Two charities in Whitechapel feeding London’s homeless and giving them shelter have received cash from a foundation that preaches “self-healing” processes that repair the mind and body.

The Pranic “life-force” MCKS Charitable Foundation has given £25,000 each to the Whitechapel Mission and the Crisis homeless organisation, which are both under pressure to cope during the winter months.

“We have had to increased provision this time of year to those coming to our door,” Whitechapel Mission’s Tony Miller said.

“They come for advice and counselling, or to have a shower and fresh clothing, or a hot meal, while some just look for acceptance and somewhere to be.”

The Mission’s costs to keep its doors open runs at more than £2,300 a day, with ever-larger numbers turning up in cold weather.

The Crisis charity is putting the cash towards its lifeline for those taking the first steps out of being on the streets.

Pranic healing is a method of non-contact “energy medicine” developed in the Orient which claims to balance, harmonize and transform the body’s energy processes. It is based on what its practitioners say is the body being a self-repairing entity with healing ability using the sun’s energy and air to “address physical and emotional imbalances”.