St Mungo's Opening doors for homeless people

St Mungo's Endell Street hostel is a modern accommodation project in the Covent Garden area of London with on-site facilities that include a recording studio.

Clients use the studio facilities to work towards an Open College Network qualification in sound recording, and also have the opportunity to play and record music as part of their recovery from homelessness.

Through a partnership with social enterprise Camden Calling, some of musicians involved in the studio are now performing regular live shows across London and are working towards completing their own individual albums.

"I was amazed when I saw the recording facilities at Endell Street. I never thought that this dream of mine to make a CD would ever happen and now I am working towards a full album of songs. This is giving me confidence to face the world again after what has been an extremely difficult couple of years and I'm so grateful for the opportunity."
an Endell Street studio client

Written on the Streets is a powerful original track written, recorded and produced by St Mungo's clients as part of our 2010 Action Week. Click here to read more and to hear the song.

Endell Street Studios - Volume 3, a compilation CD featuring ten original tracks all written and performed by current of former residents in homeless hostels in Camden is now available. The tracks span a range of musical genres from rock to reggae, hip hop to house, laid back Latin music to soulful acoustic songs. You can buy the CD for £6 through the St Mungo's online gift shop. Proceeds from the sale of the album go to the work at Endell Street studio. Below are three 45 second samples from the CD.

In Between 2 Lovers - Hugh Mattan
In Between 2 Lovers

Is This Love at First Sight? - Global Warning (featuring Faye)
Is This Love At First Sight

Moonlit Night - Steve Light
Moonlit Night

"The quality of musicianship is consistently high... This is a commendable social enterprise and one which we are very pleased to support." - In and Around Covent Garden magazine. Read full review here

Endell Street has been the focus of some high-profile musical activity since its refurbishment, including a visit from multi-platinum-selling jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux and regular music nights featuring residents and visits from local musicians.

The studio is part a £3.2 million makeover of the Endell Street hostel which reopened in 2008 after refurbishment through Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) Places for Change funding, in partnership with Camden Council under their Pathways programme. It now provides 53 men and women with accommodation, as well as health, work and learning services. The recording studio also benefited from additional funds via the Treasury's Invest to Save scheme.

Click here for more about Endell Street.