Churches across Caerphilly County Borough will be opening their doors in the new year to provide shelter to homeless people.
From January 4, 2019 to March 30, 2019, ten churches across the county will offer homeless people a bed to sleep.
The Caerphilly Churches Night Shelter project is run with Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Housing Advice Team, Cornerstone Support Services Ltd and local churches.
The project is entering it’s seventh season after starting in January 2013 and has provided support to 106 people since it’s inception.
The scheme will see a team of volunteers work once again to provide shelter, hot meals, essential support and advice to the homeless during the most difficult months of the year.
The churches can accommodate up to eight people each. Some guests may stay a few nights while others may stay for the entire period.
The ten churches taking part in the scheme are:
Argoed Baptist – Argoed
Bethany – Risca
Elim Baptist – Pontllanfraith
Methodist – Crosskeys
Mount Pleasant – Blackwood
Oasis – Cefn Forest
Tabernacle – Newbridge
St Helen’s – Caerphilly
Salvation Army – Risca
Rev Sue Phillips, of Elim Baptist Church in Pontllanfraith, said: “We simply do this to provide a safe warm place to sleep, an evening meal, breakfast and a packed lunch for each of our guests. We try to provide a warm family-like atmosphere with guests and volunteers sharing meals together and chatting, watching TV or playing games in the evening.”
If you wish to refer someone to the night shelter, contact David Francis, Housing Advice Officer at the council.
The scheme is currently looking for volunteers to help with the running of the running of the shelters.