IT might be Liverpool’s “Mecca for foodies”, but these days you can barely move along Bold Street without being reminded of the plight of homeless people and beggars.
Now Rex, the indie trader “Concept Store” in Radiant House, is doing its bit with a new, donations-based cafe.
The “Pay As You Feel Cafe And Cereal Bar” will serve "free" tea, coffee and a selection of cereals: all that is asked is that peckish customers consider putting their hands in their pockets to help Liverpool Homeless Football Club.
The club, a Community Interest Company which has been going since 2007, uses football as a means of social integration and part of a wider support network to combat the effects of homelessness. As well as improving fitness, LHFC helps players into training, employment, healthy living and long term accommodation.
Gary Carney, Director at Revolver Retail, which runs Rex, says: “Being based in the city centre, we are all too familiar with the visible effects of homelessness, and how difficult it is for those affected by it to break out of that. We have a store in a prime location so its only right that we use this opportunity to promote Liverpool Homeless FC, raise their profile and hopefully funds too, so that they can continue to go from strength to strength.”
Liverpool Deputy Mayor Ann O’Byrne, pictured (at the very top), with Gary Carney, said: "Liverpool Homeless FC are a fantastic organisation that work in the city to help com- bat the effects of homelessness. Initiatives such as this one help to raise the profile of the organisation as a whole and will hopefully drive it forward so that they can contin- ue their excellent work."
