In June 2005 Kairos left 45 Elm Grove and opened new offices at Brixton Rd. Kairos returned in January 2007 to open a post rehab Aftercare Programme. We have used it as such since then.
From 1999 to 2005 Kairos used it as its main office. Fr John Kitchen, founder, and then director, developed strong links with the parish through Fr Tom McElhone. As an office it was most suitable but as Kairos grew it became too small. Kairos was founded in 1991 to address the problem of homelessness/addiction for those who found it hard to access services. Today it offers a pathways service from active addiction through to re-housing over five stages:
- Community Detox Hostel at 22 Linden Grove, Peckham.
- Residential Rehab at Bethwin Road, Camberwell.
- Day Programme at Nunhead Lane.
- Aftercare Program me at St James the Great, 45a Elm Grove.
- 29 "move-on" houses across the boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham, Wandsworth and Brent.
As you can see, Kairos has a concentration of services in the Peckham and Nunhead area. Fr Tom always said that it was great to have company during the day around the church. From a Kairos point of view, the parish has helped a lot of people get back on the road to recovery. We value the long standing relationship and are glad that Fr Jack is so accommodating to the point that he gave us extra rooms in the past twelve months. On the last Friday of the month Kairos and the parish have a joint Holy Hour 5.30 to 6.30. All welcome. A nice partnership driven by a strong social awareness, gospel values and big hearts.
Mossy Lyons, Director