Despite our name, Wintercomfort supports people with experience of homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness all year round, by offering essential welfare services and social, learning and work opportunities.

Our centre, Overstream House provides essential welfare throughout the year and during summer these services are just as vital. These include access to showers, toiletries, laundry services, free clothing, and footwear, helping people to maintain a sense of dignity and self-respect. We offer a free breakfast and lunch to all rough sleepers and those in need of our support.

During summer 2024 we supported 338 individual’s (between June 1st – August 31st) and this summer we expect this number to be higher, as the current demand for our services is staggering. We are still seeing a surge in demand; with the cost-of-living crisis, mortgage increases, a severe lack of social housing and record high rents, as many people in full time work are struggling to pay rent and or mortgages and are at risk of homelessness. And while our plan is to be able to work with more people in difficulty to address their circumstances before they become homeless, we need your help today, this summer, to support those we support as they face a summer on the streets.

Our welfare programme gives those we support a start, and a base, however in summer there are additional factors we have to take into account. With the continued hot and humid conditions, we are looking to raise £2,000 this summer to support those with a specific summer provision.

During very hot temperatures we will open our doors for longer, giving people additional access to somewhere with showers, shade, and plenty of food and water. Our breakfast and lunch food provision will be altered to include more cold food, with higher water content. Additionally, we will also purchase a gazebo to put in our courtyard as an extra shaded area to escape from the heat of the day.

We will give everyone a water bottle, and access to fill it, and offer light, loose-fitting clothing, as well as hats and shorts. We will also hand out suncream, and crisps and salty snacks to stop dehydration, and bags to carry these items.

This support, and our preparation, which follows advice for Cambridge City Council, will help to reduce the risk of ill-health. Hot weather can cause people to become unwell due to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and with this summer provision we are supporting those who are most vulnerable.

This all comes at an additional cost to the charity; however, this provision is essential. Providing security, maintaining a sense of dignity, and knowing that they are supported.