Local Homeless Man Inspires Chiswick Woman

Starting a campaign to provide books for homeless shelters

A young Chiswick woman has been inspired by a homeless man to set up a campaign to encourage libraries to be set up within homeless shelters.

Priyanka Mogul said that for two years she walked past a young man who sat outside Turnham Green station who was always reading a book.

"Seeing him sitting on the side of the road, so deeply engaged in his book - it was always a touching sight. These books were clearly able to give him something that most shelters didn't seem to offer - a way to escape, while also becoming so much more aware of the world around you."

Priya, who lives in Grove Park and is a Journalism and Human rights student at Kingston University, decided she wanted to make literature more accessible to those who have been made homeless and the group Spread The Word will shortly launch a public awareness campaign to encourage people to make donations to shelters.

"The idea is that the libraries at these shelters are to be filled with books donated by the
general public – specifically people living within the vicinity of the shelter.

"When we are officially tied up with a shelter in London, we will
begin campaigning for people in that area to donate books to the shelter. The
idea is to get as many people involved as possible, encouraging them to
donate a book that has personally meant something to them."

Spread The Word has received great support since launched 2-3 weeks ago, including public backing from author Jean Sasson and The London Film Review.

You can find out more about the campaign through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SpreadTheWordCampaign

April 11, 2014