John Hamblin, CEO Shekinah (right) and Ed, Outreach Worker (left)

Over 150 people attended the Torbay Thanksgiving Service for the Leonard Stocks Centre – a homeless service which was threatened with closure last year.

Representatives from Torbay Council, the local community, churches and residents from the Centre all joined to celebrate the continuation of the service.

Langley House Trust will now be running the service directly again with another charity, Shekinah. The evening was supported by the Friends of Factory Row – a local group who have been instrumental in supporting the Centre for many years.

The highlight of the evening was Ed’s testimony – a former resident of the Centre and who is now the Centre’s Outreach Worker – reaching out to men and women who are homeless in Torquay. Speaking about his experience, Ed said: “There were 3 outcomes of that lifestyle – jail, institutions or death.” He shared how his life had been completely turned around by the support of the Centre and also through his own personal faith experience with God.

One attendee shared: “It was a great experience – wonderful to see so many people gathering together to celebrate the Leonard Stocks Centre. Homelessness is an issue here – and we need services like this to help meet this need.”

The address was given by Andy Rider, Rector of Christ Church, Spitalfields and Chaplain to Langley House Trust.