Opened on Thursday 5th January, Transform Housing & Support will be running a winter shelter during the coldest and wettest months of the year, but a further £15,000 still needs to be raised from voluntary donations.

In partnership with the borough councils of Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne, Transform is running a winter shelter from January to March 2017, providing an essential lifeline to homeless people.

The shelter will be based in Staines, open seven days a week, and will give each person somewhere warm, safe and dry to sleep, as well as hot drinks and meals at night and breakfast in the morning. Crucially, each person will receive the advice and support they need to get off the streets for good.

It is anticipated that statutory funding from the Borough Councils involved, as well as support from Surrey County Council Adult Care and housing benefits from clients, will contribute towards to the Winter Shelter costs.

Transform have already raised over £22,000 in 2016 from their Voices for the Homeless concert in October, Carol Services at St Mary’s Church, Fetcham and by the Runnymede Borough Council staff in December, various collections from local churches and a substantial donation from the Community Foundation for Surrey.

A further £4,000 has been received since the New Year. However they still need to raise a further £12,500 to ensure the best service is provided to those in need. The funding received from statutory and voluntary donors will be used directly to support clients’ meals and hot drinks and ensure staff availability to provide support and advice.

It will also be used indirectly for costs such as venue hire and set up, utility bills and council tax, cleaning products and of course beds, linen and pillows.

Jemma, one of the people who was helped by the shelter in 2016, said: “I found myself homeless and I had literally nowhere to go. I was sleeping in my car and then going to work. The winter shelter has been a godsend and the support that I’ve had from the staff has been great.”

With help from shelter staff, Jemma applied to move to Transform’s supported housing in Spelthorne. She was accepted and is now receiving specialist support to deal with the issues that led to her becoming homeless.

Please help Transform to help others like Jemma this winter. Visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ transformwintershelter2017

Based on information supplied by Georgina Margetts.