St Petrocs launch their Winter Services and Winter Appeal 2024

Monday 2nd December, 2024

St Petrocs have launched their winter services, emergency accommodation provided throughout the coldest winter months to those people who have been pushed into homelessness and would otherwise have to sleep outside. Their Winter Appeal runs in tandem to these services, raising the funds to pay for this important work.

Especially in Cornwall, the winter months bring exceptionally wet, cold, and unpredictable weather, significantly affecting the physical and mental well-being of people sleeping rough. Surviving in such conditions is already daunting, and when individuals are preoccupied with meeting their basic needs on the streets, accessing housing support and services becomes extremely challenging.

During the winter months the charity provide a safe place for people in crisis, offering them a roof over their head while they support them in finding suitable housing solutions. This may involve private rentals, supported accommodation, or other housing providers.

Due to the demand on the services St Petrocs offer, this year they started the delivery of this emergency accommodation early, in November. They are currently providing a number of people with a safe space through this emergency accommodation and are working hard to secure longer term accommodation so people can move on into their own homes, therefore ending their experience of homelessness.

Last year St Petrocs supported 54 people with emergency accommodation in the winter months and were able to secure longer term housing options for 74% of those supported.

One client who was supported through the winter services said “the provision helped me off the street in bad times. They gave me warmth and shelter, made me feel hopeful for my future”.

Lois Wild, Director of Engagement commented: “We are anticipating supporting hundreds of people over the winter months who are facing or experiencing homelessness. Our non-residential services worked with 338 people through December to the end of February last year, and we anticipate the numbers to be higher this year due to the increased demand. We could not do this without the help we receive from the kind community in Cornwall through their support of our Winter Appeal. The funds raised enable us to provide emergency accommodation for people who would otherwise face sleeping outside during the often-harsh weather in the winter.”

St Petrocs Winter Appeal begun on 1^st December and runs until the end of February. If you wish to donate, please visit www.stpetrocs.org.uk or call 01872 260948.