Trudy Harvey with Nigel Hamilton in front of the current Caravan.

Planting the commemorative tree.
L to R: Nigel Hamilton, Charles Hedley, Donald Reeves, Trudy Harvey.

Charles Hedley (poised to cut the cake) with Donald Reeves.

The Caravan at St James’s celebrates twenty years of community service

This is the 20th Anniversary year of the Caravan at St James's Church, Piccadilly - a unique drop-in and counselling centre situated in the courtyard of St. James's. Garden party celebrations were highlighted by a tree-planting ceremony with prayers and guest speakers including the Caravan's founding counsellor, Trudy Harvey, The Revd Donald Reeves, (former Rector of St. James's Church), Nigel Hamilton, Director of CCPE, and the current Rector of St. James's, The Revd Dr Charles Hedley

Since 1982, when it opened as a Help and Advice Centre, the Caravan has been helping the disadvantaged seeking refuge and support at St James’s Church. Set up originally as part of the vision of the Revd. Donald Reeves for a holistic Centre for Health and Healing, the Caravan has evolved into a vital counselling service, open seven days a week and manned by twenty-one volunteer students, mostly training at the CCPE - the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education - which runs the service with St James’s providing the infrastructure. Some visitors have come regularly for years; others may visit only once in a life crisis situation.

The Caravan, according to Nigel Hamilton, Director of the CCPE, is a special place for all that use it. "Possibly because it expresses love and care at the edge of a society itself struggling to develop values, stability and mental health. Because the Caravan appears so temporary, vulnerable, and transient it is a reminder to us all of the fragility and impermanence amidst the splendour and buzz of Piccadilly.”

Charles Hedley, the Rector of St James's adds: “The Caravan provides a point of first contact and support to those who find it in times of crisis. In the crowds of Piccadilly it is possible to feel very alone, and the value of someone available to talk seven days a week is incalculable. In seeking to promote the spiritual and mental health needed for life, Church and Caravan are complementary and natural partners.

The future development of the service, currently the subject of discussions between the CCPE and the Church, includes plans for new premises, which will allow more of both arranged counselling and drop-in sessions.

According to the Caravan's co-ordinator Zak Waterman, “The challenge will be to keep the specialness, accessibility and informality of the Caravan, while also providing a broader and professional counselling service. There is also lots of scope for referrals from other agencies and we want to continue to develop the training offered to the volunteers.”

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