If someone asked you “What’s worse — being homeless or being lonely?” —how would you reply? Jason, who has experienced both, said: “Being homeless is bad enough, but if you’re lonely you take it with you wherever you go.” Now two local charities have got together for the first time to champion both causes — loneliness and homelessness — with a joint fundraising concert.

The Gatehouse, recently ‘re-housed’ in newly refurbished premises at the St Giles parish rooms, provides a drop-in cafe for homeless and other vulnerable people, six evenings a week. The Archway Foundation offers social contact to folk at a time when they are feeling lonely and isolated. Oxford seems to grow its own charitable causes — hopefully not all of them lost ones! Amnesty International and Oxfam started here. Born-and-bred Oxonian Andrew Smith has been involved with these two much smaller projects: as project director of the Gatehouse, where he has worked for the past 12 years, and as a member of the Archway board, which he currently chairs. Both provide support to those on the edge of Oxford life. And both are utterly reliant on volunteers to deliver their services in different ways.

As Terry, involved with Archway, said recently: “If we don’t support each other, who else is going to do it? There’s always someone to talk to — but only if you want to.” Archway director, Sheila Furlong said: “The two charities have never worked together before, but putting on a concert seemed to make sense. And we’ve got another charitable partner to do all the organising for us.

“The Kennington and District United Church Choirs have lots of experience of this sort of thing. They do nothing else but raising money for good causes.”

The concert takes place at 3pm on Sunday, April 29, in the Holywell Music Room, Oxford University Faculty of Music, Oxford, and is a concert performance of Verdi’s Aida. Entry is free with a retiring collection.

The music seems quite adventurous for a local amateur group. But then the whole event is a tribute to what the community can achieve with dedication, talent and a fair bit of volunteer time. Definitely something to look forward to.

For more information on Archway Foundation visit archwayfoundation.org.uk and visit www.oxfordgatehouse.org for more on The Gatehouse.