I made £150 a day but I wasn t begging for food : Dad who nearly died on the streets on how near-tragedy made him turn his life around I decided to change and my life is totally different now. I feel brilliant
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At the height of his addiction, Dean Paul was injecting himself 10 times a day (Image: 2017 Getty Images)
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A FORMER rough sleeper who has turned his life around is urging people not to give money to those begging on the streets. Dean Paul, who would make £300 in a weekend through begging, says the money can be simply be used to support drug habits Dean, aged 41, said: “Don’t give beggars money. People who give money think they’re helping but they’re not – they are supporting drug habits and feeding a dealer’s pocket.” He added: When I was begging, the money wasn’t for food – it was just for drugs. “I was a prolific beggar and had the gift of the gab. I was making anything from £75 to £150 a day and making £300 a weekend in Bolton town centre.”
How one man s dream to provide thousands of vulnerable people with a free Christmas dinner became a reality
Around 1,200 Christmas dinner hampers and an additional 400 bags for single people will be delivered by Urban Outreach this year
10:25, 22 DEC 2020
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Clare Carr-Duff School Meals Kitchen Manager and Joanna Ashurst from Urban Outreach SPECIAL food parcels are being sent to pupils who are self-isolating as a result of the pandemic. The council s school catering service has teamed up Urban Outreach to provide the food packages to children who would normally receive school meals. The parcels are being provided and distributed by the catering service and the Bolton based charity. Deliveries began at the end of November and so far, more than 600 food parcels have already been distributed to children across the borough. Cllr Adele Warren, Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services Delivery, said: “It’s fantastic to see our staff working alongside a local charity during these unprecedented times to ensure children unable to attend school are still receiving a meal.”
A host of community organisations and churches have come together to deliver Bolton s Big Carol Service for an online audience this year. The carol service will be streamed on YouTube and Facebook on Monday December 21 thanks to the work of over 40 different Bolton churches, Christian organisations and community groups. Advertising for the event is appearing across the town, on six billboards, 35 buses, 16,000 Christmas cards, 400 posters and 48 large banners throughout this month. The event has been organised by the ‘Passion for Bolton 2030 Vision’ steering team, Bolton’s town-wide church unity group, who aim to share the love of God across Bolton by encouraging churches to work together to support each other and support the Bolton community.