Save the Wayside!

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

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