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I rescued George Osborne's cat and put homelessness on the map I rescued George Osborne's cat and put homelessness on the map
(about 1 hour later)
I have helped many homeless people over the years through my work at Thames Reach, but this is the first time I have helped a cat. And not just any old cat.I have helped many homeless people over the years through my work at Thames Reach, but this is the first time I have helped a cat. And not just any old cat.
Rescuing George Osborne's cat, Freya, has put me at the centre of a media storm in the past 24 hours. Little did I know that this simple act of kindness towards a distressed animal would help put the problems of homelessness in London on the map.Rescuing George Osborne's cat, Freya, has put me at the centre of a media storm in the past 24 hours. Little did I know that this simple act of kindness towards a distressed animal would help put the problems of homelessness in London on the map.
We heard Freya before we saw her. Returning from a meal with two friends whom I share a houseboat with on the Thames; a meowing above our heads alerted us to her. Looking up we saw a large tabby on top of a wooden hoarding which was covering a building site in Vauxhall.We heard Freya before we saw her. Returning from a meal with two friends whom I share a houseboat with on the Thames; a meowing above our heads alerted us to her. Looking up we saw a large tabby on top of a wooden hoarding which was covering a building site in Vauxhall.
The cat was clearly showing signs of distress. We felt helpless at first because we were unable to reach her, but as we walked along the pavement she followed us high above, still meowing loudly. Jumping down on the other side of the hoarding, the cat momentarily disappeared but then she must have crawled under some fencing before bounding up to us seeking attention. Concerned about the busy three-lane road we were standing next to, we quickly picked her up, checked her collar and rang the phone number inscribed on it.The cat was clearly showing signs of distress. We felt helpless at first because we were unable to reach her, but as we walked along the pavement she followed us high above, still meowing loudly. Jumping down on the other side of the hoarding, the cat momentarily disappeared but then she must have crawled under some fencing before bounding up to us seeking attention. Concerned about the busy three-lane road we were standing next to, we quickly picked her up, checked her collar and rang the phone number inscribed on it.
The lady who answered the phone expressed surprise at hearing that Freya had made it to Vauxhall from Downing Street, over a mile away. But not nearly surprised as I was when realising we were looking after George Osborne's cat.The lady who answered the phone expressed surprise at hearing that Freya had made it to Vauxhall from Downing Street, over a mile away. But not nearly surprised as I was when realising we were looking after George Osborne's cat.
She is, by the way, a beautiful and affectionate cat. Very trusting, she allowed me to carry her wrapped up in my arms away from the busy roads and on to the houseboat. We fed her some cat food, fashioned a litter tray out of a soil-filled box and looked after her overnight with an arrangement that she'd be picked up the following day.She is, by the way, a beautiful and affectionate cat. Very trusting, she allowed me to carry her wrapped up in my arms away from the busy roads and on to the houseboat. We fed her some cat food, fashioned a litter tray out of a soil-filled box and looked after her overnight with an arrangement that she'd be picked up the following day.
Freya settled straight away on my pillow and purred peacefully until I had to leave her to head out on an early morning outreach shift helping London's homeless. It didn't seem important at the time but we took a photo of Freya with a note calling on the chancellor not to cut funding to homelessness services. I'm not on Twitter myself but a friend tweeted the picture and it got picked by national newspapers and TV channels. Freya settled straight away on my pillow and purred peacefully until I had to leave her to head out on an early morning outreach shift helping London's homeless. It didn't seem important at the time but we took a photo of Freya with a note calling on the chancellor not to cut funding to homelessness services. I'm not on Twitter myself but a friend tweeted the picture and it got picked up by national newspapers and TV channels.
Everyone in the homelessness sector is of course worried about the possibility of cuts at a time when demand is rising for our services. Not many people understand the complexities of working as an outreach worker on the streets of London or the challenges we face. Our teams of staff and volunteers are out every night of the year in all weather conditions, trying to help rough sleepers escape homelessness. While some people can be helped indoors immediately, others may refuse or are not entitled to receive our support. Sometimes we are left with the awful feeling of having to leave people out for the night and the feeling you could have done more.Everyone in the homelessness sector is of course worried about the possibility of cuts at a time when demand is rising for our services. Not many people understand the complexities of working as an outreach worker on the streets of London or the challenges we face. Our teams of staff and volunteers are out every night of the year in all weather conditions, trying to help rough sleepers escape homelessness. While some people can be helped indoors immediately, others may refuse or are not entitled to receive our support. Sometimes we are left with the awful feeling of having to leave people out for the night and the feeling you could have done more.
That's why we've launched a hardship fund, so people in desperate need of shelter can be provided with B&B accommodation if nothing else is available, or those with alcohol problems can be helped into a detox programme before returning to their families. Further down the line these funds could enable a former homeless person to buy some decent clothes for a job interview, or take a training course as a first step to getting back into work.That's why we've launched a hardship fund, so people in desperate need of shelter can be provided with B&B accommodation if nothing else is available, or those with alcohol problems can be helped into a detox programme before returning to their families. Further down the line these funds could enable a former homeless person to buy some decent clothes for a job interview, or take a training course as a first step to getting back into work.
It's been amazing how much interest has been generated by a simple act of kindness to the chancellor's cat, but Freya is like the people we work with – they all deserve some help in getting home.It's been amazing how much interest has been generated by a simple act of kindness to the chancellor's cat, but Freya is like the people we work with – they all deserve some help in getting home.
• Find out more or donate to the Thames Reach Hardship Fund• Find out more or donate to the Thames Reach Hardship Fund