For the first time, churches in Leeds are providing co-ordinated winter shelter for the homeless, and the three-month project (now a third of the way through) is going well and gaining momentum.
Churches take it in turns to provide a week of night shelter, offering a friendly welcome, evening meal, bed and breakfast.
During the last week in January, the shelter was run from All Hallows in Hyde Park. The Revd Heston Groenewald says, “Our night shelter guests have now gone on to Gipton, and it was really sad to see them go, not least because they’ve brought Hyde Park together in such a wonderful way. From the moment we started suggesting this night shelter scheme to neighbours, everyone has wanted to pitch in and help make it happen."
Jan Betts, one of the organisers at All Hallows, said, 'It was wonderful to see how simple human need drew together good will from all sides of Hyde Park, from those of many faiths and those with no formal faith commitment. It was a moving and humbling experience for All Hallows to work with two mosques, the Hindu community, the Quakers, St Michael’s and St Chad’s, all of whom gave time and effort with warm generosity. It was a real outpouring of Hyde Park love and has built links which will last.
“It was good too to get to know the asylum seekers over a week. We laughed together – a lot! We played games and they taught us magic card tricks. They gave a lot as well as receiving, and we learned from them as well as feeding and sheltering them."
Heston adds, “Makkah Mosque treated us to supper on Monday night in partnership with Penny Appeal. They said, 'It's good to share God's blessings and work together for the common good.' And Leeds Grand Mosque hosted us for a wonderful supper on Friday night.
"We took local friends to the Grand Mosque as well - most of them crossing cultural boundaries for the first time. One said, 'I've never been into a mosque before, so I was a bit nervous. But they were so friendly and welcoming, and the food was brilliant! More evenings like this would make the world a better place.' ”