Marginalised adults

Tower Hamlets has a long history of people living on the margins of local communities, where homelessness, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, crime and prostitution form a sub-culture. These social evils are no respecter of persons or social status, as there are many roads that lead to life on the margins, and both established and migrant people struggle to survive in this environment. Many are caught up in destructive patterns of behaviour with little hope for the future. Those who are fortunate find hostel accommodation, while many live in squats or sleep rough on the streets. For the majority in our society the soul-destroying harshness of this sub-culture is hidden and easily ignored. The tragic reality is that for many of those caught up in it, this is where their life journey will end, unless they find a pathway out.

During 2008 the Mission decided to focus part of its outreach programme on reaching out to those who are living on the margins of our local neighbourhood.

Ryan Lynch has the primary responsibility for this area of work. Staff and volunteers work in a holistic way, seeking to address the spiritual needs of those contacted, as well as the pressing basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. The guiding Bible verse for this ministry is: "Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." (Matthew 22:9)

The links on the left describe the various areas of this work.

Contact details

Ryan Lynch, Marginalised Adult Outreach Worker
The Good Shepherd Mission
17 Three Colts Lane
Bethnal Green

Tel: 020 7739 3822

Email: ryan.lynch@goodshepherdmission.org.uk