Property news: First Base Day Centre, Brighton
On Midsummer’s Day, 21 June, I, with a small group of local cyclists, will be attempting to ride from Brighton to Paris in one day, to fundraise for this very important charity. The First Base Day Centre in Montpelier Place, supports people in Brighton and Hove who are sleeping rough or are at risk of homelessness. It provides food, hot showers, laundry, internet access, medical appointments, housing referrals and work training opportunities. First Base is a lifeline for many – they help people, who are often at their lowest point, to turn their life around and begin the steps towards a positive and sustainable future away from living on the streets.
The evening I visited last week, the centre had just finished a catering training course for some of their clients. As Brighton and Hove has a large restaurant and hotel industry, there are always new vacancies appearing and this course could be the step needed to access one of these.
Interestingly, the building which houses the day centre, St Stephen’s Hall, was originally in the Steine, over a mile away, built in the 1760s. It was a ballroom of the Castle Inn. The Prince Regent bought a share of it when it fell into disuse and it was converted in 1822 to a private chapel, handy for the Royal Pavilion. As we know, Queen Victoria was not keen on Brighton and in her reign it was not used. The Diocese of Chichester took it over and moved it brick by brick to where it is now located, on the north side of Montpelier Place, above Western Road. In 2010, Heritage Lottery funding enabled a project to restore this remarkable building.
We can easily forget or ignore that in this seemingly wealthy city, there are many marginalised people. Brighton Housing Trust and its First Base Centre work to combat homelessness, create opportunities and promote change by challenging the causes of homelessness, poverty and exclusion.
The Day Centre’s dedication demands our local support so we are putting in the miles now, cycling the roads and lanes of Sussex in preparation for the 130 miles across northern France in June.
Thank you on behalf of First Base Day Centre, Paul Bonett. Please go online and give generously or call into Bonett’s office to make a donation.
www.justgiving.com/Paul-Bonett1
