I arrive at 6.30; the shelter coordinator and 2 other volunteers are in conversation with the caretaker; there’s a problem with the heating and although it’s a mild evening everyone is concerned about the guests getting cold before morning; Andy2 in particular is known to feel the cold; it’s agreed to give him an extra duvet if the problem can’t be solved; the discussion breaks up and preparations begin.
Each C4WS Shelter can accommodate 14 guests, and 2 volunteers sleepover with them so 16 duvet covers have to be put on, 16 fitted sheets fitted onto mattresses, 16 pillowcases put on; piles of fresh towels are laid out; tables and chairs are set up for the evening meal.
Doors open at 7.30pm and tea, coffee, squash, cake and biscuits are ready for the guests’ arrival. Meanwhile in the kitchen the evening meal is being prepared. Tonight the volunteer cook has brought trays of chicken in honey and mustard sauce and roast potatoes, with peas and carrots to be cooked on the premises. Helpers and guests eat together so tonight there’ll be 23 mouths to feed.
A buzz of conversation outside tells us the guests are arriving – referrals have been taken during the day and one of the Shelter staff arrives with the list and runs through procedures: one of the guests has bronchitis and has medicine, he’s not English and may need help with the instructions; there are two with mental health issues, and one who snores so ideally needs to sleep away from the rest! All the Shelters have a separate room for any female guests (always outnumbered by men, tonight there are2 young women who make straight for their room as they arrive).
The atmosphere is friendly, many of the guests have been here before and those who haven’t fit in surprisingly easily, introducing themselves, shaking hands, making themselves a hot drink. Andy makes straight for the radiator and we have to explain the heating problem; he makes himself a cup of tea but is clearly anxious – a good warm-up is what he really needs.
The Shelter staff stay to chat with the guests for a while and deal with any problems they have, then they leave and the volunteers serve supper, sit and chat over the meal and then clear up. And the chess board comes out – I take refuge with the dishwasher, I never could master chess.
Most of the volunteers leave about 10o’clock, lights out is 11pm and those doing the breakfast shift will be back at 7.30am to make bacon, eggs, toast, before the guests leave for another day on the street. C4WS has a good success rate in getting guests off the street but as accommodation gets ever scarcer too many of them will be back tomorrow.