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At the beginning of November Suella Braverman's statement on X that people were 'living on the streets as a lifestyle choice' made the headlines and caused a storm of debate.

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In October the government also released its latest rough sleeping snapshot, estimating that 2,893 people were sleeping on the streets on a single night in England in June 2023. This number is down from 3,069 in autumn 2022 but an increase of 445 people or 18% since the same period in 2022 (numbers of rough sleepers are generally lower in the colder months). As for wider homelessness, English councils supported 298,430 households to prevent or relieve homelessness between April 2022 and March 2023, a figure 6.8% higher than the previous year. 104,510 households are living in temporary accommodation, an all-time high.

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Here our Care Centre Manager, Phil Ansell reports on how all this looks 'on the ground'.

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'In recent weeks almost 70 folks have turned up to the Care Centre each day. On reflection it is pleasing that this number of people enjoy coming, but also a little sad that so many need our provision.

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We have had visits from a chiropodist (pictured above), the Hepatitis C Trust, and Betel's Christian rehab outreach team, all of which will continue to visit on a regular basis. Two Chromebooks have been donated to us so folks are able to check any benefit information and medical appointments and search for employment.

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During the winter months we are regularly asked for items such as gloves, socks, underwear and sleeping bags. If you have any spare to donate they would be very much appreciated.

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With Christmas fast approaching staff and volunteers are making plans to provide festive meals on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st December. The Care Centre has a seating capacity of 45 and so, like last year, we will have two meals to ensure no-one misses out. Gifts will be provided including toiletries, chocolates, socks and gloves, with each parcel enclosing a Christian booklet. Our hope is that someone may read theirs and truly know the real meaning of Christmas. We pray that folks will begin to understand how special the birth of Jesus was, and choose to follow him.

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May I and the rest of the Care Centre team wish you all a peaceful Christmas and New Year.'

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Phil and the team have been joined by Assistant Manager, Ruth Buttery (pictured right, first on the left). Here she shares her reflections on her first month in the new job.

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'So, after years of working in the NHS I finally have a window! This might not seem like a big thing but the department I worked in previously had no windows at all to let the light in.

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Now my window overlooks the Peace Gardens. It is a beautiful autumnal day today with a bright blue sky and leaves changing colour into burnt oranges and flaming reds. But next to this beauty is hardship as many of our clients wait around or sleep in this park, often setting up temporary camps under the stone portico until they are moved on by the police or the council.

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They are the hungry, lonely and homeless whom we serve here at the Care Centre. I'm getting to know their names and personalities.

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Arthur is an elderly gentleman who is proud to be a 'tramp' and tells me how BCM has supported him through the years. Darren and Steve are a father and son from Ireland who thought the grass would be greener this side but found it wasn't and are going home to a family reconciliation, they hope. And Sam who turned up one day after his world had collapsed and found himself in a hostel, in just a t-shirt and joggers. After a hot meal we were able to provide a jumper, a jacket and a little bit of dignity.

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This is just a small snapshot of the men and women we serve, who need food and company, but most of all need Jesus, the Light of our world. Please keep them in your prayers this winter.'

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All client names have been changed.

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Register for BCM's Sponsored Sleepout 2024 and support our work with the homeless at the Care and Resource Centres

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