Soup kitchen worker: More needs to be done to help homeless people vote and 'make them feel like they have a voice'

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Guests at Ealing Soup Kitchen, where more than half of the guests are registered or intend to vote
Andrew Mcleay
Tim Baker26 November 2019

A soup kitchen owner says more needs to be done to tell people without an address they can vote.

Andrew Mcleay, who runs the Ealing Soup Kitchen in west London, said that while he had helped clients register, not enough was being done in his view to get some of the most isolated people in society involved in the democratic process.

The deadline to register to vote closes at 11.59 pm on November 26.

He told the Standard: “In regards to making more people aware, I think loads could be done. I think a lot of people have strong opinions but they lose hope they can do something about it."

He also said that his guests are more interested in voting in this election than previously because "they believe it this [election] might change things".

“Even seeing things like how marginal seats are and how every single vote matters, that helps," he added.

“Also convincing them that they have the power to actually impact government, which is actually in a broader sense about making them feel empowered and loved and making them feel like they have a voice.”

Andrew Mcleay, left, and one of the guests at Ealing Soup Kitchen 
Andrew Mcleay

According to charity Crisis, in some cases it is even possible for people to register where they spend significant amounts of time.

The charity’s website says: “You can give details of where you spend a lot of your time (during the day or night).

“This might be a day service, night shelter, or an address nearest to, for example, a park bench, a bus shelter or the doorway to a high-street store.”

At the soup kitchen on Monday night, Mr Mcleay aid that more than half of his guests were registered or looking to vote on December 12.

He said: "We had another 12 register last night. In terms of numbers last night we had around 100 guests - after going around, 45 of them had already registered prior and intended to vote and 30 weren't interested at all and still then another 15 who were still undecided as to whether they wanted to, despite the urgency.

"In that case, it meant that over 50 per cent of our guests were voting which is pretty incredible I think."

Alastair Campbell is among those who want to help vulnerable people vote
Reuters

Former Labour press secretary and People's Vote campaigner Alastair Campbell spoke to the Standard about the value he found talking to those who were at Ealing Soup Kitchen.

He said: "While there were some who were totally disengaged from the political process, some of them were both well informed and insightful.

“In particular, I recall a conversation with a man from Belfast who had a deep understanding of political issues both in NI and in the UK more generally.

“They may feel they have bigger things to deal with when they are in many cases fighting day to day to survive, but those who can get registered should and they should try to get their voice heard through the ballot box.”

Mr Mcleay works with volunteers to provide food, warmth, support and somewhere to sit for vulnerable people in west London.

But he says that he had to go to the clients of his kitchen to tell them they could vote.

He said: “We have had to approach people about voting.

“I think a lot of people aren't aware they can. And some feel so despondent and depressed to think politics is going to change their lives so we've been getting political figures to visit, like we had Sian Berry in over the weekend, and Alastair Campbell the other week.

“Explaining what each government would mean helps, so having political figures visit shelters - not for photo opportunities but to explain why their vote matters and why they themselves can enact change is important.

“Having manifestos to hand out to shelters so homeless people can see what they are voting for helps too.

“They spend a lot of time isolated and on the street so they have strong opinions but they aren't necessarily well informed so education makes a big difference.”

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