Boyer Planning (Colchester) Charity Fundraising

Boyer Planning's Colchester office have chosen to support Colchester Emergency Night Shelter over 2014.

The Shelter provides temporary accommodation, meals, advice and support for anyone sleeping rough in the district and assists them in securing resettlement accommodation.

20 beds are available at the Shelter for men and women every night of the year. Although residents only stay for a short time (normally up to 28 days), staff work intensively with them to find appropriate and sustainable accommodation and to access support to address other needs they may have.

Funds are gratefully received to support the Shelter in providing this valuable service. Aside from assisting with general running costs funds raised may also be used to...

• supply residents with two meals a day (three on Sundays). Residents are asked to make a contribution to the cost of these and of utilities but this only covers about 50% of the cost;

• make vital improvements to the accommodation and facilities at the Shelter.The main capital projects are the refurbishment of the bedrooms, lounges, bathrooms, the staff offices as well as creation of a training room;

• provide residents with more support services and training.

The Staff are also looking to provide more daytime services for the resident to give them greater access to IT and in house training to prepare the residents for more independent living. It is hoped that this will be a small beginning to establish a systematic training and employment programme for the residents. However it is dependent on funding to provide adequate and secure IT and other facilities required to cater for the additional daytime services.