Salvation Army to extend hours of its homeless drop-in to support rough sleepers during cold weather snaps
The Salvation Army in Blackpool will extend the opening hours of its homeless drop-in service to get more people off the streets and out of the cold when there is a drop in weather temperatures.
The Bridge Project, which is run by The Salvation Army from its church and community centre on Raikes Parade in Blackpool, usually opens at 9:00 am providing a hot breakfast and refreshments for people that are street homeless but with the recent cold weather, the centre will be open from 8:00 am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays when the local authority has its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) provision activated, giving an extra avenue of support to the most vulnerable members of the local community.
Triggered during winter months when temperatures drop below freezing, SWEP is a system that local authorities use to provide emergency shelter for people forced to sleep on the streets to prevent death or serious harm typically until the following morning or when temperatures rise above zero, and this can mean that rough sleepers are back on the streets from as early as 8:00 am.
Jillian Franks, programme manager for The Salvation Army’s Bridge Project in Blackpool said: “Getting people safely indoors and off the streets at night is key to protecting the most vulnerable but the winter weather also exposes them to dangers in the day too which is why extra support is crucial. At the Bridge Project we offer food, healthcare, clothing and showering facilities and during the cold weather periods we will open our service an hour earlier, when overnight SWEP shelter comes to an end, opening and serving a hot breakfast and respite from 8:00 am.
“Cold weather can be dangerous, freezing temperatures can kill and we are dedicated to being there for street homeless and people in times of crisis and will always adapt our service where possible to support people in need.”
The Bridge Project has been supporting street homeless and people in times of crisis within the Blackpool community for more than two decades since its launch in 2002 and is one of the biggest support networks in the town for over 26 year olds.
The drop-in day centre allows a maximum of 24 individuals into the project at a time for health and safety reasons and is open four days a week, Monday to Friday, excluding Wednesdays serving breakfast from 9:00 am – 11:00 am for street homeless and serving lunch from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm for people who are homeless, in supported accommodation and in times of crisis. The Bridge Project is open 52 weeks of the year.