The Lewes Open Door annual general meeting was held on the 17th of February 2022.
Our lunchtime drop-in is remaining at Christ Church, Prince Edward’s Rd, Lewes, BN7 1BL. Please see the Drop In page for a map.
We have excellent kitchen facilities, a spacious hall and a great outdoor space.
Our opening hours for guests are 1.15 to 2.30 pm, Tuesday to Friday.
All necessary precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting Covid-19 are ongoing.
Whilst our usual premises at Westgate are being refurbished, our drop-in has relocated to Christchurch, Prince Edward’s Rd, Lewes, BN7 1BL. Please see the Drop In page for a map.
New opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 1.15 to 2.30 pm.
Guests will get a warm welcome, a nourishing meal, hot drinks and be able to collect clean clothes and bedding. We can also offer support with housing and benefits queries, filling in paperwork and access to the internet.
All necessary precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting Covid -19 have been taken, with the importance of maintaining hygiene and social distancing emphasised, as well as thorough cleaning. Full Risk Assessments have been conducted by both Lewes Open Door and Christchurch to put safety measures in place, according to government guidelines.
Our thanks to Christchurch for enabling us to reopen after our short (but happy) stay at St John sub Castro had to end.
Unfortunately our drop-in at Westgate will need to remain closed for at least a further 3 weeks, due to the ongoing government restrictions and advice.
Lewes District Council (LDC) has offered accommodation to our rough sleepers during this Covid-19 outbreak. Please phone them on 01273 471600 if you are a rough sleeper and would like to accept this offer or haven’t yet been contacted.
We are doing our best to support our regular guests with telephone support, and in some cases with food parcels or hot food. Contact us on 07985 418079 if you require further help and we will do our best to help you ourselves or put you in contact with the right agencies.
Advice for Rough Sleepers during Covid-19 lockdown
Rough sleepers should continue to engage with their support workers to help them access the services they need, though this may be through telephone support rather than outreach visits.
Rough Sleepers who show symptoms of coronavirus are particularly at risk for a number of reasons. The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
a new continuous cough. This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or having three or more coughing episodes in 24 hrs (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
and/or
a high temperature. This means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
A sore throat, headache and diarrhoea have also been reported and a loss of smell & taste may also be a symptom.
Any verified rough sleepers in Lewes district who develop symptoms of coronavirus are advised to make contact urgently with LDC by telephone, or via their support worker if they have one allocated. This also applies to our guests that are in shared emergency accommodation. To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
LDC will seek to make provision for those individuals to self-isolate, and to access the important services that they need.
Rough sleepers without access to a telephone will be able to use the phone that has been fitted outside the council offices at Southover House, Southover Rd, Lewes, BN7 1AB
in order to speak to their key workers.
Advice for the Homeless during Covid-19 lockdown
If you are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, you should contact LDC, even if you may previously have been refused assistance.
Either phone 01273 471600 or e mail customerfirst@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk.
This link has more detailed information: https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/_resources/assets/inline/full/0/287827.pdf
Further information
Lewes Citizens Advice is only able to offer telephone advice at this time, but now has a local number to avoid lengthy delays via the central switchboard. Tel: 01273 007557
The following websites have more detailed information about the Covid-19 virus:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms-and-what-to-do/
It is with great disappointment that, in response to the government guidelines of 23rd March, Lewes Open Door will have to suspend our Westgate drop-in.
We urgently need more volunteers, since unfortunately many of our usual stalwarts are themselves in a vulnerable category or caring for someone that is. If you feel able to offer then please get in touch via the Contact Form.
Our plan will be to reopen or offer a takeaway service, as soon as possible – ensuring that we conform to all the Government social distancing and hygiene guidelines.
We are in touch with all those guests that we can contact, but urge any that need urgent help or assistance to phone us on: 07985 418079
Lewes District Council have reiterated that any rough sleepers that need accommodation should contact them urgently, either by phone or in person at Southover House.
For as long as possible we want to be able to help and support our vulnerable and homeless guests in these challenging times, whilst doing everything we can to stop the spread of Covid-19 in our community.
Mindful of the fact that many of our guests and volunteers may fall into vulnerable categories, we have changed our lunchtime drop-in procedures and have advised our volunteers and guests that if they are fall into any of the high-risk categories, or are feeling unwell, they should not attend.
We are opening for just one hour daily, from 1pm to 2pm, to serve hot takeaway meals & drinks. Our guests will have access to hand-washing and toilet facilities. The drop-in will be manned in such a way that our volunteers and guests can maintain social distancing.
