James Hopkirk

A Fragile Recovery: Life in a supported housing unit

To experience psychosis is to temporarily lose your connection with reality. It can involve hearing voices, delusional beliefs, confusion and difficulty communicating. Psychotic episodes are common to a number of severe mental health conditions, including schizophrenia. Not all experiences of psychosis are negative – but some people may be hospitalised after a particularly serious episode. … Continue reading A Fragile Recovery: Life in a supported housing unit

James Hopkirk

“It feels like the people in power have no clue how people are living here” – Mosaic Clubhouse’s Maresa Ness and Lee Elliott on mental health and the impact of austerity

Mosaic Clubhouse in Brixton has been a lifeline for Lambeth residents suffering from mental health problems since 1994. Funded by Lambeth Council and the borough's Clinical Commissioning Group, it provides education and employment opportunities, housing and benefits advice, advocacy, a supportive community and a safe space in the evenings for those in crisis. According to … Continue reading “It feels like the people in power have no clue how people are living here” – Mosaic Clubhouse’s Maresa Ness and Lee Elliott on mental health and the impact of austerity

James Hopkirk

Fair Funding for all Schools: Meet the parents fighting a £25m cut to Lambeth school budgets

By 2019, Lambeth schools collectively face losing an estimated £25m from their annual budget through a combination of rising costs and a new formula for how education funding is distributed around the country. In total, schools across England will be approximately £3bn a year worse off by 2020, according to the National Audit Office. Head … Continue reading Fair Funding for all Schools: Meet the parents fighting a £25m cut to Lambeth school budgets

James Hopkirk

Piotrek’s Story: Loss, addiction and life on the streets in Lambeth

When his wife died suddenly 18 months ago, Piotrek’s life collapsed. He lost everything and ended up sleeping rough outside a post office on Clapham High Street for nearly a year. I met him at Ace of Clubs, a day centre in south London that helps homeless and vulnerable people, and where I’ve been spending time for the last … Continue reading Piotrek’s Story: Loss, addiction and life on the streets in Lambeth

James Hopkirk

Refugees and asylum seekers in Lambeth – the people for whom there “isn’t a safety net to fall through”

The South London Refugee Association has been helping refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants since the early 1990s. Over the last seven months I’ve spent time at their Balham drop in centre and Streatham HQ, meeting their clients and helping to produce My Life in South London for Refugee Week in the process. I talked … Continue reading Refugees and asylum seekers in Lambeth – the people for whom there “isn’t a safety net to fall through”

James Hopkirk

Austerity, homelessness and the loss of empathy: An interview with Ace of Clubs’ Sarah Miles

Sarah Miles has been Centre Manager at Ace of Clubs day centre in Clapham for the last six years, but has worked there for more than 16. The centre provides lunch, showers, clean clothes, advice, education and much else besides to homeless and vulnerable people in south London. I’ve been spending time there over the … Continue reading Austerity, homelessness and the loss of empathy: An interview with Ace of Clubs’ Sarah Miles