New response: Winter Night Shelter...with a difference |
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As with many things over the past year, the Eastbourne Winter Night Shelter had to operate very differently. The accommodation was provided by Eastbourne Borough Council and support for the residents by the Rough Sleeping Initiative team and a host of volunteers organised by Kingdom Way Trust. About 30 people were accommodated and over 1500 meals were cooked and delivered by a team of over 70 volunteers throughout the five month period. Click here to read Tish’s insight from her role providing meals and support to the houses. One positive development is that the council will continue to offer this accommodation to rough sleepers throughout the year. Although the daily meal deliveries have stopped, we are considering how some contact and support for residents of the houses can continue. We’ll also be looking ahead with the council to consider how things may develop for next season as it’s looking unlikely that there will be a return to the ‘church hall’ model of night shelters. |
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New Winter Night Shelter film If you’ve not yet seen it, please take a look here at the excellent film of the story of the Winter Night Shelter made last year before everything changed! Our thanks to supporter and volunteer, Adrian Butcher of Meads Media, for producing it. Also available is the encouraging story of one of our guests from last year who features in the film and shared more details of his journey with us at the end of season event last March. Read Terry’s Story. |
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Thanks to another supporter of Kingdom Way Trust, Stephen Turnham, our website where details of all our projects can be found, has had a re-design. We will endeavour to keep it updated with news and stories. If this email has been forwarded to you and you’d like to receive updates directly, please sign up via the website. If you know someone who might be interested in hearing more about Kingdom Way Trust, please encourage them to also visit the website. |
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New opportunities for Hope Woodwork |
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As the restrictions ease, we look forward to welcoming more trainees back into the workshop. We are always looking for new volunteer supervisors, so if you, or someone you know, have time available and would be interested in supporting people as they learn new skills in carpentry but also general life skills, then please contact us. Woodworking skills are useful but not essential for this role. We’re happy to train you too! One way of helping fund the Hope Woodwork project is through the sale of products and bespoke orders. Over the past few months, when it has been safe for some to go into the workshop, they have been very busy producing items for The Bruderhof Community, Lightfoot's Farm and Staverton Nursery as well as selling some selected items through our new Etsy online shop. Delighted customers have been leaving us rave reviews. One customer says : 'Fantastic item - beautifully made and great value. Will definitely be buying from you again!' If you want to be amazed by some of the creative skill of our project manager, Ray, with what he gets up to in his spare time, please visit his YouTube channel here. |
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We have continued to provide support to the residents at The Bridge and Hope into Action houses. Everyone has had to get used to new ways of working including more communication through calls and messages and encouraging people to join support groups online. We are very grateful to church volunteers who have maintained regular contact with the tenants and taken opportunities to meet up for walks or outside meetings when restrictions have allowed, often braving less than ideal weather. As restrictions ease and we are able to offer more support to residents and more opportunities for activity at the workshop, we expect that the demand for what we offer to increase as some of the longer term impacts of the pandemic, particularly with poor mental health and unemployment become more apparent. We currently have a couple of rooms available for new residents at The Bridge so if you happen to know anyone who would be interested in accommodation with support, please contact us for more details. |
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Thanks We are always thankful to God for the small ways in which we see his faithfulness in the work of Kingdom Way Trust and the lives of those we work with: a positive change or decision made by a resident, the opportunity to provide meals for those who were homeless, an order for products from Hope Woodwork, the consistent support from a volunteer for an isolated tenant, the offer to fund raise by playing 100 Hymns! Our thanks to everyone for their support. The Kingdom Way Trust team |
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New Blog - Please visit to keep in touch with news and stories |
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Read the latest news and stories from our projects supporting the homeless and vulnerable in Eastbourne | | |
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