Tabor Living, a project of Father Hudson’s Caritas, proudly celebrated its 8th anniversary on Saturday 28th September.  The commemorative event took place at St Catherine of Siena RC Church, Bristol Street, Birmingham B5 7BE.

Since its founding in 2017, Tabor Living has been at the forefront of providing proactive, compassionate support to individuals experiencing homelessness in Birmingham. Through its strength-based approach and the dedication of volunteers and staff, the project has helped countless guests transition into independent living and employment.

From the beginning the support of the Catholic community has been fundamental to Tabor’s success. Father Michael White is one of the founding members of Tabor, with Archbishop Bernard Longley blessing our first home at St Anne’s and opening St Catherine of Siena. We have been welcomed by parishes, with our first home at St Anne’s and then with the generous offer of St Catherine of Siena’s presbytery as our current home. Many of our volunteers are putting their faith into action, including parishioner Jackie, Srs Yudith, Ewa and Eleanor and Bishop Tim who have regularly volunteered over the years and are valued members of our community.

Our 8^th anniversary celebration featured a short film titled “8 Years in 8 Minutes”, showcasing the journey and impact of Tabor Living over the years. Attendees included distinguished guests such as Lord-Lieutenant Derrick Anderson CBE and Deputy Lieutenant Jean Templeton, alongside community leaders, volunteers, and former guests. 

Highlights of the event included:

• Arrival and welcome of dignitaries
• Ceremonial cake cutting and speeches
• Buffet and social gathering
• Display of the commemorative video

The event also highlighted personal stories, such as those of guests like Rubi, whose journey from homelessness to stability has featured in local media. Rubi lost her business and then her home within a few months. She is now settled in Tabor, and on the day of our celebration took a half day off her new business to attend.

Sharon Fear, Project Manager at Tabor Living, shared:

“Reaching this milestone shows just how powerful community and kindness can be. We’re grateful to everyone who’s been part of our journey and can’t wait to celebrate and share our story more widely.”

Tabor Living