Heather Bellamy talked to Dawn Deaville, Co-founder, about her passions, what's already been achieved and Shane Lynch.

Dawn & Mark Deaville

Every month in 2008 Cross Rhythms Radio is focusing on a key theme that effects our city, broadcasting daily interviews, information and news from local projects, strategic leaders and the people of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffs. The 'City Focus' for February is Homelessness.

Between 2006 and 2007 in Stoke-on-Trent, 707 vulnerable people presented themselves to the council with a housing need. This was a 40% reduction on the year before. One couple who have responded to these people with passion, innovation and care are Dawn and Mark Deaville.

Dawn and Mark are founders of VIP, a local initiative, putting on events and working alongside the marginalised and broken. Having already attracted Shane Lynch (Boyzone) as an after dinner speaker, it comes as no surprise to hear that Dawn has a history of expressing her passion for young people working with the likes of Oasis Trust, Soul Survivor (starting Soul Sista), the YMCA and The Message Trust. Mark who has worked for the YMCA for 5 years, suffered himself with over 12 years of drug abuse, having spent time in prison between 1997 and 1999. He also knows what it is to be homeless.

With CVs like this, they seem the ideal people to be reaching out to the hurting and homeless.

Heather: Dawn, you're someone who has energy, enthusiasm and an obvious passion for people. What originally set you on this course and where does your passion come from?

Dawn: I originally got a passion in life to reach 'messed up & messed about young people' as a teenager by seeing my own mates trashed lives & wanted to change my generation. My passion is from God - a phat love that he showed me that motivates me to 'be the change I wanna see in this world'... trying to live Jesus style. I guess I got involved with organized evangelism at the age of 20 with Steve Chalke/Oasis Trust (on the evangelism team) who kick started the bigger stuff in my heart - he is a friend, role model & inspiration to me - he believed in me to be the best I could be & change the world I was in. I also got a real heart for social action at Oasis Trust as this is one of their core values. They brought the holistic gospel to the forefront 'back in the day' (early 90's!) Later on I got involved with Andy Hawthorne & The Message (who rock!) again...somone who has always given me the time of day, supported me & inspired me to go for my dreams.

Heather: Do you draw on any experiences in your own life when helping other people?

Dawn: I deffo draw on my own life experiences when helpin' others - I think personal experience of tough times - a real testimony of going through stuff, comin out the other side & overcomin' things in your life whether it be addiction, miscarriage, anxiety... whatever is a powerful tool to have - everybody's got a story of one sort or another so God uses everyone.

Heather: You're currently running something called VIP, tell us about that. What does VIP stand for, what does it do and why did you set it up?

Dawn: VIP stands for valued individual person - it's about young people realizing their value, reaching their potential & rocking their world... set up to reach the last, least & lost - the messed up & messed about young people we come across in our lives at work & in the community. It originally kicked off from a passion to see people 'free' from stuff - inspired by Mark having kicked a 10 yr heroin addiction. VIP does events/informal mentoring/practical help & support - it gathers people from local city hostels, supported housing projects, the homeless & refuges & units around Stoke-on-Trent.

Heather: Could you paint a picture for us of a VIP evening, what happens?

Shane Lynch at a VIP event

Dawn: VIP evenings consist of a meal, clothing, gifts, pampering and entertainment, this could be anything from bands to speakers to rappers to inflatables. We've had Shane Lynch from Boyzone to one of the events. He went down well.

Heather: What difference has VIP made to the lives of those that are marginalised, homeless and disadvantaged?

Dawn: We've raised self esteem; this is mainly through the content of the events that bring hope to the hopeless through feeling accepted & valued & significant. We've also signposted people to support agencies and signposted people to God. People have felt the 'tangible' love of God.