A Ewell man who spends his Sunday nights helping the homeless on the streets of London has launched his second Christmas shoebox appeal to help some of the capital’s most vulnerable people.
Anthony Burdett, 31, started his weekly outings after a brief conversation with a man in need outside Pacha nightclub in Victoria in December 2014 left him wanting to do more to help homeless people.
Following that conversation he has set up The Big Warm Up page on Facebook, a means of letting people know about his own outreach programme.
Anthony Burdett helping homeless people in central London
Mr Burdett stockpiles supplies for people living on the streets, including hats, socks, sanitary towels and other essentials, at his home on Hogsmill Way, West Ewell, before delivering them to homeless people in Victoria, the West End, Vauxhall, Leicester Square, Regent Street, and Oxford Street.
From November 2015: Today London, Tomorrow the World: West Ewell homeless helper sets sights on starting nationwide charity
Last December, he called upon Epsom and Ewell residents to donate shoeboxes of essential items for him and a band of volunteers to deliver, and was overwhelmed by the response.
This year, he has once again launched the appeal, and expects an even bigger haul than last Christmas.
“I couldn’t get into my house because of all the boxes,” he said “I got over 1,500 boxes last year – and that was a low-end estimate.
“We gave them all out around London, Southend and all around Surrey as well: hostels, shelters, and hundreds out on the street.”
Ahead of this year’s appeal he has already been approached by schools, other organisations and residents interested in lending a helping hand.
Mr Burdett has been especially heartened by so many people wanting to get involved this year.
“I think there will probably be more this year,” he said.
“People have been asking for the last month if we can do it again.
“There has been a lot of interest. People are prepared for it this time.
“I reckon it will reach 2,000.”
He added: “It’s just nice to help people.
“It’s nice to give people a platform to help people. Some people want to help but don’t know how.”
Earlier this year, the former maintenance team leader at Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s good deeds were noticed by Spear, a charity working with homeless people around Richmond and Merton, who headhunted him as a homeless outreach worker earlier this year.
The Big Warm Up remains an everyday concern for Mr Burdett though.
From February: West Ewell homeless helper crowdfunding for utility van to get project on the road
In the last year, he has expanded the project, buying a van to help transfer more supplies into central London following a successful £4,000 fundraiser.
He also remodelled the van, fitting it with a built-in barber’s chair to help preserve homeless people’s dignity during his charitable missions.
He maintains his original goal of turning the project into a registered charity and maximising the help her can provide to people in need.
“I’m focussing on the Big Warm Up and growing that and turning it into an actual (registered) charity in improving our services,” Mr Burdett said.
“We could help in a more proactive way so we can refer people to different organisations and give people the information they need to seek help.”
Mr Burdett advises people to inform Streetlink, a charity that helps people sleeping rough, with as much information as possible about vulnerable people on the streets.
For more information about The Big Warm Up, including where to deliver shoeboxes, visit the project's Facebook page.
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