Commemoration vigil for those who died homeless in last year - ONLINE ONLY - due to Covid lockdown

Service in 2015 - Image ICN/JS

A Vigil of Commemoration for those who have died homeless in London in the last year, will take place at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, on Thursday, November 5th from 11am -1pm.

THIS LIVE EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO THE EMERGENCY COVID LOCKDOWN -

But it will take place online. Rev Richard Carter will live stream from the portico the reading out of the names on: www.facebook.com/stmartininthefields with a simple prayer for those who have died and Gavin's music will be played.

Entry times to the vigil at St Martin-in-the-Fields will be at: 11am -12.30pm.

Organiser Mark Brennan writes: "Thank you so much for joining us for this vigil and for caring about those who have died and those who are still homeless.

"We know how much this service means to everyone involved, and that what makes it the incredibly poignant and important event each year is how everyone touched by this premature loss can contribute and are included in some way. The reading out of the names does not mean or imply any religious affiliation or belief but simply that, during the week of remembrance, we are remembering them with dignity and respect just as others will be remembered. If for any reason the person submitting the name does not wish the identity of the person to be disclosed a first name only could be used. The important thing is that they are remembered."

This vigil is organised by: St Martin-in-the-Fields, The Connection at St Martin's and Housing Justice. Gavin Bryars and Ensemble, the Choir With No Name and Streetwise Opera will be performing.

REGISTER NAMES

Please register the names of persons you wish to be read out during the vigil by clicking on this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaiBrGYGPjfpdtN20nx2JsmW3PYRH7AnRJOhCEi-gx7fS6Eg/viewform?usp=sf_link

These should be people known to have died in the Greater London area only since 14th November 2019.

WATCH ONLINE

Because of the Covid lockdown the vigil will only be live streamed on: www.facebook.com/stmartininthefields

ONLINE MEMORIAL

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism Dying Homeless project ran from October 2017 - March 2019. This important work from the Bureau has been explored at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Homelessness and prompted the Office for National Statistics to collect data on the deaths of homeless people.

Since early April 2019, Museum of Homelessness has continued to tell these stories, mark people's lives and uncover lessons that could be learnt to prevent more deaths in the future.

You can visit the online memorial site they have created by clicking on this link:
https://dying-homeless.museumofhomelessness.org/

LINK

Housing Justice - www.housingjustice.org.uk

Watch a clip from last year's service HERE