September is here again, and so our attention turns to the coming winter and our provision and support for those sleeping rough within our city.
On Thursday 7th, we held our first information evening for new volunteers. About 30 individuals from across the city gathered at the YMCA to find out more about the project and it was fantastic to also have so many current volunteers with us to hear first hand about their own thoughts and experiences of the project. We have 2 training sessions for new volunteers coming up next month – Thursday 5th & 19th October at the YMCA North Staffs – please drop us an email or facebook message if you intend on coming so we can organise sufficient resources and refreshments [stokewinternightshelter@gmail.com]
Donations have already started to roll in from various organisations and individuals including ‘Socks and Chocs’, a charity who are supporting the homeless across the West Midlands. [http://socksandchocs.co.uk/] Their donations of sleeping bags and pillows are very much appreciated, as well as their generous agreement to fund some of our emergency accommodation over the next winter. Over the past couple of years, we have found emergency accommodation to be a crucial stepping stone between rough sleeping and permanent accommodation and so to be able to secure some funding for this particular purpose is wonderful. Please contact us directly if you would like to donate to the night shelter project so that we can organise drop offs etc.
Fundraising events are currently in the works to support the work of night shelter this year, so watch this space for more information soon. We are hoping to build on the successes of the Afternoon Tea last November and the Strawberry Tea earlier in June – both of which raised over £1,000!
We thank you for your continued support of Stoke-on-Trent Churches Community Night Shelter – together we are making a difference for those sleeping rough in our wonderful city.
Stoke-on-trent churches community night shelter 