Winter Night Shelter Milton Keynes

Who we are

The Winter Night Shelter Milton Keynes is now a year-round charity helping many different people at their point of crisis. We support:

• rough sleepers;
• sofa surfers;
• people in emergency accommodation or temporary housing;
• those who need support with their tenancies;
• anyone at risk of homelessness; and
• others who are vulnerable.

We provide help through our year-round day centre, Unity Park Station, and through the provision of volunteer-led supervised accommodation in the winter months via a network of churches and community centres across the city who partner with us.

All kinds of people arrive at the Winter Night Shelter for all kinds of reasons. Some are long-term homeless, others have just reached a point of crisis and don’t know where to turn. They may have deteriorating domestic issues; they may have lost jobs and no longer be able to pay for accommodation. Illness, disability, mental health struggles, language barriers and lost or stolen identity documents can all play a part in someone ending up on the street. We help all those in need who come to us for help.

We meet with people to assess their needs and put a personal support package in place to help them get to a place of stability and move forwards in life. We provide:

• assessments and support from a dedicated welfare team
• practical provision including food, clothing, sleeping bags, access to showers and laundry facilities
• administrative support to access ID, eligible benefits and entitlements
• help to find longer-term accommodation and employment pathways
• well-being and mental health support including referrals to professional services such as medical and dental care, addiction counsellors and support groups
• a Community Club that provides a free café and supportive social space to find connection and combat isolation
• emergency winter accommodation from November–March. (We are currently planning for a redesigned shelter service this winter, subject to government Covid restrictions. Details will be released on our ‘Volunteer’ page when available.)

We deliver our services thanks to an army of local volunteers who make it possible. We also work in partnership with the local authority, with local churches who provide their facilities as an overnight venue in winter, and partners in the sector to coordinate services and deliver the best outcomes for the individuals we help.