City’s new MP becomes Exeter homelessness charity’s patron

Exeter’s new MP, Steve Race, has become a formal supporter of Exeter’s main homelessness charity, by becoming its patron.

St Petrock’s delivers breakfasts and lunches to rough sleepers and people who are vulnerably housed, five days a week, as well as providing a range of services, including survival gear, clothing and footwear, showers, laundry, benefits advice and clinical psychology and emotional support for people who are often understandably very distressed at their extremely difficult circumstances. The charity also provides supported accommodation for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Mr Race, who has been the city’s MP since 5 July, attended a homelessness and hardship hustings event jointly hosted by St Petrock’s and Citizens Advice in June, where he demonstrated genuine concern and compassion for people who are homeless and those struggling to make ends meet.

Welcoming the news of Mr Race’s formal link to the charity, Peter Stephenson, St Petrock’s Chief Executive, said: “In his first week of being a new MP, Steve popped in to say hello at our new house for people who have been homeless while I was there building a shed in the garden. He kindly helped me move some newly-delivered beds upstairs! I really appreciated him taking time to call in (and help!) during what must have been an absurdly busy week as a new MP.

“Steve has already demonstrated with his words and his actions that he is a true friend of St Petrock’s and our life-saving work, and I feel sure that he will be an excellent ambassador for us at what is an incredibly difficult time for people who are homeless, or at risk of eviction.

“Rough sleeping has climbed in recent years so that on a typical night between 25 and 35 people are on the streets in our city.  Of course, many many more are homeless but unseen, sleeping on floors, in sheds, cars, and empty buildings, or in Council-funded temporary accommodation for example. This is the worst I have known it in over 20 years.”

Mr Stephenson added: “I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Ben Bradshaw, our previous patron, for all his support for the work we do since his election as Exeter’s MP in 1997 up to his retirement this year, and we wish him a long and happy retirement. We are really looking forward to working with Steve, as his successor.”

Steve Race commented: "I'm really very honoured to be a patron of St Petrock's, which is one of Exeter's most important, active, and well-loved charities. Every day the St Petrock's team supports people who have found themselves in a time of crisis, homeless, and with few other places to turn. 

“Homelessness has been on the increase in Exeter and across the country - I will do everything I can to support St Petrock's in Exeter, while in Westminster I'll be working to reverse the steady increase in homelessness and to eventually make sure that no one finds themselves at risk of homelessness in the first place."