Jimmy Carlson OBE’s Memorial Fund
Donation protected
We are setting up a Memorial Fund for Jimmy Carlson OBE. Jimmy was an inspirational figure who fought tirelessly to put homeless people’s voice at the heart of tackling homelessness.
Jimmy became homeless himself in 1973 after serving for five years in the army. He spent the next 23 years on a roundabout of alcoholism, rough sleeping, mental health institutions, prisons and homeless hostels. But he used this experience to make an incredible difference – both at national policy level and by personally inspiring many, many people.
In 1996 Jimmy got sober and began a journey to ensure that homeless people’s voice would be taken seriously. Jimmy volunteered for Groundswell for 20 years which included running Speakouts, setting up the Homeless People’s Commission and setting up Client Involvement initiatives around the country. Jimmy also set up the Haven Club, a social club for people in recovery and Chaired the Islington Clients in Drug and Alcohol service group.
Jimmy’s passion, humility and determination was an inspiration to all. On receiving his OBE he said: “My message is never give up on anyone. You would have walked over me in the street 15 years ago and thought I was a lost cause, just another drunk. However I picked myself up and turned my life around and I have gone on to make a decent contribution to my community. Rough sleepers you see on the street today – with the right support they have a lot to offer too. Never give up on anyone.”
The fund will be collected and distributed by the Charities Advisory Trust www.charitiesadvisorytrust.org.uk and it will be used to pay for all the costs associated with Jimmy’s funeral and memorial activities. If we raise anything above the target figure then this will be donated to the two charities with whom Jimmy was a Trustee: Groundswell www.groundswell.org.uk and the Museum of Homelessness museumofhomelessness.org/
Jimmy Carlson OBE 1947-2017 RIP
There is a full obituary for Jimmy here http://groundswell.org.uk/jimmy-carlson-obe/
Thank You.
Jimmy became homeless himself in 1973 after serving for five years in the army. He spent the next 23 years on a roundabout of alcoholism, rough sleeping, mental health institutions, prisons and homeless hostels. But he used this experience to make an incredible difference – both at national policy level and by personally inspiring many, many people.
In 1996 Jimmy got sober and began a journey to ensure that homeless people’s voice would be taken seriously. Jimmy volunteered for Groundswell for 20 years which included running Speakouts, setting up the Homeless People’s Commission and setting up Client Involvement initiatives around the country. Jimmy also set up the Haven Club, a social club for people in recovery and Chaired the Islington Clients in Drug and Alcohol service group.
Jimmy’s passion, humility and determination was an inspiration to all. On receiving his OBE he said: “My message is never give up on anyone. You would have walked over me in the street 15 years ago and thought I was a lost cause, just another drunk. However I picked myself up and turned my life around and I have gone on to make a decent contribution to my community. Rough sleepers you see on the street today – with the right support they have a lot to offer too. Never give up on anyone.”
The fund will be collected and distributed by the Charities Advisory Trust www.charitiesadvisorytrust.org.uk and it will be used to pay for all the costs associated with Jimmy’s funeral and memorial activities. If we raise anything above the target figure then this will be donated to the two charities with whom Jimmy was a Trustee: Groundswell www.groundswell.org.uk and the Museum of Homelessness museumofhomelessness.org/
Jimmy Carlson OBE 1947-2017 RIP
There is a full obituary for Jimmy here http://groundswell.org.uk/jimmy-carlson-obe/
Thank You.
Organizer
Athol Halle
Organizer
