NELLO ON BOARD IS MARVELLOUS NEWS FOR LOU!
Neil has joined team at homeless centre
STOKE City’s famous former kitman Neil Baldwin has stepped into a new role as ambassador for the homeless charity founded by his ex-boss and long-term friend, Lou Macari.
‘Nello’ has joined the team at the Hanley-based Macari Centre to help spread the word about the work of the charity – and also keep morale up among residents.
Lou said: “From day one, Neil has shown a great deal of interest in our work here at the Macari Centre, and we are only too delighted to welcome him on board as an ambassador.
“Neil is as useful to me here as when we were at Stoke together. He gives people a lift. This man is never down – he’s always happy.
“There are 46 people in here and without a doubt Neil will be able to lift their morale and will be helpful in getting them to be more positive.”
Neil is a regular visitor to the centre, dropping in on most days to chat to residents. He said: “I’m excited about getting stuck into this new role, it’s a great place here and I like chatting to people.”
The Macari Centre, on Regent Road, provides accommodation for the city’s homeless in pods – giving residents an address and place to call their own.
Guests also receive four meals a day, and support from the centre’s team.
Macari founded the centre in 2016 to provide shelter and food for those living on the streets in Stoke-on-trent.
The friendship between Lou and Neil was celebrated in the Bafta award-winning film Marvellous, which has been turned into a stage play, due to open next spring at Newcastle’s New Vic Theatre.
Lou added: “Neil has got some spare time to help us out here until he starts rehearsing for his play at the New Vic next spring – but until then he’ll be working with us.”