Catching Lives Latest News: September 2026
This is your September update from Catching Lives. As summer draws to a close and we begin heading in to autumn, we've been busy keeping our services running every day for people who are homeless, helping them find routes into accommodation before the weather turns colder. Last month, we helped 9 people into housing! Thank you to everybody who supports us to ensure that people are able to move towards stability and independence.
Last chance to apply to join our team!
Could you, or someone you know, be our next Tenancy Sustainment Coordinator? Thanks to a grant from the Government's Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, we're recruiting a Tenancy Sustainment Coordinator to extend our work with people who are homeless and support individuals as they make the move from homelessness into housing.
This role involves delivering practical and relational support both in our day centre and in the wider community (so you'll need a car), to help people settle into their new home, manage their tenancy and engage with new groups to reduce social isolation.
There are just a few days left to apply, with applications closing at 11am on Monday 28 September. You can find the full job pack and details on how to apply here.
We are also hiring a Weekend Project Worker to join our team and provide vital support across the weekends, when many other services are closed. Applicants can apply for a part-time (Saturday to Monday) or full-time position (Saturday to Wednesday). The deadline to apply is Monday 5 October. Find out more here.
You're invited to our Open Evening!
We're hosting an Open Evening at Catching Lives on Wednesday 21 October.
If you've ever wondered what happens inside our day centre, what services are available to clients, and how you can get involved, now is your chance to come and find out. We're opening our doors on Wednesday 21 October from 16:30 to 18:00 for you to come and see how we support people who are homeless and speak to staff about our work.
Whether you are thinking about volunteering and want to come and have a chat before you apply, want to find out more about how you can support our work, or are simply interested in what Catching Lives does, you are very welcome to join us for the event.
Let us know you're coming by booking your space here.
Movement for Good: The Stepping Forward project
We've been delivering an exciting programme of physical activities for clients in partnership with CCCU Sports.
For people experiencing homelessness, opportunities to take part in physical activity can be hard to access. With financial barriers to conventional sports classes and gym activities, many of our clients have no real opportunity to engage with the physical and mental benefits of meaningful movement.
Thanks to funding from Sport England's Movement Fund, we've been delivering our project, Stepping Forward: Fitness for All, in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University's Sports Centre. The project has enabled us to offer different types of movement for all abilities, including Tai Chi at the day centre and monthly sessions at the CCCU Sports Centre including rock climbing and padel. The project continues into the autumn with chair yoga led by Samala at Chatterbox Cafe.
You can read the full story about the project here.
Meet our new Engagement Worker: Peter
This month we welcomed Peter into a new role at Catching Lives as an Engagement Worker. Peter will work closely with people who have been homeless for extended periods, building rapport and providing unstructured support until people feel ready to engage with services. We asked Peter a few questions to get to know him better.
Tell us about your role
As the Engagement Worker, I will be working in the day centre helping with the day to day running, but my main focus will be engaging with the clients, especially those who have been using the service for a long time.
Why did you choose to work at Catching Lives?
After a long career working in commercial roles, I wanted a new challenge and to give something back to the local community, and knowing about Catching Lives and the work they deliver, I felt this would be a great opportunity.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I am most looking forward to a new challenge, meeting new people and making a small difference. Also working alongside the staff at Catching Lives who have been amazing helping me in my first week.
Outside of Catching Lives, how do you like to spend your time?
I like to go for long walks in Kent and keep healthy by running and swimming, and enjoying evenings at the cinema. I also have a little cat at home called Heidi who always wants lots of attention.
What was your previous line of work/study? In my previous roles I have been a catering manager. I worked at a private school but most of my time was spent at Canterbury Cathedral where I looked after all the church and commercial events. While I was there I was lucky enough to serve the Queen on a visit to the Cathedral, look after 2 Archbishops and would run international conferences, as well as working with the universities and local charities in the area.
What are your passions/interests?
I enjoy watching all types of sport and regularly go to watch Canterbury RFC and Whitstable FC. I do like to read to wind down and try to swim or run 3 times a week.
New products at The Crooked House
We've got some exciting new products in stock at the Crooked House Bookshop. Local artist Trisha Morris has created a wonderful illustration of the building on Palace Street, which is available to buy as greetings cards and A4 prints.
The picture features pages of Dickens' 'David Copperfield', where the Crooked House is thought to have inspired the "very old house bulging over the road". These gorgeous cards and prints are available to buy in the shop now!
Did you know we also have an eBay store that sells rare, specialist and collectible books online? Profits fund Catching Lives' work with people who are homeless. You can browse and buy here.
How can you help this Harvest Festival?
If you're planning a collection as part of a Harvest Festival this autumn, please consider collecting essential food items for Catching Lives. These donations help to ensure that we can provide breakfast and lunch for people who are homeless, every day of the week.
We really appreciate all donations of food for our pantry, which help to make a real difference. If you would like more information, or want to let us know about a collection you are planning, please get in touch.
Thank you!
This month, we said farewell to Project Worker Giulia, who is off to university to continue her studies. We thank her for all of her hard work supporting clients over the past year, and wish her all the best for the future!
Thank you to the schools, churches and community groups that have been collecting essential food supplies for us as part of their Harvest Festival. We have received fantastic donations from St Bartholomew's Church in Waltham, The Light Root Hub and St Giles' Church in Kingston.
Thank you to everyone who attended the first in-person Canterbury Homeless Partnership meeting earlier this week. We look forward to working together to improve local responses to rough sleeping.
Thank you to everyone who has donated or dropped off items at the day centre this month. We really appreciate your help.
Watch this space! We are busy planning our next event - a book-themed fundraising quiz will be happening in November. Keep an eye out on our social media and in our next newsletter for more details.
Keep in touch
For regular updates, please keep an eye on our website, Facebook and Instagram for more updates until we write to you again in October.
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