Please note that as of january 2023 this group has been temporarily suspended

Saturday Friendship Group
Homeless Project

Working in partnership with the Salvation Army's ​
Way Ahead Project [WAP}

We need volunteers! join here

Can you help?
   The Saturday Friendship Group is one way in which Catholic Leamington is responding to the problem of homelessness and social deprivation in Leamington. We are partnered with the Salvation Army Way Ahead Project for this work. Our main aim is to make sure that there are enough volunteers on Saturdays to enable visitors to drop into the Centre in Church Street for a brunch, which  they make for themselves, have an opportunity to socialise and obtain help and advice.
Those of us who have been involved feel it is a very worthwhile and meaningful activity, recognising everyone’s dignity while helping to provide some basic needs.
   Now, we find ourselves in need of more volunteers, primarily on Saturdays and also during the rest of the week.
Yvonne Mckinnon, the Project Manager, is currently recruiting to build up the volunteer base, now that more normal working has been resumed.
   So, we are appealing for people to step forward, to have a chat about what is involved. Volunteers usually go in once a fortnight for 2-3 hours, but of course they can do more or less depending on personal circumstances. If you are at all interested and you think this might appeal to you, contact us at [email protected] or phone 07811 882746.
   If volunteering is not for you, then you can still help with a small monthly contribution, as we also provide £550 every month to finance the Saturday operation and staffing. Again, contact us as above.
Janice Austin
sfg Planning Team Convenor
sfg is supported by the Royal Leamington Spa Town Council's Community Grant annually
         About the sfg
We are (under normal circumstances) -
  • For the homeless – rough sleepers and sofa surfers – and those in poor accommodation, those with addictions or mental health issues  
  • We, the Churches of Catholic Leamington, work in partnership with the Salvation Army’s    'Way Ahead Project’ who have a drop-in centre in Church Street.
  • There people can find food and shelter and warmth, toilet and shower, clothes washing facilities, computers to use, extra activities, training, advice and, above all, friendship.
  • The Way Ahead is the hub for providing advice and assistance in obtaining services from all the other agencies and government provision.
  • They aim to find people accommodation, encourage them to engage in activities, develop self-confidence, help them to obtain work and to cultivate a culture of recovery.
  • Over 100 different people visit every month! There are 20-35 people at the drop-in on any one morning.
  • Saturdays are different!:
  • sfg enables the Way Ahead, open 9.30-11.20 Monday and Wednesday-Friday, to continue its work on Saturday, when there is little other provision. The first 12 to arrive work together to provide themselves with a brunch and there are some additional leisure activities, as well as the usual weekday services, in a more relaxed atmosphere.
  • sfg provides funding and volunteers for Saturday opening.
  • Catholic Leamington is in a Partnership with the Salvation Army to continue this work and sfg is a permanent sub-committee of the Catholic Leamington Parish Pastoral Council.
Interested in volunteering? / donating?
JOIN US!