Imagine the scene: a church with carpeted aisles, 15 mattresses laid out between the pews and pillars and down the centre: mattresses neatly made up into beds with pillows and duvets and newly laundered bedding, a folded towel is laid on each bed. Another two beds in the Chancel are for the two overnight volunteers. The women’s beds are in a side chapel.
At the back of the church on a table are laid out an array of donated clothes and toiletries. In a large adjoining room long tables are simply set for 25 people. In the kitchen cooks are preparing supper, always with a vegetarian option to suit various dietary requirements. Tea and coffee and biscuits are always available.
The volunteers are briefed by one of the Shelter staff and the guests begin to arrive when the doors open at 7pm. Some have been waiting quietly outside. Their names are checked against a list and they choose their mattress. This will be their very own space for the night. Some lie down, thankful to be safe and warm. Some claim a bed by putting their bag on it and go to talk to a fellow guest, or get a hot mug of tea. First-nighters enter nervously, find a bed and sit in wonder at being in a safe, calm quiet, ordered environment. This might be their first night of safety in weeks – time for a peaceful sleep at last. The calm is what they notice – a sharp contrast to the chaos of their circumstances and life on the streets.
This is how it is in just one of the participating churches and there are 13 of them. Each one offers what it can. Many have church halls with adjoining kitchens, and some now have had showers installed, thanks to donations. The guests move from church to church each evening, eventually getting used to the weekly rota. One thing the churches all say about hosting the shelter is that it has brought life to their church and congregation, an eagerness to be involved somehow, a chance to express the love of God to others.
Starting in a small way 10 years ago, the Shelter now runs for 5 months each year, with welfare work going on for much of the year. It employs 3 full time staff, funded by organisations large and small, grants often being given year on year when they see how much excellent resettlement work is done. It is money given that can change people’s lives. This is more than a night shelter. Guests need help with finding suitable accommodation, but their additional welfare needs are supported as well – employment training, coping with debt, literacy, legal issues, physical and mental health issues. Some of this work is done in partnership with other organisations which specialise in these fields.
Our church has supported C4WS since the beginning. Bill Risebero has handed over the Chair of Trustees to Andrew Penny. Our Junior Church St. Luke’s Group has recently raised £150 from a cake sale, and individual members of the congregation donate money they have raised. C4WS is not its own charity, but it is the Homeless Project of CARIS Camden, which is a charity. Cheques or donations should be made to CARIS Camden C4WS.