David was once a proud business owner, running a small car repair shop in London. But after the 2008 recession, things spiraled. He lost the shop, his marriage ended, and within a year, he was sleeping on a bench in Peckham Park.

He avoided eye contact. Ate from bins. “The worst part wasn’t the cold,” he said. “It was people looking through me, as if I didn’t exist.”

One evening, a street outreach worker from a homeless charity approached him with warm food and conversation. That small gesture was the beginning of a long journey back. He was referred to temporary housing, received mental health support, and trained for a warehouse job.

Today, David works full-time, rents a small studio flat, and volunteers every Sunday—handing out sandwiches to others still on the street.

“I was invisible. Now I help others be seen.”

→ £30 helps one homeless person receive a bed, food, and support services for a week.