Homelessness

The Parish is actively involved in assisting with Forest Night Shelter, which is currently based in at Walthamstow YMCA, on Forest Road.  Forest Night Shelter helps those who are on the streets to get a bed for the night and a warm meal. If you want to get off the streets, click here.

This year our Parish will be helping to run the Night Shelter on Tuesday nights through the winter months.  Perhaps you would like to help?  Please note, you must be 18 or over to volunteer.  What we are looking for is for each volunteer to do the following:

- Prepare a meal for around ten people and to take it to the YMCA at about 6.30-7pm on a Tuesday, where it can be warmed up (the YMCA does not have sufficient kitchen facilities for meals to be prepared on site).

- Meet service users, serve the food and stay with service users whilst they eat, offering hospitality and a friendly face.

- Clear up and wash up around 9pm. 

Whereas night shelters used to be run out of church halls, the benefit of running from the YMCA is that service users can access a proper bed in a private room, and bathroom facilities.  This provides a better level of dignity and care, and it also means that volunteers are not needed through the night.  

Professional members of staff will be on site at all times, and all relevant safeguarding procedures will be followed.

The more people that volunteer, the less everyone had to do!  Even if you can only do a couple of Tuesdays through the winter, please do contact the Parish Office (see our contact page for more details).