Our Outreach Team celebrates their first-year anniversary!

Amy and Rich from our Outreach Team based in Sedgemoor, are celebrating a successful first year in their roles.
 

They start each day at 7.00am where they load their vans with any items they may need throughout their morning such as sleeping bags, toiletries and roll mats. They have even put together a makeshift café in the back of the van so they can provide hot drinks and snacks to those who have had a particularly bad night out in the cold.
 
Amy explains, “We drive around Bridgwater, covering quite a big area, sometimes going out to Huntsworth and North Petherton, right across to Burnham on Sea and Brean on some occasions. We have had Rough Sleepers in Cheddar and have visited there on a few occasions. We locate new rough sleepers, and our aim is to encourage engagement and offer advice and support. We want the rough sleepers to come to our drop-in sessions so we can ensure they are safe and well, women sleeping rough are particularly vulnerable. We want everyone sleeping rough to know what the first steps are for accessing the services they need.”
 
At the drop-in centre at Westfield Church rough sleepers can take showers, find clean clothes, and are provided with a free breakfast and hot drinks. Some days there may be 5 to 6 people attending both male and female, but on busy days around 15 to 20.  The team are seeing an increasing amount of people with mental health issues rough sleeping and will soon be having a Mental Health professional attending drop in to assist with this. They currently have SDAS attending drop ins, also the homeless nurses and a hairdresser, and soon will have Nelsons Trust and Citizens Advice in attendance too.
 
In a short space of time the team have made a positive impact engaging and supporting those with complex needs, helping them off the streets into suitable accommodation as quickly as possible.
 
Having been described as a “dynamic duo who are making a big impact on the streets of Sedgemoor” we wanted to congratulate them for the hard work and dedication they have shown to their roles and are excited to see what the next 12 months bring.   
 
If you would like to support Amy & Rich in continuing the great work, they are currently doing to support rough sleepers you can make a donation here 
 
The Outreach Team are always in need of items for their van and a donation of £25.00 could help provide a sleeping bag and roll matt for someone sleeping rough.