This page is dedicated to the Coventry Winter Night Shelter (CWNS) at All Souls. These past winter months, on Monday nights, All Souls has hosted homeless guests to whom we were able to offer an evening meal, a bed for the night, breakfast and a packed lunch. As you will read below, this was a huge effort from a wide variety of people.
We
owe a huge debt of gratitude to all who contributed in so many ways to
providing a night shelter for the homeless at All Souls on Monday evenings for
17 weeks over the winter period.
Firstly, thanks to the parish and to Fr Paul for
encouraging the use of the parish room, donating the heating required and
ensuring practical steps were taken which guaranteed the safety of the venue.
From the beginning of December until the end of March 59 volunteers worked
extremely hard setting up and supervising the evening, night and morning shifts.
Our thanks to a number of teams from the CTEC churches and from the Iqra
community who provided excellent and varied evening meals; to the two
parishioners provided weekly snacks for the guests to take with them in the
morning and two people who ensured a weekly supply of fruit; to those who
washed bed linen and towels; to those who donated so generously food, clothing
toiletries and toothbrushes, thermal underwear, socks, gloves and hats – those
who responded so immediately and generously when a particular need arose during
the four months.
The shelter accommodated 43 people, 21 of whom have been able to move out of
the shelter into more permanent accommodation. Unfortunately the shelter had to
close a week early due to government measures to combat Covid 19, but thanks to
the contacts the project had with the Council all guests were able to move into
temporary accommodation whilst the Council worked out measures to house all the
homeless in Coventry.
It has been a wonderful experience, to take part in such valuable outreach work
with local faith communities working together.
May God bless all who have been involved
– and particularly those who still need to find a permanent home,
employment, and face an uncertain future.
