Beyond the Bed

For the last three years we have ran a successful Winter Night Shelter, providing an essential emergency response for people facing rough sleeping through the coldest months.

Following a thorough review and conversations with the people we support, we’ve recognised that communal night shelter isn’t the right answer for everyone, particularly for people who have been sleeping rough for longer periods or have more complex needs.

This winter, we’re changing our approach to focus on what people need to find safety and stability, and ultimately to make homelessness unrepeated. With new funding and a stronger partnership approach, we’ll provide a safe, welcoming base where people can access food, health support, advice, practical help and, importantly, human connection.

Volunteers will help create welcoming breakfasts and community spaces that reduce isolation and provide the everyday support that can be so important when life has become dominated by homelessness.

We’ll work closely with Bedford Borough Council and other partners to help create more appropriate, individual accommodation for people who are rough sleeping, while HopeWorks provides the wraparound support that helps people access and sustain it. This means building on what we do best: creating relationships, providing practical support, connecting people with services and helping people take the steps they want to take towards a more stable future.

It’s a move from simply providing an emergency bed, to creating the right combination of accommodation, support, food, health care and community that can help people move away from homelessness for good.