Crack + Cider: London's first shop for the homeless is set to open in Dalston

The new shop on Kingsland Road will give shoppers the chance to buy essentials to be distributed to rough sleepers
Charley and Scarlett founders of concept store Crack + Cider
David Churchill30 October 2015

Homelessness campaigners today urged Londoners to throw rough sleepers “a lifeline” as they launch a pioneering shop to give people a “more human way” to help the homeless.

Billed as “the world’s first shop for the homeless”, Crack + Cider will open in Kingsland Road, Hackney, on Wednesday, giving shoppers the chance to buy essentials to be distributed to rough sleepers. A hat, socks and gloves set costs £7, a winter jacket is £25 and a “Warm and Dry Set” costs £60.

Charlotte Cramer, 24, from Tower Hamlets, and her friend Scarlett Montanaro, 25, from Islington, said their idea solved the problem of Londoners being worried about giving money to homeless people in the street. Five charities and outreach organisations will distribute the goods.

Ms Cramer said: “Living in London, you walk past so many homeless people every day and it’s always the same people in your neighbourhood. Every day you feel bad. I have never given money to people on the street, you get told it may get spent on alcohol and things not benefiting their lives. This way, people can buy something that will last and can reach out in a different way.”

Ms Cramer said the choice of name for the shop came from a homeless man who told her people did not give him cash because they thought he would spend anything they gave him “on crack and cider”, so she used that to provoke a debate. She said: “It’s based on the insight that’s driven the project. It taps into what people can understand.”

The two friends used their savings to fund the project and business costs will be recovered from a small mark-up. Any profits from the “pop-up” shop, open from November 4 until December 23, will be reinvested. The website will remain open after the shop closes.

James Furzer and his design - in pictures

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Stephen Robertson, CEO of the Big Issue Foundation, is backing the project. He said: “I’m hoping this experiment will give people a chance to consider what homelessness is. It could well be throwing a lifeline.”

Homeless charity Crisis said 7,581 people slept rough in London in 2014/15, a 16 per cent rise on the previous year and more than double the 3,673 figure in 2009/10.

Crack + Cider opens at 6.30pm at 73 Kingsland Road next Wednesday. To shop online, visit crackandcider.com

Follow David Churchill on Twitter: @David_Churchill

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