Hi, all and a massive thank you to everyone concerned. You made it work wonderfully well! I still feel you lot (volunteers and churches) still do not understand the enormity of what you have achieved.
Some figures:

A minimum of 1440 volunteer slots (varying times of between 1/2 hour to full night shift).
47 guests who stayed with us out of 71 enquiries (~20 no shows or sorted elsewhere)
739 bed spaces used

Most guests have moved on/been sorted. A few have still not but we are actively working on their cases. More updates soon - but well done and thank you. We will be having a thank you and celebration soon. Details to follow!

Hi, everyone! It has been a lot busier, hence time between updates. We have had more guests come to stay (and leave). Figures up to last week include 40 different people staying with us so far. We have gone more international with enquiries from German, Czech and Romanian people. It really brings it home when language is a definite barrier and an interpreter is not available!

Partnership work has been very effective with much valuable work being undertaken by the local CAB who have been providing a weekly drop in and sessional work. Many thanks to Kelly, Jacqui and Clive for this.

Also "Porchlight Maggie" has been a big hit with people and has been a real advocate for sorting some people out.

One interesting event was a multi-agency meeting concerning someone who continually lives by the M20. People are "concerned" but there seems to be a lot of buck passing to avoid help or responsibility. Is it really a life style choice if someone is out in all weathers drinking muddy water and only has 2 fleece blankets and open plastic sheeting to shelter under. Despite obvious degrading of health since September, no one wishes to take responsibility. What needs to happen for someone to act?

We have less than a week to go and are trying to get some people sorted. There is an interesting situation where two of our guests are being interviewed for the same property today - could be interesting. How do you decide who has priority when both are deserving.

Will post more later...

What a difference a week makes. We have reduced in number slightly due to another guest being placed into a project where they can keep their accomodation for up to two years. Also a couple of other people moved on. One on account of other people's snoring. He obviously wasn't including his own there - yes I know - I had heard it several times! Pots and kettles...

I have noticed a load of spelling errors - mainly due to typing at stupid hours following an evening stint. I may clear them at some point seeing as I don't have much to do with my time!

I had to give an overview of results on Thursdy and there were some very interesting figures. I'll put them up here some time.

Up until a couple of days ago (Weds) we had received around 64 enquiries, of these there were 47 referrals. Of these:
4 were refused
13 were housed elsewhere - friends relatives or no shows
30 have been guests and we have provided 381 seperate bed slots for guests
Youngest has been 18, oldest 64
2 have moved into projects
3 into private rented
Several are on housing lists and bidding for properties
1 was sectioned
1 was arrested and is on remand
8 have returned to place of origin

I will post an excel sheet somewhere and a summary

Well done everyone - we could not do it without your commitment, support and prayers.

Thank you!

TWo of our guests have moved into new accomodation today - after being with us for around a week. It just shows what can happen when people are motivated to get on and put some effort in. Well done, guys! I said to them yesterday, in the nicest possible way, "I hope I don't see you in here again!" They replied with exactly the same sentiments!

Jon (our associate worker) had a surprise party arranged for him by Hayley, Michelle, Julie and the guests. His face was great! Total shock and bewilderment! Party games, chipsticks and jelly!

Well, we actually became full for the first time at the weekend. Good in some ways because it shows people are accessing and using us, bad because we should not be necessary! It is always a difficult one. It may seem strange but the ultimate aim of a winter shelter should be to try to ensure its own redundancy because people should be adequately sheltered and housed elsewhere. Shelters, will however, be around for a long time as we have a fractured society. Cor, that is deep for this time of night!

We had some radio coverage today which was good - apparently it came across OK but some of our guests took exception to me saying "If the tables were turned, would we accept hospitality in a strange place from strange people and sleep in a common room with more strange people". What I meant to say was how many of us would accept it from strangers - people who we did not know. And as one of our guests said, "There's no one here stranger than you lot anyway! (referring to volunteers and staff).

We have now affiliated to the Faith Works Initiative

We raised £81.50, which is great for a small community event. Well done all who braved the cold, all who threw stuff in the bucket, Alex on keyboards and Richard Murrells for organising.

Cheers folks!

Hi, peeps - we have increased up to 12/14 (12 guests/14 referrals). Volunteers have been amazing (as always) and it has been incredibly encouraging to hear from people who have said that this was way beyond their comfort zones but  still felt compelled to become involved with the scheme and have had their preconceptions challenged as a result.

We have had referrals from hospitals, police, outreach workers, housing services and homeless agencies.
People (before residing with us) have been staying in various places, bus shelters, graveyards, friends floors or sofas. What is evident is the warm welcome people receive and the appreciation they express. One guest literally called it a life safer.
 
2 guests have accomodation sorted and should be out very soon. We also have one who wants to be a volunteer for similar work which is great although we will have to link them in with another project or enforce some distance of time to avoid blurring of boundaries.

It is going well - thank you for support, prayer and encouragement!

Hi, here is a message composed by several of us involved with the shelter to all of you involved with the shelter.
Cheers!