A SWEP Success at HHF
Our hardworking volunteers stop for a quick rest after setting up the shelter for the night, ready for the first arrivals.
Earlier this year, Helping Hearts made the significant move into our very own community hub on Boothley Rd to offer more services to those in need and work towards alleviating poverty without stigma.
In October, Helping Hearts continued to build relationships within the homelessness prevention network and with Blackpool Council, officially becoming a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) provision for rough sleepers in the town.
On Wednesday, November 19th, the council informed us that SWEP would be activated due to a sudden cold snap. A team of trustees and volunteers, led by our Chair, Andrew Mills, prepared to ensure we could offer a welcoming atmosphere, hot food and drinks, and, most importantly, a warm, safe place to sleep for the night. Many of the faces we saw were familiar, while some were new to us, but all were treated like family for the evening.
The opportunity to have more in-depth conversations in the calm of the night shelter allowed our team to better understand the needs and support that service users required. Some were already accessing our services, while others were unaware of the wraparound support available at Helping Hearts. By opening our hub to SWEP, we could provide essential support to those most in need all at once.
By midnight, all the new residents had fallen asleep for the night, but our team had just begun their shift, staying awake throughout the night to support everyone in the hub. They knew that at any moment, the doorbell could ring as another person sought shelter from the bitter evening winds, having been found on the street and directed to Helping Hearts by the council outreach team.
In the blink of an eye, morning arrived, and it was time for our temporary residents to depart for the day ahead. Before they left, though, they enjoyed a hot beverage and received a listening ear, offering full support without question, anytime, anywhere on the Fylde coast.
Helping Hearts is proud to offer vital support to those in need, but we couldn't do this without the help of our volunteers and the regular donations from our supporters. With each contribution, you enable us to make a difference. Together, we can work towards a better and brighter Fylde.
