Cornwall's homelessness charity launch urgent winter appeal
St Petrocs see a rise in demand year on year
A Cornwall homelessness charity have launched their Winter Appeal.
St Petrocs, who are fighting to end homelessness in Cornwall, are appealing for donations to support the growing number of people experiencing homelessness and help light the way out.
The charity say winter is an especially unsafe time for people experiencing homelessness. Freezing temperatures and harsh weather conditions in Cornwall place people at serious risk of harm. In response, St Petrocs are operating their Winter Services to provide immediate shelter and access to life-saving resources for those in need.
In October 2024, St Petrocs worked with 206 people experiencing homelessness through their resource centres and outreach teams, with 112 of them forced to sleep outdoors, and others sofa surfing and experiencing other forms of hidden homelessness. Despite these challenges, St Petrocs have successfully helped 51 people into stable accommodation in October 2024, providing them with safety, stability, and a pathway to a better future. Currently, all of St Petrocs’ 165 rooms available through St Petrocs are fully occupied, highlighting the overwhelming demand for services and the urgency of addressing this crisis.
One St Petrocs client, Oliver, who benefited from their Winter Services last year, said:
"Being on the street was cold, lonely and sometimes scary. Being in the warm, being able to shower and be safe, made a big difference."
Henry Meacock, Chief Executive of St Petrocs, said:
“St Petrocs Winter Services offer a lifeline to people who find themselves outside in the cold in the darkest months of the year. We have a really good track record of people coming to us in crisis situations accessing our Winter Services who we then support into longer term accommodation. The St Petrocs Winter Appeal is so important for us to be able to put on our winter services and help people move away from the streets for good.”
This year’s Winter Appeal is a call for hope and transformation, emphasising that everyone deserves the chance to break free from homelessness and reclaim their future. With the community’s support, St Petrocs can continue providing not only emergency shelter but also the critical resources, safety, and guidance needed to help people move beyond homelessness for good.
You can find more information about the appeal and the Winter Services on the St Petrocs website.