Donations and volunteers will be needed for this year’s Thanet Winter Shelter scheme

Thanet rough sleepers

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.

To register as a volunteer click here

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