ACE OF CLUBS 25 Years Old !!!!

Ace of Clubs – 25 Years of Caring in Clapham Ace of Clubs is an initiative of the Redemptorists (Religious Order) that began as a response to the many people in need who knocked on the door of their monastery on St Alphonsus Road, SW4. 25 years on Ace has developed into a stand-alone charity serving 25,000 hot meals annually to the homeless and vulnerable in Clapham. Ace is an open access outreach project (day centre) providing : hot meals, hot showers, clothes/toiletries store, laundry, coffee & tea bar, soup & sandwiches, in-house NHS nurse, NHS Dental van, case-working, education & training, I.T. facilities, phone-charging, mail boxes, and last but not least, veterinary services for the fury companions of the homeless. However, due to Covid Ace is currently focussed on a hot food takeaway service. Celebrations have necessarily been scaled down due to the pandemic, but to mark its Silver Jubilee a photographic exhibition is being staged of images taken by existing service users to give an insight into the ups and downs of life on the street. Centre Manager Martin Reynes explains ‘To mark our ongoing work we supplied clients with disposable cameras and asked them to document their daily lives. The display of their photographic work will give a real insight to the challenges they face on a daily basis as well as reflecting their humour, personalities and strengths.’ Over its 25 years of operation Bro. Mike, (Director), estimates that Ace of Clubs has “served more than 500,000 meals and helped more than 10,000 clients to get off the streets and back onto their feet. This has all been achieved without statutory funding and with a minimal but inspiring team of local staff and volunteers. The centre relies heavily on volunteers and the generosity of Clapham residents and local businesses.” Martin Reyes continues, “despite Covid-19 we want to use 2020 to celebrate all the amazing things that the Ace of Clubs has achieved through its 25 year history. There will always be people in need of food, comfort, shelter and assistance and thanks to the kindness and support of our local community and other generous donors we hope that Ace of Clubs will be able to continue to provide these important services for another 25 years.” Since lockdown, the average number of daily meals has more than doubled from 75 to the highest recorded of 186. As client numbers continue to rise the centre has stepped up its fundraising efforts. The manager continues, ‘On our 25th Anniversary we are launching a fundraising campaign to raise £ 25,000 for our ongoing work – “25 on 25″…’ As restrictions are lifted in the coming months we hope to be able to celebrate our 25th anniversary in different ways with the wider community.’ For further details of the anniversary fundraising campaign please contact Martin Reyes (Centre Manager) on 020 7720 2811. Donations can also be made directly to

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/aceis25