The St Nicholas Centre is opening its doors this winter by becoming the home of the Ipswich Winter Night Shelter during October, November and December 2018.
The St Nicholas Centre adjoins the office for the Church of England in Suffolk. It is an ideal location to provide a single venue for the shelter.
The centre is a former closed church and will offer warmth, food, beds and shower facilities for up to 15 guests each night once the Ipswich Winter Night Shelter opens on October 11th.
The Ipswich Winter Night Shelter is run by the Selig (Suffolk) Trust, an Ipswich-based charity. They have received some funding from Ipswich Borough Council towards the cost of opening eight weeks earlier than usual, but they will still need support from local individuals, groups, trusts and companies in order to keep running until March 2019.
Shelter staff work closely with guests to help them make positive changes. Guests are encouraged and supported to access the help and advice they need to improve the quality of their lives. The Ipswich Winter Night Shelter supports them to find long-term accommodation, regain their self-esteem and find their place in society. They offer more than a bed and a meal - they offer hope, community and friendship.