Saturday Friendship Group
Homeless Project
Working in partnership with the Salvation Army's Way Ahead Project
LATEST NEWS  (15th August)
How is the Coronavirus crisis affecting us?

Yvonne McKinnon at the Way Ahead Project writes:
Hope you, our volunteers, are all well & have kept safe throughout these last 5 months. Wow, 5 months, It has been that long since we have seen the majority of you, You are all very much missed.
So an update of where we are at and our plans for the near future.

Currently
  • We are currently providing food service at the door from 10.30-11.30am which is NOT proving very successful, We think this may have something to do with  the timing, so from this coming Monday 17th August we will be changing our timing to 11.30-12.30 to see if we can attract more of our vulnerable client group rather than individuals in secure tenancies.
  • We are still providing office support and outreach throughout the day, either by appointment or, if the project workers are free at the time, they will see them there & then.
  • Visitors are signposted round to the side of the building to the WAP entrance, the main entrance is for staff, volunteers & donations (if we are open when any donation comes, 'if we can take', signpost round to the side entrance).
  • Big Issue is now running, All safety guidelines to be adhered too.
  • Hand sanitise stations are at both entrances,
  • Cleaning schedules are to be adhered to and signed by volunteers at the end of each session.
Plans for the very near future.
  • We will be putting in a proposal to reopen, but that approval isn’t guaranteed. If it is approved by THQ then the 'normal' WAP service will be a little different to what we all know, We are hoping to open a COVID19 Recovery Cafe, This will not only support our homeless community & vulnerably housed but also anyone in the community who now needs our help. With the impact COVID has had on many individuals & households, especially job losses, relationship breakdowns etc We feel it will be a needed service in our area. We do not know how it will work as of yet but myself, Kelsey, Jess, Stephanie, Fiona & Steve will be having a mtg on 24th August to discuss, We should by then have heard back if we have had the grant awarded. I will keep you updated with this.
Volunteers
We have been operating with very few volunteers over the last 5 months which has worked fine, but if we will be opening up as planned we will most definitely need more volunteers in place, So if you have been a volunteer and you are willing and able to start back could you please get back to me and let me know what suits for you. I will keep you all updated with the outcome of the grant and structure over the coming weeks.

Warmest Wishes to you all.
Yvonne Mckinnon
 Project Manager
The Way Ahead Project
ABOUT US

We are -
  • For the homeless – rough sleepers and sofa surfers – those in poor accommodation, with mental health issues or addictions.
  • 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 now in a Partnership with the Salvation Army to continue this work and sfg is a permanent sub-committee of the Parish Pastoral Council.
Interested in volunteering? / donating?
JOIN US!