Rev Chris Harwood from St James, Poole, has organised a Sleep-Out to raise funds for R2R. It will take place on Saturday 17th December outside St James Church in Poole, officially starting at 9.00pm though the organisers will be there earlier to set up. You can join in or support them.
Some people will sleep under the stars/tarpaulin; others will bring tents. Those sleeping under the stars will need to bring cardboard to protect themselves from the cold ground. There will be hot drinks and food provided.
Chris is hoping to raise £400 to keep our homeless friends safe and warm this winter. Please help them achieve this or, even better, exceed the target.
Forecast for that evening is 5 degrees, very windy with rain, so those sleeping out will be earning your support!
A Just Giving page has been set up to encourage people to give on FaceBook and spread the message further:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/R2Rsleepout/
Since 13 January temperatures in Poole have dropped to 0° or below on many occasions. As a result the Poole Outreach and Support Team (POST – Routes to Roots in partnership with Bournemouth Churches Housing Association) has triggered its Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP). SWEP provides rough sleepers with a hot meal, overnight accommodation and breakfast in a Poole church hall.
When temperatures rise the accommodation closes but POST continues to monitor the situation and will re-open as necessary. The POST team engages with all known rough sleepers within the Borough of Poole on a daily basis and encourages them to move away from rough
sleeping and into safe accommodation.
Anyone who has concerns about someone who is either rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping can contact Poole Outreach Support Team
(POST) on:
07966 808802 / 07985 998904 or at pooleoutreachteam@bcha.org.uk
Alternatively, in the case of a housing emergency or if you are aware of a person who requires more information about their current tenancy, you can call Housing and Community Services: 01202 633804
