Churches in Bradford will once again be opening their doors to the homeless this winter with the innovative ‘Inn Churches’ initiative.
All Saints Little Horton, begin the project this week (from Monday 30th November), and will be welcoming homeless ‘guests’ for one week before the baton is passed to other churches throughout the winter months until March.
Vicar of Little Horton, the Revd Canon Stephen Treasure, said, “Every night a team of volunteers welcomes our visitors, talks, plays games of chess or other entertainment, provides a hot 2-course meal and a bed for each person. A further team of four keeps an eye on our guests through the night, followed by a breakfast team that serves food and cleans up after departure.”
The Inn Churches scheme has been running for around six years. Having started out as a one month pilot it has become a thriving community project with more than 550 volunteers from 70 churches and the wider community in Bradford. It has provided over 5,000 beds for homeless and vulnerable people in the Bradford area since it began.
This year around 20 churches will take part, one each week throughout the winter. For the rest of the year Inn Churches continue to work with the homeless in partnership with other agencies in the city to provide a permanent and lasting change in the lives of the homeless guests. It also works to publicise the plight of Bradford’s homeless forming partnerships with local businesses, churches and charities looking to help the city’s poorest people.
You can find out more about Inn Churches on their website here and find out how to donate or volunteer here.