Seventh heaven for the homeless

Members of charities and church congregations are all aboard to help the homeless this winter. Seven churches along the number 18 bus route are welcoming those in need to come in from the cold one night a week until late March 2010. Volunteers at All So

Members of charities and church congregations are all aboard to help the homeless this winter.

Seven churches along the number 18 bus route are welcoming those in need to come in from the cold one night a week until late March 2010.

Volunteers at All Souls Church in Station Road, Harlesden, St Michael's in Tokyingon, St Luke's in West Kilburn, St Mark's in Kensal Rise, Church of God of Prophecy in Harlesden, Seventh Day Adventist Church in Willesden and Community Church in Harlesden, will offer food and company to the visitors.

The project was set up by the churches with Cricklewood Homeless Concern (CHC) last January, and is funded by Neighbourhood Working.

Each person, who has been referred and risk assessed by CHC, can also get advice from CHC and Brent Council to help them into housing.

Marlon Nelson, a community worker in South Brent Deanery and project organiser, said: "The people we helped last year included professionals, workmen, and people from every ethnic group and religion in Brent. I remember there was snow on the ground for some of the evenings when we were able to offer a place for the night."

Last year the churches ran 1,100 bed spaces, offered 2,200 meals and at least 238 volunteers helped out in the shelters.

For referrals to the project contact CHC on 020 8208 8590 or charlotte@chc-mail.org, to get involved contact Marlon at marlon.nelson@london.anglican.org or 020 8960 3929 or 07985 382 507.