The MANNA SOCIETY

Helping the homeless by Jack de Aguilar

while Bermondsey is undergoing a dramatic and impressive transformation, the heart of the area remains untarnished. The Manna Society – based on Melior Street – exemplifies the core values and charitable spirit of the area.

Manna means ‘food from heaven,’ according to The Bible, and this phrase took on a whole new meaning when Nannette Ffrench founded The Manna Society in 1982.
Manna Society Soup Kitchen Helping the homeless

Director Bandi Mbubi explains that Nanette’s desire to help the less fortunate developed during her time in Africa; “She had experienced the civil unrest in Zimbabwe, which led up to the country’s independence. She had treated people who were caught up in the war, which traumatized her, so she returned to the UK in the early ‘80s.”

“If you stop worrying about food, then you can explore other things, even just reading a book

Nannette, a former Franciscan nun, immediately set about dedicating her life to helping the homeless, but found that her order stood in the way. “The funny thing is, if you belong to an order, you can’t do things by yourself, you have to do what is decided for you,” Bandi explains. Eventually, Nannette took the decision to give up the safety of her order; The Catholic Church appreciated her cause and allowed her to use their premises, from which The Manna Society still operates today.

Without the resources to properly care for herself, let alone London’s homeless, Nannette used her “bold but softly spoken” candour to secure bread from local bakery Ticino, based on Bermondsey Street, who, instead of handing her the end-of-day throwaways, decided to bake bread especially for the homeless. This was, for Nanette, the ‘food from heaven’ from which the Manna Society was born.

Today, 14 members of staff and 60 volunteers welcome between 150-200 people a day, 7 days a week. Half of these people are homeless, and the other half were homeless and are now in limited accommodation. Between 8.30am and 1.30pm, the first and most important service is offered: food made by master chef, Irene Boyle – which, Bandi says, has got him looking “chubby”.

“People take it for granted, but a decent meal is important. If you stop worrying about food, then you can explore other things, even just reading a book,” says Bandi. The greatest help can be a simple as food, or a hot shower which is also provided, “Self respect, sometimes, takes little things,” he adds on the importance of dignity.

Fed, watered and clean, attendees of the Manna Society can then explore the other fantastic services available: there’s a clothes store; the NHS provides a nurse, chiropodist, orthopaedist and a dentist; and an advice section, which simply allows people to discuss their problems with someone who can help. Educational facilities are a growing part of Manna’s work, too. English tuition for both native speakers and foreign immigrants is available, as is computer work, which provides the tools necessary to apply for the vital benefits which many of Manna’s visitors are entitled to, but currently cannot access.
Manna Centre clothes charity donation

The Manna Society is a charity; it relies on donations and volunteers to help the homeless people of London. 15% of their income comes from Southwark council, the rest from kind donations – such as monetary gifts from businesses, or the sandwiches provided by Pret a Manger.

The wonderful work doesn’t stop on Melior Street. Bandi was keen to explain that the autonomy achieved by Manna’s charity status – as opposed to being state-funded – gives them the power to lobby; to have a public voice and to be involved in the national debate regarding homelessness and poverty. “We’re always innovating,” explains Bandi. “We want to help people look after themselves.”

The Manna Society continues to help: tackling the causes of homelessness with counselling, providing immediate relief with hot showers, food and clothing, and ensuring a brighter future through medical care, advice, education and even home-furnishings.

If you’d like to support the people at Melior Street with anything from money, food or equipment to volunteering, they would gladly accept your call, so that the work begun by Nannette Ffrench and carried on so fantastically by Bandi and his team can continue for years to come.

For more information, contact The Manna Society:

6 Melior Street
London
SE1 3QP
t: 020 7357 9363
e: Administrator@mannasociety.org.uk
w: www.mannasociety.org.uk

Also from this Edition:

	

	
			

						
		

			

		
			







	




	
Other Stories

	

		

			FOOD AND DRINK
		

					
			

									
											
							
														
							

						
														

			
	

	
	

	
	

		

			STYLE
		

					
			

									
											
							
														
							

						
														

	

	
	

	
	

		

			CULTURE
		

					
			

									
											
							
														
							

						
														

	

	
	
	
	
	

		

			FOR THE SOUL
		

					
			

									
											
							
														
							

						
														

	

	
	
	

	

		

			BUSINESS
		

					
			

				
No articles available
				

	

	
	
	
		
	

		

			PROPERTY