Brent Night Shelter Opens Doors to Homeless

15/12/09

The Route 18 Brent Winter Shelter celebrated reopening its doors to Brent’s homeless with a special awareness raising event on Friday 4 December.

The event, attended by the Bishop of Willesden the Rt Revd Pete Broadbent, the Mayor of Brent Cllr Jim O’Sullivan and local MPs Sarah Teather and Dawn Butler, included musicians, poets, dancers and performance artistes and celebrated the talent found across Brent’s diverse community while drawing attention to the plight of the area’s homeless.

The Shelter reopened on Monday 7 December with a total of seven of the Diocese's churches supporting the project - All Souls Harlesden, St Michael’s Tokyngton, St Luke’s & Emmanuel West Kilburn, St Mark’s Kensal Rise, The Church of God Tubbs Road, Willesden 7th Day Adventist and the Community Church of Harlesden. Each church will provide services one night per week over the four months it is operating, providing residents with a bed for the night, an evening meal, the company of volunteers and access to professionals at Cricklewood Homeless Concern who work with them to find full time accommodation and support for their problems.

The Winter Shelter was set up last year by Cricklewood Homeless Concern and the South Brent of Deanery Community Development Project, with grant aid from the Church Urban Fund and Kensal Rise Neighbourhood Working Fund. In the winter of 2009 the shelter, which relies on a network of 240 church based volunteers and supportive individuals, provided 76 nights of accommodation, respite and care, 1100 bed spaces and over 2200 meals to the homeless in the Brent area – even when heavy snow brought much of London to a standstill. This year the shelter will offer food and shelter to Brent’s homeless over the Christmas period as well as in the cold winter months that follow.

Last week two of the workers involved in the scheme were praised by Prime Minister Gordon Brown as part of his Christmas Heroes initiative. At a special event held at No 10 Downing Street Marlon Nelson, Community Development Officer for the South of Brent Deanery Community Development Project and Danny Maher of Cricklewood Homeless Concern were hailed as examples of community leaders who are working together to ensure that no one has to sleep on the streets in Brent this winter.

Speaking at the fundraising evening the Bishop of Willesden said:

"It was a great experience to share with the Mayor and our two MPs in enjoying seeing the talent of both young and old in our community. Musicians, poets, dancers, performance artistes – all coming together for the benefit of the Route 18 Night Shelter.

"The charity itself does a fantastic job – and is a real example of Brent’s churches and communities working together."

Marlon Nelson said:

"I am delighted that this year the shelter is open to provide food, shelter and care to the homeless during the Christmas period and in the cold winter months that follow.

"The project would not be possible without the hard work, dedication and love offered by the volunteers from All Souls Harlesden, St Michael’s Tokyngton, St Luke’s & Emmanuel West Kilburn, St Mark’s Kensal Rise, The Church of God Tubbs Road, Willesden 7th Day Adventist and the Community Church of Harlesden and I want to give credit to all of those that work so tirelessly to ensure the success of the night shelter. We have accomplished so much using a basic and simple concept and delivery method. Long may it continue."

For information about The Route 18 Brent Winter Shelter please contact Marlon Nelson by e: or t: 07985 382 507.