Mickey Ambrose on the remarkable life of Lorraine Tabone, Newham’s warrior for the rights of homeless people

Hundreds of campaigners, friends, and victims of homelessness are in mourning following the death of Lola Tabone, a truly remarkable woman, who for years was the pioneering face of efforts to ease the plight of people facing life on the streets in Newham.

Lorraine Tabone, who founded Lola’s Homeless, Lola’s Homeless Ladder, and Street Saviour of the homeless in the borough died on 28 March 2025 prompting an outpouring of grief from people in Newham who were touched by her life and work.

Within days of her death, surrounded by her family, hundreds of tributes were posted on Lola’s Homeless Ladder website from all those who knew her.

My own friendship with her began in 2018 when I inadvertently typed ‘homelessness Stratford’ on Google search and up popped Lola’s Homeless. I was in the process of asking producers at Sky News to cover the story of rough sleepers inside Stratford Shopping Mall and a nearby graveside.

Lorraine had commented on Lola’s Facebook at the time that it’s not every day an ex-footballer invites you on Sky News with them, and our friendship was born.

Lorraine was a beacon of light, funny, and disciplined. She knew what she wanted and wwas always a straight-talker. What you saw is what you got, no mucking about. She was not scared to speak her mind especially at local authority meetings where she campaigned for buildings to house Newham’s homeless.

Lorraine had so much knowledge and expertise to give, but I wonder if it was ever really fully explored by Newham Council. She had a wealth of knowledge about homelessness. But she was not given the chance to use that knowledge in depth. There is a feeling that this was an opportunity missed by the local council to explore her suggested solutions and bring an end to the scourge of homelessness in Newham.

Lorraine was always courteous, polite and respected. Everyone loved Lorraine – in particular the people she was helping. They saw something special in her and her fantastic army of volunteers.

What set Lorraine apart was that she knew the rough sleepers personally and was not afraid on some occasions to tell them off if they didn’t want help.

Having been homeless herself she founded Lola’s Homeless Ladder and recruited an equally dedicated, and committed, group of amazing volunteers who give their time for free . Whether it was making hot soup in her kitchen, getting duvets, sleeping bags and warm clothing, hundreds of people young and old from all cultures benefited from Lola’s campaigning.

Sadly, some lost their lives through living on the streets: Catarina, for example, who passed on the day she was found a B&B and Pepe known as a ‘Jack The Lad’ who sadly died but is always remembered. As some had no next of kin, Lorraine took it upon herself to make funeral arrangements.

The people who mourn here are determined to keep Lorraine’s legacy alive, even former MP Rory Stewart, who I introduced to Lorraine in Stratford while he was standing for election as London’s next Mayor sent this message: “I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Lorraine. What an incredible legacy she has left behind with all the wonderful work she did. Wishing you and Lorraine’s family all the best during such a difficult time.”

Lorraine invited Rory to ‘kip’ on her front room floor. She woke him up with a cup of coffee. As a result, Come Kip With Me was created, a nationwide campaign launched by Rory, with Lorraine as the inspiration.

I have informed Prince William, the Royal anti-homelessness campaigner, of Lorraine’s passing. He is making his own contribution to eradicating homelessness through Project Homewards where six flagship locations will receive up to £500,000 seed funding to end homelessness. Like Lorraine he shares the aspiration that this crisis can be resolved if we all work together.

Even when the shadow of the pandemic came across the country Lorraine took part in a BBC documentary where she highlighted the homeless situation in the Borough and the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. At that moment, the council placed everyone into hotels and there was no one living on the streets. It revealed what can happen when there is the political will and the money to pay for it – within three days they ended homelessness, as Lorraine pointed out.

Newham Voices has continually brought the issues of homelessness and social care to the attention of the local authority and governments. And in 2020, we featured the work of Lola. She led the way in confronting the crisis and we will continue to focus on this story until, as Lola demanded, something more radical is done. The pandemic forced us to take rough sleepers off our streets, now we need to do it again, but without the threat of a health crisis as an excuse.

In 2018 I received a phone call from the producers of Jane Mcdonald And Friends who wanted to invite Lorraine on their Xmas Special Show to talk about Lola’s. We got Lorraine up North but Jane surprised her with a three-night trip to New York and a seven- night cruise around the Caribbean – she loved it!

Jane Mcdonald said: ‘She’s a lady who really sums up the meaning of Christmas. It’s people like you who make this world go around you do so much for so many people and never think about it at all’

During the programme, friends of Lorraine brought up the story of Kevin, a homeless man Lorraine helped. Kevin had gangrene, and had been wearing the same socks for more than three months. Lorraine took him to hospital, making sure he wasn’t discharged until he had a care package set up.

She got him into a flat, even buying him a fridge, cutlery and TV, and she made weekly checks on him.

Lorraine’s friend, Christine Rendall, nominated her for the prize: Christine said: “Lorraine’s special because I’ve never seen anybody go the lengths she will go for the homeless people. I’ve seen people cry with gratitude for what Lorraine does for them.”

Lorraine said: “I’m lost for words, and that’s a first for me.”

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