Overview

Spires is a South London based charity that helps hundreds of homeless and disadvantaged people all year round. They work to improve the quality of life of people who are homeless, insecurely housed, unemployed or suffering from the effects of poverty, mental ill health and loneliness.
Spires’ services are offered at the drop-in day centre 5 days per week (Monday to Friday).  Along with the basic provision of food, clothing, showers and healthcare, they also provide for clients longer terms needs by offering them appropriate support, advice and referral from a team of fully trained support workers.
Referrals to hostels and emergency housing, advice on benefits, mental health issues, drugs and alcohol. Offers courses and training.  Separate sessions for rough sleepers, women-only sessions as well as open access sessions.  They offer a wide range of drop-in classes, open to anyone who’d like to get involved.  See website for more information about current courses.
A full assessment of need is conducted with each new client at Spires to ascertain who can best help to improve their circumstances.
Additional services include appointments with:  Nurse, Dentist, Chiropodist, Counsellor, Benefits & Tenancy Advice.
Spires Streetlink provides support for women and transgender people involved in sex work.  Confidential support provided by female staff at regular women only drop-in sessions, offering advice on housing benefits, drugs and alcohol, education and employment, planning for the future, routes out of sex work and volunteering opportunities.
The Women’s Space offers a ‘safe space’ where Spires’ female staff and volunteers can offer a consistent and long-term approach to each woman who comes to the Spires Centre for help. The Women’s Space is open from 10.30am to 1.30pm on Mondays and Fridays.
Open to both street-based sex workers and other vulnerable and socially isolated women, they will complete a holistic assessment of need and a care plan for each client.  This individual care plan will outline each client’s own goals for their health, safety and wellbeing.  This could be any of the following: options for change; securing stable accommodation, reducing drug/alcohol intake; adopting safe sex practices; and exiting sex work.
Clients’ needs have led Spires Streetlink to develop a holistic, consistent outreach service. The service is delivered from a specially adapted outreach van which operates across South London. It is run by an all-female staff and volunteer team.
Ther outreach team operates on the following days:
•    Monday – 5am-8am and 9.30pm-1.30am
•    Thursday – 9.30pm-1.30am
•    Friday –  9.30pm-1.30am