Ninety visitors attended Hackney Greenhouse Surgery’s Christmas Fair on 9 December organised to provide a one-stop health and help shop for patients experiencing homelessness.

Hot meals, long-life food supplies, toiletries, winter clothing, flu and COVID jabs, free haircuts, physiotherapy, library and smoking cessation services and additional health care support were offered to all visitors experiencing homelessness in City and Hackney.   

The event was supported by the Greenhouse practices multi agency partnership group, which is a collaboration of twenty-six health, care and housing providers across city and Hackney.

Councillor Sade Etti and the Speaker of Hackney, Councillor Humaira Garasia were among the guests.  The Speaker of Hackney, Councillor Humaira Garasia added:

“This means a lot for the community in Hackney. Today we can really feel the love and togetherness. The services ELFT provides are essential and the love you are providing today really goes a long way and it makes a difference in everyone’s life who attended today.”

ELFT Medical Director for Primary Care, Dr Vaishali Ashar, thanked the Councillors for attending and promoting the Christmas fair at the Greenhouse. She said,

“This is something the Trust does passionately every year for our homeless and inclusion services in the community. It is a challenging winter overall and we want to promote health and wellbeing.”

Special thanks to the corporate secretariat (administration staff at HQ) who raised money to buy fleeces, coats, jumpers, socks and other goodies.

The Greenhouse Practice in Hackney provides care to people living in hostels or supported accommodation, rough sleepers, hidden homeless, and people who spend a significant amount of time on the street.