St Michael’s Headingley have been helping those without homes in Leeds get through the coldest winter weeks by taking part in the Leeds Winter Night Shelter.
Organised by street outreach charity ‘Change, Grow, Live’ (CGL), the shelter runs for eight weeks through the coldest time of the year, with eight churches signing up to take part for one week each.
Each church gave over space for one of the eight weeks, giving much needed protection from the elements at the coldest and, as it turned out this winter, the wettest time of the year.
A group of volunteers gathered for evening and breakfast duties along with a rota of volunteers to cook the evening meals.
Other people donated cash which was used to purchase supplies of food and clothes.
CGL provided a staff member and a security guard to each church for each night.
Each evening followed a pattern of dinner, then socialising with users of the service with chat, games of chess and general companionable time.
The breakfast team came in for 6am to serve food and send people on their way rested and fed.
Janet, a volunteer from St Michael’s, said: “The experience has been both heartwarming and heart breaking at the same time.
“Listening to the people and some of their stories makes you feel incredibly lucky.
“We are all just a step away from where they are - a downturn in our health (especially mental health), a change of work circumstances, a break-up of a relationship can all take our comfort away and leave us destitute or deprived of comforts.
“Watching their interactions and listening to the banter and their humour was totally heartwarming.
“They are a little unit and kind of take care of each other as best they can without detracting from their own needs.
“They are resilient yet totally delicate in equal measures.
“I was thoroughly moved by my experiences of the week and will willingly do this again as it has been an incredible valuable experience.”