Our night shelter provision is a Churches Together in Basildon project delivered in partnership with ACE Impact C.I.C. (www.aceimpact.co.uk).

We are a member of the Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network and adhere to the Operating principles for night shelters set by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Basildon faith groups freely open their churches to us enabling our shelters to run seven nights a week at a different church each night, during the coldest months of winter. We currently offer shared sleeping spaces using camp beds and sleeping bags, for twelve people. We upgraded from air beds last winter.

We offer friendly, welcoming, and above all, safe spaces for homeless people to sleep and strive to make them as comfortable as possible. The stability this provides has a positive effect on physical and mental wellbeing that is often eroded by rough sleeping, and allows our guests to be better equipped to move on into accommodation and/or secure employment.

The project is volunteer led, often we have circa 60/70 plus volunteers who staff our evening and morning shifts. Without exception they have a heart for the homeless, they come alongside our guests to chat and listen. They create a great community spirit, which helps to restore a homeless person’s faith in a society that they often feel alienated from.

Overnight, from 11:00pm to 7:00am, paid night workers keep our guests safe and tend to their needs.

Light refreshments and hot drinks are provided in the evening and a light breakfast in the morning.

BENS relies on the generosity of local faith groups, businesses, and the community to make the shelters possible. Funds are needed to pay for staff, equipment, and refreshments, for example:

• £6.00 will purchase a 500g tin of instant coffee

• £15.00 will purchase a pack of four pillows

• £20.00 will purchase a sleeping bag

• £35.00 will purchase a camp bed

When our shelters are closed we continue to support rough sleepers by maintaining a telephone line to help connect them with vital resources available in Basildon.

Any help that can be given to help us deliver our service is greatly appreciated and will be put to good use.