The Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead

Very many thanks to everyone at Hampstead Parish Church who contributed to last month`s appeal for items for C4WS Starter Packs. From items received and donations made, we are able to put together two (possibly three) packs, which will be there to welcome some of our homeless guests to a more permanent home.

C4WS is a night shelter for homeless men and women, run by seven churches in Camden and the City of London. It seeks to express the living Gospel, through the mutual love and friendship that comes from hospitality. It is open from 1st January to 31st March each year. The venue rotates from one church to the other, with each opening for one night a week.

`The experience changed my life`

Anglican, Roman Catholic and Free churches work together in the scheme. From north to south, they are: the Beacon church in Fleet Road, Our Lady Help of Christians in Lady Margaret Road, Trinity URC in Buck Street, St Michael`s Camden Town, St Mary`s Eversholt Street, Kings Cross Methodist Church, and the City Temple, Holborn Viaduct.
`I felt I got my dignity back`

The scheme provides up to 13 bed-spaces a night (though during the recent very cold spell we sheltered all comers), with separate accommodation for men and women. Guests are welcomed with an evening meal and hospitality, and are given breakfast, and if they want, a packed lunch, before they leave the next day.

`A mix of laughter and tears and shared life experiences`

Each shelter is staffed by a team of 20 or more volunteers, working in shifts, who freely offer their time and resources. There are also two professional workers: a Co-ordinator, who receives referrals, places guests in the shelter and ensures the smooth running of the project, and an Advocate Worker who helps the guests make to plans for the future, to obtain identity papers, to move to more permanent accommodation and to take advantage of employment opportunities. The starter packs help those for whom we find more permanent places to set up their first home.

`It feels comfortable. I am happy because you took me from the street`
The scheme is financed entirely by voluntary donations. It is run by a committee representing all seven churches. The committee is supported by the St Pancras Thanet Street Trust, a Charity which assists with fund-raising, and by the North Camden Deanery Committee for Care and Service, which acts as the project`s treasurer and accountant, and employs the two professional workers on its behalf.

For more information about the shelter, please contact the Chair of the C4WS Committee, Bill Risebero, on 020 7482 1650, or at [email protected]