Shropshire homeless charity to lose its premises

Mark's Pit Stop has been asked to leave its current premises in Madeley, Telford, by the end of the year to make way for a new tenant.

The charity, based at the town's CHEC Centre, offers food, clothing and company to the homeless and the lonely.

It was set up nine years ago by Pearl Maiden and Janet Groves, following the death of Mrs Groves's 39-year-old son.

The charity has been at the GHEC Centre for two years, but now the charity has been told to find a new address.

Ms Groves, 77, from Allscott, said: "I am very upset that we have been asked to leave, as this is the second time this has happened to us since we started the charity.

"All we do is try and help people who are homeless or lonely make friends and we would like to stay in the Madeley area because of this reason. If anyone has a premises to offer us, we would be so pleased and made-up.

"But it is so important that we find somewhere, as we do a lot of good work, and a lot of people depend on us."

The charity is named after Mrs Groves's son Mark, who died of a drug overdose in 2004.

At his funeral Ms Groves collected £900, which she used to start the service.

One regular user, Bela Markus, 53, from Madeley, said Mark's Pit Stop meant everything to him.

He added: "I will be very sad to see the cafe go, if it does have to go.

"It is not just a cafe, it is a meeting place for us.

"A lot of people these days are living in poverty, and not just working class people but middle class people as well, so places like this are much needed.

"And Janet, and everyone here go above and beyond to help us out."

The charity is run by seven volunteers and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am until 1pm, with about 20 people using it each time.

Another user, Anthony Crump, 49, from Sutton Hill, said: "I come here twice a week and I wish it was open all week as it gives me something nice to look forward to."

In 2012 the charity was asked to move from their base in Tan Bank in Wellington, which was part of the Salvation Army, and has been at the CHEC Centre since February 2013.

Janet has been offered a couple of new premises, but says if they move to either they will have to stop a lot of what they currently do, which includes day trips in the summer and takeaway sandwiches for users.

The decision to move Mark's Pit Stop was made by the board of CHEC.

David Gill, chair of the board of CHEC, said: "We have asked Mark's Pit Stop to leave the building because we have a regular user of the facilities and they have requested full usage of the cafe.

"We are currently speaking with other organisations in the Madeley area who will be able to help and support Janet in the transition of moving premises.

"We do value what Janet and her volunteers do and we will be very sad to see them go, but hopefully they won't be going too far. But we are confident they will find somewhere."