing. Perhaps most importantly of all however, was the fact that we were available to anyone who came to the door, whether it was for a simple chat and a cup of tea, or for advice to gain accommodation or help with an alcohol problem.

Our programme in the Crypt predominantly catered for clients who had been homeless and on the streets for a long time, who needed some structure and support, but who were not ready for or perhaps capable of undergoing a highly demanding programme. This included those who may have been in hospital for a period of time and required on-going support in an alcohol free environment until they were physically well again. It also included clients with mental health problems who were using prescribed mood altering drugs. Such people were often excluded from other services because of their multiple needs, but we worked with people from these backgrounds very productively.

It was with sadness that after 35 years, the Trust's work in the Crypt of Christ Church ceased in June 2000, pending the opening of the new building, Acorn House in Shoreditch in 2002. There were several reasons for the Crypt's closure; a windowless dormitory in a Crypt simply does not compare with purpose built accommodation. In the new hostel, the residents have their own private rooms rather than a big hall curtained off to provide basic privacy. In Acorn House, for 16 men at any one time, we can now provide four bathrooms, five kitchens, a dining area, a common room, counselling rooms, and an area to play pool and socialise responsibly.

We were able to accomplish a great deal within the Crypt, despite operating from fairly basic facilities, and the Crypt found a place in the hearts of thousands, helping many people to change their way of life. However our work from Acorn House has been outstandingly successful and we have no regrets about moving to more appropriate accommodation.