A winter shelter scheme for people who are suffering from homelessness is seeking to recruit volunteers and raise funds to cover operating costs. Several churches in Enfield borough will be used as shelters, including St John's in Palmers Green.
All People All Places
The winter shelter scheme is run by All People All Places, a charity with a remit to serve people who have issues caused by homelessness. All People All Places, which has been running a similar scheme in Haringey since 2009, will refer people in need of shelter to the Enfield Churches Winter Shelter. The Enfield churches will accommodate up to 12 guests a night during the coldest weeks of the year
This winter the Enfield scheme will run from 2 January to 13 March using a "rolling shelter" model, under which each participating church will put up homeless people for one night a week, providing love and care and good hot food, including an evening meal and breakfast.
Volunteering
What does it take to be a volunteer? It's simple, really - a willingness to help people who are vulnerable and a good heart! Duties include "back office" functions such as cooking and making beds, but most volunteers want to talk to guests. For this important task, key qualities are friendliness and cheerfulness, a non-judgmental attitude and the ability to deal with situations calmly. A willingness to take instructions from Church coordinators and shift leaders whilst assuming responsibility and respecting boundaries is vital. It's also important that volunteers are reliable and turn up on time. They do not need to be churchgoers and people of any faith or none are very welcome.
All People All Places will be running an information and training session on 7th November from 10:15 to 1pm at St Luke's Clay Hill, EN2 0HL (on the corner of Phipps Hatch Lane and Browning Road). If you'd like to attend, please first contact Peter Livermore - so that St Luke's knows how many people it will need to cater for. As many volunteers as possible will be welcome, but if you can't make it, don't worry, as training will also be provided on the job.
St Luke's provided shelter last winter and the church's website has some useful information about how it operated the scheme - see clayhillparish.org.uk/shelter15_16.html.
The winter shelter also needs money
As well as people, the winter shelter needs money to cover costs such as beds and bedclothes, heating, food, plates and cutlery, laundry and insurance. Another big cost for the charity is travel for guests to travel between venues and to appointments during the day.
St John's Palmers Green
St John's will provide shelter on Monday nights and volunteers will be working three shifts - evening, overnight and early morning.
If you'd like to volunteer at St John's or donate money, please email .