Emergency west country homeless support extended amid cold weather
Freezing temperatures are forecast until this weekend
Homeless people in Bristol will continue being offered emergency accommodation until the weekend (December 17), with freezing temperatures set to continue.
We're told the City Council has extended it's Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), meaning anyone found sleeping rough will be offered access to emergency shelter, while those already being helped by SWEP, will continue to be supported.
An Outreach team is tasked with patrolling the city while SWEP is in force to find and help those on the streets.
However, if you see someone yourself needing help, you can call the team on 0117 4070330 and direct them to the person needing support.
If someone is in immediate danger, you should call 999.
It comes as 50 places across Bath and North East Somerset have pledged to let anyone in from the cold, after becoming official "warm spaces" in the area.
You can go to a warm space for any reason, and warm spaces have agreed not to tell anyone that you needed to access one.
They have also agreed to treat everyone equally and ensure spaces are safe, as well as warm.
While all warm spaces have signed up to a Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Council’s charter committing them to these values, they are not run or moderated by the council.
You can find the warm spaces near you on the list below:
Bath
- Age UK Bath & North East Somerset, St Michaels Day Community Centre, 1-2 St Michaels Street, Bath, BA1 1SG
- Bath Abbey, Bath, BA1 1LT
- Bath Central Library, 19 – 23 The Podium , Bath, BA1 5AN
- Bath Sports and Leisure Centre, North Parade Road, Bath, BA2 4ET
- Bathford enterprise for all BEFA ltd, 54 Bathford Hill, Bathford, Bath, BA1 7SN
- BEMSCA (Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association), Fairfield House , 2 Kelston Road (Off Partis Way) , Bath, BA1 3QJ
- Cafe at the Centre/Manvers Street Baptist Church, Manvers Street Baptist Church, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JW
- Cosy Wednesdays at The University of Bath, The Cabin, University of Bath, Dartmouth Avenue Building Dartmouth Avenue Oldfield Park, Bath, BA2 1AS
- Little Lost Robot in partnership with Bath Spa University, 107 High Street, Twerton, Bath, BA21DB
- Love Weston Community Cafe, Weston Free Church (Moravian) , High Street Weston , Bath, BA1 4DB
- New Oriel Hall, Brookleaze Buildings, Larkhall, Bath, BA1 6RA
- New Testament Church of God (NTCG) Bath, Weston Methodist Church , Newbridge Hill, Bath, BA1 3EA
- Percy Community Centre, New King Street, Bath, BA1 2BN
- Southdown Methodist Church Centre , The Hollow , Bath, BA2 1NJ
- St Andrew’s Community Church, Hawthorn Grove , Foxhill, Bath, BA2 5QA
- St Barnabas Church, Mount View, Southdown, Bath, BA2 1NW
- St Luke’s Church Centre, Wellsway, Bath, BA2 2BD
- St Matts Church, St Matthews, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AA
- St Michael and All Angels Church, Twerton, The Lighthouse Centre , High Street, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1DQ
- St. Michael’s Without, Broad St., Bath, BA1 5LP
- The Salvation Army (Bath Citadel), Green Park Road, Bath, BA2 2UL
- Weston Welcome Cafe and Food Club, Weston Hub , Penn Hill Road,Weston, Bath , BA1 4EH
- Youth Connect South West, Southside Youth Hub , Kelston View, Whiteway , Bath, BA2 1NR
- 3 Cafe Kitchen , 180 Frome Road , Bath, BA2 5RF
Keynsham
- Cafe Plus – Keynsham Methodist Church, Queens Road, Keynsham, BS31 2NN
- Community at 67, 67 Queens Road , Keynsham, BS31 2NQ
- Crown Inn, 63 Bristol Road, Bristol, BS31 2WA
- Keynsham Elim Pentecostal Church, Balmoral Road, Keynsham, BS31 1AL
- Keynsham Leisure Centre, Temple Street, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 1HE
- Keynsham Library & Information Service, Keynsham Library , Market Walk , Keynsham , BS31 1FS
- Keynsham Methodist Church, Keynsham, BS31 2JA
- St Dunstan’s Parish Centre, 20 Bristol Road, Keynsham, BS31 2BQ
- St John’s Church, 1 The Park, Keynsham, BS31 2BL
- Toasties Keynsham Elim Church, Elim Church, Balmoral Road , Keynsham , BS31 1AL
- Wild About Community, One Community Trust, 1 The Park, Keynsham, BS31 2BL
Midsomer Norton
- Midsomer Norton Community Trust, 14 South Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2EZ
- Midsomer Norton Library & Information Service, Midsomer Norton Library , The Hollies , Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DP
- Midsomer Norton Methodist Church, High Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DR
- Welton Baptist Church, Welton Chapel, West Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2TP
Saltford
- Saltford Community Organisation, Saltford Hall, Wedmore Road, Saltford, Bristol, BS31 3BY
- Saltford Sports Club, Wedmore Road, Saltford, Bristol, BS31 3BY
Whitchurch
- Whitchurch United Reformed Church, 24 Bristol Road, Whitchurch , Bristol, BS14 0PT
- Whitchurch Village Community Centre, Bristol Road, Whitchurch, BS14 0PT
More in North East Somerset
- Chew & Yeo Baptist Network, The Link , The Street Bishop , Sutton, BS395UU
- Chew Valley Library, The Link, The Street, Bishop Sutton , BS39 5UU
- Farmborough Community Shop, Behind Farmborough Memorial Hall , Little Lane , Farmborough, BA2 0AJ
- Radstock Community Hub and Library, Radstock, BA3 3PR
- The Hive Community Centre, Bath Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8DH
- Timsbury Community Library YMCA BUILDING, North Road, Timsbury, BA20JH
You can see the warm spaces on a map, and find out their opening times and the services they offer, in the warm spaces directory on the council website.
If you have a warm space to offer, you can sign the B&NES Warm Spaces Charter and register as a warm place here.
Richard Samuel, BANES Council’s cabinet member for resources, said: “We appreciate that with the increasing costs of living, it will be impossible for many people to spare any money to help others.
“However, we know that some residents will be looking for a good cause to donate to this Christmas – perhaps instead of sending cards – and so we would be grateful if you would consider the Community Contribution Fund.
"Every penny will go directly towards helping people in your local community to keep warm this winter."
You can donate to the Community Contribution Fund here.