News / Bristol cathedral
‘No act of kindness is too small’
With the research charity Shelter declaring that at least 32,000 people are homeless in Britain, a new initiative sees Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter (BCWNS) running a scheme to provide refuge to those in need by partnering up with churches across Bristol.
Every Monday night for six weeks, a safe place to rest will be provided for those who would normally sleep rough. Bristol24/7 spoke to those behind the scenes on the first night at Bristol Cathedral, who got involved with BCWNS because they saw a problem and wanted to see what they could do.
Sam Ryland oversaw the night, which included a meal as well as a place to sleep. The complexity of the issue of homelessness is not unique to Britain, but it has gotten considerably worse due to the economic state of the country. Sam emphasises how easily it can happen to anyone, especially those without the safety of family and friends.
is needed now More than ever
As well as a place to sleep, the night also included a communal meal
Sam explained the thought process behind Bristol Cathedral’s involvement with BCWNS: “homelessness is a massive and complex issue and there are so many things going on already, that we just thought we had to do something, and this is just one small link in a wider chain”.
He emphasises the importance of small acts in creating change and he wants readers and the general public to learn from what happened that night: “No act of kindness is too small,” he says.
Homelessness is such a complex issue because of the breadth of the needs of homeless people as well as the variety of reasons for their situation. Speaking with Natalie Tatillis, a representative of BCWNS, she highlighted that there are those who have high support needs and those who have low support needs.
Issues occur when those with low support needs avoid facilities because of how chaotic the environments can be. She highlights that there needs to be more specific environments, instead of placing a diverse group of people together. When asked how has the government impacted the rise of homelessness, Natalie said that there is no simple answer, but the central government cutting funding for local government has affected many strategies that was keeping people off the streets, such as addiction recovery centres and benefits schemes. She thinks one thing that can help is affordable rent, though noting this is another difficult issue, she believes that: “someone working should be able to afford a home.”
Last year, BCWNS was focused on raising awareness about the issues of homelessness, but this year is a call for action. People can help by donating and volunteering.
The group of people working that night all shared sentiments of how important this night was, and communing and sharing food with people who would otherwise be alone reflected their hopes for the future: a better Britain for all.
Read more: ‘Conversation is the simplest and most effective way to help others’
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