In June 2007 Cambridge Link-Up, the homeless community group, organised a memorial service to remember over 80 homeless people who have died in Cambridge in recent years.
Since then they have been raising funds to create a memorial garden using a spare piece of land donated by English Churches Housing Group (ECHG) at their hostel at 222 Victoria Road.
The Cambridge homeless community has suffered a shocking number of deaths. In the past year over 20 people have passed away, many of them young and from overdoses shortly after release from detox treatment.
With the support of Streetsmart, the Cambridgeshire Foundation, Travis Perkins, Marshalls Paving and a dedicated team of homeless volunteers there is now a landscaped garden including a water feature, lighting, paving, fencing and six railway sleeper pillars. These will bear individual brass name plaques commemorating the lives of the homeless people who have died in Cambridge.
The garden is intended to be a respectful and dignified place where homeless people can process their grief and remember lost loved ones.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the garden can help by buying a brass plaque for £10 (this is a special rate). You can donate online.
Spring flowering bulbs, large shrubs, climbing plants for the fences and ground cover perennials such as heather are also needed. Please bring these plants direct to 222 Victoria Road.
