At the heart of the evening shift is the evening meal, which should be served around 8pm. Eating together and giving everyone the opportunity to contribute safely and appropriately as much as possible. As well as being cooked on site, meals will be sourced from the local community including local restaurants and offers from local residents, community groups and charities. Donations are most welcome with some budget to reimburse for meal ingredients, if and when required. Food provision, across the board, is all governed by food hygiene & safety rules, protocols and procedures that are outlined in the shelter handbook.
Welcoming, vetting and registration of all volunteers and guests ensuring that only inducted and signed-up volunteers and invited guests are admitted, along with known staff and visitors. Visitors will include support agency staff/workers and others, which the Welcome Team will have been given prior notice of.
Evening Shift
1. Attend the volunteer briefing before the shift starts.
2. Preparing tea, coffee and biscuit/chocolates for guests
3. Whenever deemed appropriate and necessary, and in pairs, greet and triage people outside prior to opening the doors at the advertised agreed time.
4. Register all guests, show them around the space if it is their first night (including the designated smoking areas), show them the sleeping arrangements and seat them at the dinner table, spending time to have a welcome chat to help them relax.
5. Serve a hot meal, as well as tea & coffee over the course of the evening.
6. Washing and tidying up after the meal allowing guests to help you should they so wish.
7. Debrief meeting and contribute to a short report.
Night Shift (10pm)
1. Handover from evening shift - engage with Night Concierge and guests.
2. Lights out 11pm
3. Settle into sleeping accommodation to bed down. Night Concierge does walk around every 30mins and leads on venue safety.
Breakfast should be served from around 6.45am - 7.45am. Eating together and giving everyone the opportunity to contribute safely and appropriately as much as possible. As well as being cooked on site, meals will be sourced from the local community including local restaurants and offers from local residents, community groups and charities. Donations are most welcome with some budget to reimburse for meal ingredients, if and when required. Food provision, across the board, is all governed by food hygiene & safety rules, protocols and procedures that are outlined in the shelter handbook.
After breakfast help guests to pack away the bedding area , gather their belongings and check if they have any appointments for the day. Help guests to leave the shelter by 8.30am.
Make sure all general areas, kitchen, showers and toilet area are clean and tidy.
Shower Shift – in-house showers at WCBC and portable exterior work site showers at Croydon Minster
1. Ensure guests using showers are registered with contact details (please double check)
2. Have a conversation with guests to help them relax and talk through shower procedure and protocol.
3. Ensure guests empty pockets into a clear bag before using the shower. Allow guests to do this themselves and…
4. Assure guests that all their personal items are secured and given back after shower.
5. Show guests to shower area and tell them do’s and don’t
6. Do: Be polite. Use wash bag and clean towel. Clean shower for next person.
7. Don’t: No smoking in shower area. No intoxication with alcohol.
8. Tidy up towels, shower space afterwards
Community project giving shelter, hot food, showers & strengths-based approach to developing connections & ending homelessness in Croydon.
CVA’s principal activity is to promote charitable purposes for the benefit of the community in Croydon and its surrounding areas. CVA’s mission statement focuses the organisation on “building stronger communities for social change by supporting citizens to take active roles in their neighbourhoods and by championing community organisations that nurture and celebrate local strengths".
CVA is working with Housing Justice and a steering group made up of community and faith-based organisations to help set-up “Croydon Together” - a communal night shelter for 12-20 people experiencing homelessness in the local area, including refugees, asylum-seekers and people with NRPF. As well as providing a warm and safe space to sleep, hot meal+ breakfast and shower facilities, an important part of the service will be supporting people through a strengths based approach to develop their own personal networks and connections with the community, helping them to identify solutions and support for the challenges they face.
The project will take a community-based approach to supporting people from the crisis of rough sleeping to help re-building their support networks and achieve long-term, sustainable routes off the streets.
