Village News

Winter Night Shelter at the PA Hall

St. Margaret's Church is currently supporting the HOPE2540 Project by providing overnight winter accommodation for homeless people in the PA Hall. The HOPE2540 Project was started in 2009 to provide help and support for the homeless and disadvantaged in the Redhill area, and is run in conjunction with the Salvation Army, local churches and RBBC. About 30 volunteers from St. Margaret’s congregation have been trained in the established procedures for looking after the homeless overnight.

Accommodation in the PA Hall is being provided over six consecutive Tuesday nights from 20^th December to 24^th January.  Transport from Redhill is being generously provided by the Roadrunners taxi company in Redhill.  Guests arrive at 7.45 pm and are provided with a 3 course meal, wash bag, clean socks etc, a mattress, and bedding.  Two volunteers maintain a vigil throughout the night.  Guests are provided with a breakfast in the morning and leave the hall at 7.45 am with a packed lunch for the day.

Overnight locations for the complete programme are Sunday and Monday in Horley, Tuesday in Chipstead, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Redhill.

Olivia, who runs the PA Hall accommodation says:

“It has been great to come together as a church, as a community, and open the doors to people who would otherwise be sleeping on the street. When we are sharing a meal, playing a game of cards or just having a chat, there is a sense of family in the PA Hall on Tuesday nights. We are expecting 8-10 guests every night until the end of January when the pilot ends.  The next steps will be to assess the pilot run of the shelter and how we can carry this on to next year.”