How Northampton's community spirit changed the life of one man in 24 hours just by sharing what they could

Last night, a Northampton man settled down in his flat with heating, electricity and a duvet for the first time in months.

Twenty four hours before, the same council flat in Kingsthorpe was bare, cold, and furnished only with an armchair held together by tape and without the power to even put the lights on.

Despite having a roof over his head, 'Paul' - who asked to remain anonymous - was still a man who had "fallen through the gaps" in society. He is a black Jamaican Northampton man unable to find support and who not even his friends and family knew how he was living.

As of today, things have changed.

On Tuesday (December 8) one of Paul's family friends, Shereen Ingram, saw his flat for the first time while dropping off a food parcel and made a Facebook post asking if anyone could spare something to help.

in just 24 hours, the post led to Paul being provided with dozens of donations and furnishings from Northampton do-gooders who had heard his story and shared what they could.

It included a sofa, a duvet, cash for the metre, cleaning services, food, a microwave, a kettle, cooking utensils, clothes, winter wear, a dining table - one Northampton company has even offered to recarpet the flat.

Shereen told the Chronicle & Echo: "It just proves it can be done. If people are aware there are people living like this they will do something.

"I've known Paul for 30 years and didn't realise he was living like this. The flat was in darkness. It made me a bit angry and disappointed that it could come to this and no one knows.

"So much has been done in 24 hours. It proves it can be done."

One woman who arrived to drop off a donation was Hazel Johnston.

"I just went in my cupboard to see what I could spare," said Hazel, carrying two full bags-for-life. "I saw it on Facebook. I thought, 'giving someone a flat is not enough'.

"I was raised in a council home and I was taught if you can help out then you should."

The Facebook post was picked up by several organisations in the town, including the 16:15 homelessness support charity, the African Drummers Association and food parcel charity Amplified NN.

"There's been so many people I can't begin to thank them all," said Shereen, who also owns Northampton independent business Boxfood.

"The Government is out of touch with the elderly black community and older generation of people of colour.

"Paul fell through the gaps. This isn't a man with drink or drug problems, but he has no support worker and the council doesn't understand how hard it is for an elderly black person to access support from largely white institutions.

"But he could be anyone's dad or brother or uncle. There are thousands of Pauls in Northampton struggling with poverty.

"There is no support for the black community to help with their mental health or accessing support.

"Paul could have been helped long ago if there was a black community centre in Northampton. The town really needs one."