A charity that gives some of the most vulnerable people in Reading their dignity and looks after them is at risk for the first time due to ‘sky-high’ costs.
The Churches in Reading Drop-in Centre (CIRDIC) helps to give people who are homeless and struggling by providing clothing, haircuts, mental health first aid, and more.
CIRDIRC has been helping people out for 33 years, and is based at St Saviours Church Hall on Berkeley Avenue, Coley.
But the charity is at risk as it is facing a funding shortfall of around £50,000.
CIRDIC costs £100,000 to run, and while it receives £7,000 from Reading Borough Council, the majority of the funding comes from donations.
It is now facing difficulties due to rising utility bills which are required so that its centre can keep running.
Mabel Boyd Gregory, manager of CIRDIC, said: “All the utilities are sky high, and after covid people have not had the money to give.
“The giving has gone down but our gas bill is £1,000 a month as we do baths and showers for the homeless.
“We would not want the guys on the street. We feed and clothe, we have nurses and a barber, and all of it is free.
“We are the only place that does baths and showers in the town.”
CIRDIC also provides hot nutritious meals, access to IT equipment, toiletries and more to the people it helps.
Charity volunteers are in communication with other agencies to signpost people who also need a place to stay the night.
Mrs Boyd Gregory said: “We need to keep running. Ppeople on the street have mental health problems, and it’s really important for their wellbeing to find people who care.”
As well as utility costs, the charity must also rent the Church Hall it uses.
Mrs Boyd Gregory said: “I have worked for the charity for 19 years, and this is the first time we have beein in this place.”
She added that the charity is investigating obtaining grant funding as well as individual donations.
“We are now looking at all sorts of places to see who will help us.
“We have to do that really. If there was a good fundraiser that would be wonderful.
“Hundreds of churches give money, but a lot have found that they are struggling due to the cost of living.”
CIRDIC receives support from businesses in the town as well.
On Shrove Tuesday, the charity received a donation of 100 pancakes from The Roseate Hotel.
