30 Sep 2023
St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society (SAHAAS) has donated almost £1,400 to Centre 33 following a talk by a leading historian.
In June this year the society arranged for Professor Michael Wood, the well-known broadcaster, to give a talk at St Albans School on Why the Anglo-Saxons Matter. Attendees included representatives from local schools as well as the public (pictured).
A small fee was made for the talk, which was a complete sell-out, and the society agreed that any surplus funds after expenses should go to charity.
Dr John Morewood, President of SAHAAS said “It was not a difficult decision for the Society to decide on donating to Centre 33. It is a wonderful charity that cares about the disadvantaged and the destitute in our area.
“The UK has a long tradition of providing charity to those in need. In the Middle Ages religious groups, such as St Albans Abbey, provided support to the poor and sick. In the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a growing awareness of social problems such as poverty and inequality, and this led to the establishment of many charities.
“SAHAAS is following history: Centre 33 does fantastic work and we are delighted to support it.”
Centre 33, St Albans has been operating for over 40 years and holds the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The charity provides hot meals morning and evening and a warm welcome, five days each week, 52 weeks of the year, for anyone in St Albans who is in need. Currently, on average, 14 visitors use the breakfast service each morning and 22 visitors come for supper each evening.
Centre 33 is run entirely by local volunteers who work on a rota in teams of three to four people to cook and serve meals and welcome and chat with visitors who use the service.
Melaine O’Neill, the treasurer and acting chair of Centre 33 said: “We are very grateful to the St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society for their significant donation which will help Centre 33 continue to provide its vital service in St Albans.”
