Winter Night Shelter MK Free Talk on Homelessness 27 January 2019
http://www.go4th.org.uk

The Last the Least and the Lost

These are the people the Winter Night Shelter Milton Keynes (WNSMK) are here to help.  When Sara Millington, Communications Manager and Andrew Wasdell, Team Leader came to talk to us we learned how the WNSMK began as a response to an urgent need during the severe winter of 2010, with homeless people sleeping rough despite freezing temperatures and thick snow on the ground. Representatives of various agencies came together to address the problem, and the result was the WNSMK.

Winter Night Shelter MK Free Talk on Homelessness 27 January 2019
http://www.go4th.org.uk

Sara Millington, Communications Manager & Andrew Wasdell Team Leader WNSMK at All Saints Church, Milton Keynes Village http://www.go4th.org.uk

What is happening right now?

Currently they are able to offer a hot meal and overnight accommodation to 30 guests each night from November to March. Each guest is welcomed at Unity Park Station (formerly the Old Bus Station) on Elder Gate, with a hot drink and a safe place to store their belongings for the night, as well as the chance to shower and wash their clothes. They are then transported to their base for the night, where a team of trained volunteers provide a hot meal, company and support, opportunities to relax and play games, and a warm bed for the night. Breakfast is provided the next morning, as well as transport back to Unity Park Station.

Winter Night Shelter MK Free Talk on Homelessness 27 January 2019
http://www.go4th.org.uk

Who makes this happen?

All of this relies on a huge number of volunteers, who are recruited and trained in September and October. They can commit themselves to as little as one shift every other week, which can be early evening, early morning, overnight, or as welcomers at the start of the evening.

Andrew Wasdell explained how the teams source food (as inexpensively as possible) as well as cooking it for the evening meal, and how they relate to the guests, helping them to relax and feel safe. Both he and Sara stressed how varied the guests are in their circumstances, and how homelessness can happen to anyone.

Winter Night Shelter MK Free Talk on Homelessness 27 January 2019
http://www.go4th.org.uk

What about the rest of the year?

We learnt too that there is a welfare team that provides support throughout the year, referring guests on to appropriate agencies. The aim is always to avoid dependence and encourage self-respect, and they offer

• legal and housing advice
• on-site addiction support
• access to food and clothing aid
• assistance obtaining ID and accessing bank accounts
• help with accommodation and employment applications
• life skills and employment skills training
• homelessness prevention initiatives.

All Saints has in the past collected warm winter clothing for the WNSMK, although storage can be a problem, but other ways of helping are: by fund raising; by regular, small donations (vital for planning ahead); by checking the WNSMK Facebook page and their Amazon wish-list, buying items to be delivered directly to them. Raising awareness of the wonderful work done by the WNSMK and the kinds of support they need in order to continue to do it is also of great value.

Look out too for the sponsored sleep-out at the end of the season – another good way of offering financial support. https://www.winternightsheltermk.com

Weʼve raised £450 to help Winter Night Shelter Milton Keynes

On 31st March 8pm to 6am 1st April 2017 Kim one of our parishioners took part to help WNSMK raise funds, you can read her story here:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kim-wong-mkwns