Liverpool care company wins national recognition

Local Charity provides 1000 beds for the homeless

MERSEYSIDE based charity, Green Pastures reached a total of 1,000 bed spaces providing homes and holistic care for homeless and vulnerable people across the UK. Green Pastures have been providing housing for homeless people for almost 20 years and have expanded from Merseyside all across the UK providing essential housing and services in partnership with over 60 Churches and Christian charities. It was in Southport, 1999 that the 1st bed space was bought and Green Pastures was born and it is in this same Town that the milestone has been reached. With homelessness in the UK reportedly reaching record highs in 2018 and more than 1 homeless person dying each day on the streets, the blame is being placed on welfare cuts, high rents and a lack of social housing. Green Pastures is responding by providing innovative solutions to the problems facing our communities.

Pete Cunningham Founding Director of Green Pastures says:- "We've just got the key to our 1,000th unit. I'm absolutely blessed! Thank you to all those people who helped us reach this milestone in our history. So now we've hit the 1000 milestone, let's reach for the 5000 milestone in the next 5 years."

Partners working alongside Green Pastures also provide another 2000 bed spaces for the homeless, meaning that in total there are 3000 people provided and cared for through this network.

Kevin, a resident of Green Pastures house with partner, Lifeline said:- "I was living on the streets, I was in a hostel and since I moved into Lifeline, my life has changed dramatically."

Kevin suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has found it tough for the past 18 years to find people who understand. Kevin added:- "Life's really changed in the last few months, I used to just sit around in my bedroom all the time and now I'm out and about, I've got myself up and running."

Green Pastures receives investments of over ₤600,000 from over 25 individuals every month to purchase10+ bed spaces every month throughout the UK. It is inescapable that through the work of Green Pastures the Church is ending homelessness in the UK. For more information, visit:- GreenPastures.Net  or follow them on Twitter.

A well known Liverpool lawyer and lifelong Everton fan Laurence Lee has just been presented with a special award to mark his 50 year battle with diabetes. Laurence was presented with the Alan Nabarro Medal at a special ceremony held in Spire Liverpool Hospital. Alan Nabarro waged a lifelong battle against discrimination faced by people with diabetes. In 1968 he was awarded the OBE for his work and when he died in 1977 the British Diabetic Association honoured his memory with the inauguration of the Alan Nabarro Medal. Laurence, who chaired the Everton Former Players Foundation from 2002 to 2017 helping to create the European Former Players Association based at Barcelona FC, attended the ceremony with his wife and 3 children, received the award from Professor Frank Joseph a Consultant Physician in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Internal Medicine at Spire Liverpool, who has been responsible for Mr Lee's treatment for several years.

1st diagnosed with the condition as a 14 year old Laurence, who is also chair of the Mayfield Fellowship, which looks after patients with Cerebral Palsy and other brain injuries, added:- "At that time I had 2 obsessions; the Beatles and just in front of them; Everton FC. Right from the start I decided I was going to be positive and not let diabetes stop me doing anything I had set my mind to. I have been helped in this by fantastic friends and a family that has never failed to support me. I also have to thank the man 1st diagnosed me, Dr Heinz Fuld, and Prof Joseph who has been a true friend. His positivity has kept me on the straight and narrow and he has kept me up to date with the latest developments in the treatment of diabetes. I'm also grateful to Dr Brian Walker and Prof Jitan Vora who make up the amazing quartet of Specialists who have enabled me to reach 50 not out."