Faith

Imagine finding yourself on the streets, with nobody to turn to and nowhere to live. Well for three young people, that's exactly what happened to them. Here are their stories.

Bridget Goddard, 22

I’m from Conningsby in Lincolnshire and came to stay at Witham Lodge in July 2008. Before that I had some health problems while living with friends. I had to leave and with nowhere else to stay, I ended up on the streets.

I didn’t have anything to do with The Salvation Army before – I didn’t even know that they ran centres like Witham Lodge. Since being there I’ve had quite a bit of help and I am rebuilding my confidence. Before I came to Skegness, I had worked in a nursing home and a night care assistant.

Bridget Goddard & Danny Martinez

Earlier this year I put my name forward to volunteer helping in any area that I could. Soon after, Major Sylvia Bird, one of the chaplains at Witham Lodge asked if I could help out in ‘The Tea Room’ - a café at Skegness Salvation Army church. For part of the day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I’m there – cooking, washing up and serving food and it’s fun!

It is really enjoyable meeting and serving all the different kinds of people that come in. Being at The Tea Room is perhaps the best thing that I have done since coming to Witham Lodge and given my past work experience, I think I’m cut out for it!

I know that people at Witham Lodge get a lot of criticism but that isn’t really fair. A lot of us are there not because of alcohol or drugs, but because of illness or relationship breakdowns, which can happen to anyone. Some of us are really trying to improve and it doesn’t help when people criticise without knowing the truth. I think people should visit Witham Lodge and see what it’s about first before they speak.

I’ve also done a resettlement course at Witham Lodge, which talks about stuff like budgeting and independent living which will help when I get my own flat. I still want to keep working at The Tea Room even when I leave though, I am really enjoying it.

Henry Gammage, 21

Most people might be surprised to know that I work with puppets in local schools with my mate John, who is also at Witham Lodge and the chaplain, Major Sylvia Bird.

I wanted to give something back to the community after all the help I have received since coming to Witham Lodge in July 2008 after a while living in Louth and going through a family breakdown.

Henry Gammage (2nd left)

Puppetering is something I have never done before and to be honest never thought about doing until I was asked. I must say that it’s a lot of fun, particularly seeing how much enjoyment the young children get out of it. They really seem to like the camel puppet which squirts water at them!

As someone who had never been involved in church before, I also like the Café Church, that happens on Sundays at 5pm at Witham Lodge. It’s not like regular church – we have food, watch DVDs about life issues and have discussions about it. It’s great hearing other people’s points of view – and sometimes the debates can get quite heated but I think that is helpful to know where others are coming from.

I reckon more people would go to church if it was more interactive, like our Café Church, and people had a chance to ask questions. I heard a report in the media saying that about 69% of people valued religion and faith so it’s obviously something that most people value.

The staff at Witham Lodge are great too and it’s helpful to have chaplains like Sylvia and her husband, Major David Bird, that actually join in with us and enjoy what they are doing.

Danny Martinez, 22

Like Bridget, I also work in The Tea Room but I’m from a little further away than her and Henry – I come from Leicestershire. I just wanted to do something enjoyable and helpful and not just spend my days doing nothing. A lot of homeless people come into The Tea Room and it feels really good to be able to help and feed them.

Danny working in the Tea Room

I know what it’s like being homeless – I was evicted from my home and lost my job at a local theme park. It was very difficult and I didn’t know what to expect when I came here. When I told my girlfriend that I was going to be staying at Witham Lodge, she said “uh-oh” but she now knows that it isn’t anything like some people think.

It’s been really good for me being there – I’ve done courses to prepare me for living on my own again. It’s strange because I have walked past The Salvation Army church in Skegness where The Tea Room is loads of times but didn’t really know what they did there but thought whatever it was it would be for old people. It’s good that they do stuff for young people too.

I’ve not been to church very much in my life but I go to prayers at Witham Lodge when I’m not at The Tea Room. Living and working with The Salvation Army has been really helpful for me.