Southend Churches Winter Night Shelters (SCWNS) and Southend Borough Council have been running winter night shelters for the homeless for eight years. This year, the Catholic parishes of Sacred Heart and St John Fisher have agreed to provide a Night Shelter in Sacred Heart parish hall every Wednesday night, from Wednesday 5th December 2018 through to Wednesday 20th March 2019, and are requesting volunteer help and support from other Catholic parishes within our Deanery.

Beds will be supplied for 20 people and a hot meal for another up to 10 'dinner only' guests. The Night Shelter welcomes both men and women although historically only two or three women have been hosted most nights. Sufficient 'overnight volunteers' have already been found but approximately 30 additional volunteers will be needed each week!

There are a variety of tasks to be done commencing Wednesday evenings, 6pm to 10.30pm - setting up beds, greeting guests, serving meals, socialising with guests; and then again Thursday mornings, 7am to 9.00am - preparing breakfast, cleaning the hall, laundering etc., ...as well as tasks yet to be identified!

Potential volunteers are asked to contact Sue Tokley, Parish Secretary, in Sacred Heart/St John Fisher parish office on 01702 465720 or parish@catholicsouthend.org.uk . Francis O'Brien - OLOL Parish SVP Conference.