Norfolk homeless charity rolling out support schemes as cold snap approaches
A cold weather alert has been issued by the Met Office from 6pm until Monday morning
A Norfolk homeless charity is rolling out a range of support schemes to help keep our rough sleepers safe, as a cold snap approaches.
A cold weather alert has been issued by the Met Office and is in place from 6pm until Monday morning.
It's thanks to the 'Troll of Trondheim' storm which is coming over from Norway.
"We have facilities for people to sleep in"
Dr Jan Sheldon is the chief executive of St Martins:
"We are working alongside our colleagues at the City Council on a winter night-shelter initiative. In partnership with the Roman Catholic and the Norwich Baptist church we have facilities for people to sleep in those church buildings".
"We have got an initiative where we put people into hotels or bed and breakfast accommodation, if we are full, we work with them from there. Our pathways team is out every day in whatever weather, making sure people know where they can find support."
"We are here to make sure that nobody sleeps rough"
"It's just that sheer unpleasantness and nobody should be on the streets. In this particular type of weather, we are here to make sure that nobody sleeps rough because let's make no bones about it, people can die on our streets if they don't get the support they need."
The Cold Snap
The UK is bracing itself for an ice cold snap, with temperatures predicted to sink as low as minus 10C (14F) overnight.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for parts of Wales, Northern Ireland, England's east coast, northern Scotland and the Western Isles.
Forecasters say Arctic air will move in from Wednesday evening, with the UK Health and Security Agency issuing a cold weather alert recommending people warm their homes to at least 18C (64.4F).
The Met Office said on Twitter: "If you haven't already, it's time to dig out the winter hats, gloves and scarves - as Wednesday is looking cold."
Forecaster Oli Claydon said: "Day to day we are in cold conditions already with that north-easterly flow, but conditions are set to get colder through the week, with the worst showers across northern Scotland but also bringing much colder conditions across all the UK.
"Overnight lows of minus 10 to minus 11 (12.2F) in areas where we do get snow in those rural parts of Scotland, with temperatures down to minus six (21.2F) in rural England.
"Cold conditions to remain through the weekend. Signs of warmer weather moving in from the southwest from Tuesday next week.
"But the signs are that the cold weather will hold in the north of the UK, so there will be a split between north and south."
People should expect snow showers and ice to cause travel disruption and a risk of slippery surfaces.
Warnings will remain in place until Thursday afternoon, but the cold weather will not begin to shift until early next week.
Age UK has advised maintaining a supply of food and medicine, to reduce the number of outdoor trips and torches with spare batteries, in case of a power cut.
Homeless people in London are to be sheltered after the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) was activated for the first time this Winter, to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.