The Thanet Winter Shelter reopens for a second year on December 1 and will run until February 28, 2018.
The scheme provides help and accommodation for rough sleeping homeless people across Thanet and practical support such as food, clothing, healthcare, assistance finding employment and training as well as building relationships, listening and caring.
Donations and volunteers will both be gratefully accepted.
Last year the shelter, run for the first time by Thanet District Council with the Salvation Army and local Thanet churches, saw 42 guests given food, a safe place to sleep and support and 23 found permanent homes.
The shelter offered 1,350 beds for the night and 2,768 meals to those sleeping rough across Thanet.
It ran alongside the Aspire Homelessness project where people were provided with practical help and support to work through the barriers which were preventing them from moving towards a life off the streets, including mental health assessments.
The shelter was supported by over 390 volunteers, who donated over 9,290 hours of their time. Funded with £20,000 from the council, the scheme was also supported by the Homelessness Forum and Thanet’s churches.
People using the shelter must be referred by Thanet District Council Housing Options Team, Porchlight, Kent Police or the Aspire Project.
Those using the shelter must:
be rough sleeping or street homeless;
be willing to engage other services for support;
be 18 years +;
not have a pet with them;
be able to manage own behaviour;
be no risk to others; and
known to one of the Thanet Winter Shelter Referral Agencies
Useful donations
new duvet covers and new duvets
new single bed fitted bottom sheets
new pillows
new pillowslips
new – men’s boxer style underwear (sizes S and M), long johns and similar thermal vests
thermal or lined gloves/ fingerless gloves
black fleece beanies/cloth caps
thermal socks
wet wipes/personal size tissues
small torches – ideally windup
can openers
Non-perishable items such as tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, sweets, tinned vegetables, tuna, rice and pasta
Toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, men’s deodorant, disposable razors, shaving foam, shower gel
Cleaning products, toilet paper, hand wash and room fresheners
Items can be taken to The Salvation Army, Ramsgate Corps, 167a High Street, Ramsgate between noon and 5pm Monday to Friday.
you doing a good job guyys
Where do you go to volunteer?
Best to contact the project as they work at several sites (or they did last year)