Chelmsford Community Church supports an initiative to help the rough sleepers in Chelmsford city centre. This has been running since early 2017 and through the effort of volunteers we aim to help get food, toiletries and clothing to those who are sleeping rough in Chelmsford.
What we do
Supported by local businesses, who donate surplus food, the group has grown from a walking service, 3 evenings a week, to a regular service, 5 nights a week, with a fixed base, outside Chelmsford library. We are there Monday to Friday, 6:30pm to 7:30pm, supplemented when possible with the original walking support.
With the advantage of a regular fixed location, we are able to provide a wide range of bedding, clothing and toiletries in addition to the main provision of food and hot drinks.
Behind the scenes we have an amazing network of volunteers, who between them:
- Prepare vegetable soup/casserole
- Donate, collect, sort and store clothes and bedding
- Donate, collect and pack hygiene and food packs
- Host each evening, distributing food and hot drinks, chatting and providing the walking support
- Raise funds
Local companies that currently support the work are:
- Greggs
- Cafe de Pierre
- Doner Zamani
- Muffin Break
Support
The church supports this activity, by providing some co-ordination and storage, several of the volunteers are members of the church, although rough sleepers’ support is in no way limited to the church. It is an initiative that many, with little or no involvement in church, feel able to support – simply as a way of supporting the community.
The church also provides some liaison with Chelmsford City Council, which allows the issue of rough sleeping and homelessness to be aired and considered with city councillors and other agencies working in this area.
For more details, or if you would like to become one of our valued volunteers, please contact us via the church e-mail or through the Chelmsford Rough Sleepers’ Support Facebook page.