Our cleaning and hygiene procedures have been increased to minimise any risk of contamination. We have notices to remind everyone of hand-washing & good hygiene procedures, and plentiful supplies of *hand wash and paper towels.
We will continue to advise and help our guests to access services.
Lewes District Council have advised that if any of our verified rough sleepers develop symptoms of Coronavirus they should make contact, preferably by telephone, when the council will seek to make provision for those individuals to self-isolate, and access the important services that they need. Rough sleepers without access to a telephone will be able to use the Lewes Open Door mobile phone and/or the phones in council contact centres in order to speak to their key workers.
We are updating our procedures daily in line with the latest Government and Public Health England advice.
*Special thanks to Whiteman & Parrish who have donated handwash & paper towels.
After a successful four-week trial period we are pleased to announce that we intend to run the Winter Night Shelter until the end of March 2020.
This has been made possible through the hard work and commitment of our volunteers. Here’s what a couple have to say about their work at Open Door.
“I’d spent years seeing the homeless people in town wondering how I could really help. Giving money or food didn’t always seem like the right thing to do. Now Lewes Open Door has set up something that’s properly structured, I can contribute time, get to know the guests and see first hand what a difference having a warm, safe bed makes to their lives.”
“Offering the odd night to help out at the night shelter is no skin off my nose… being part of a bigger team who can keep our local homeless out of the cold and rain is what’s important.”
We still need more volunteers.
Could you give one or two nights or early mornings a month to support us?
Please email us at lewesopendoor@gmail.com if you can or for more information.
The Winter Night Shelter is now up and running. Christ Church, Kings Church and TRINITY Southover have opened their doors on three of the coldest nights of the year so far. It continues at Westgate Chapel, before rotating across the four locations weekly.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered either overnight or for early morning pack up crew. We were delighted to have Lewes Mayor, John Lamb volunteer on Sunday night. He got stuck in washing up and making cheese rolls!
“It was great to meet volunteers and clients at King’s Church on Sunday. I learned a great deal from David Griffiths, our leader, about the number of homeless people in Lewes and the problems and dangers they face. He also dispelled some of the myths that surround homeless people who beg on our streets. With the nights growing colder it is great there is somewhere some of our most vulnerable people can find a warm bed for the night. Keep up the good work.”
More volunteers are still required, so if you can offer a couple of nights or mornings per month we would love to hear from you.
The night shelter costs around £1100 per month to run and so we are now actively fundraising to make sure we can stay open until the spring. https://www.gofundme.com/f/lewes-open-door-winter-night-shelter
Lewes Open Door is proud and delighted to announce that it is now a Registered Charity. This is a key step in our five year strategy to further support homeless and vulnerable people in Lewes District. It will allow us access to more funding bodies and enter into legal contracts, as well as being able to claim gift aid on donations.
Coming as it does shortly before our launch of Lewes’ first ever night shelter, it establishes us as a credible third-sector organisation with demonstrable governance.
David Griffiths, chair of Lewes Open Door, said “Applying for charitable status has meant a lot of work for many of our team, to whom thanks are due. I would also like to thank Lee Shepherd at 3VA for his invaluable assistance. We are now positioned to make even more of a difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our community”
Over 70 people enjoyed the warm summer evening at Lewes Open Door’s Celebration of Kindness on Thursday June 27th. The Right Reverend Richard Jackson, Bishop of Lewes, opened the event and spoke of the importance of the group’s work supporting homeless and vulnerable people in the town.
With music by local duo Edenwood, dancing from the Blackpowder Morris, food, and beer generously donated by Harvey’s, the event was an opportunity to find out about the proposed Winter Night Shelter and recruit volunteers to help with the project later this year.
More than thirty people expressed interest in volunteering on the night and nearly £300 was donated. There are also two essential roles still to fill so that the night shelter can run, the volunteer administrator and the supplies administrator.
Lewes Open Door was set up in October 2017 by local residents. Since then, public support for the group’s work has increased, with donation targets being exceeded and over thirty volunteers helping out. The Night Shelter will provide a safe and warm space during Winter 2019/20, initially for up to five homeless people, in accommodation provided by local churches, with a simple evening meal and breakfast.
Existing volunteers at Lewes Open Door have discovered that working with the charity can be a hugely positive and rewarding experience. One volunteer said, “I gave an old mobile of mine to one of the guests. He was so grateful, he even offered to give me money for it from his benefits. I felt humbled and of course did not accept.” Another admitted, “Before I volunteered, I was scared of talking to homeless people. But chatting with the guests has taught me so much and now I understand the difficulties they have.”
To find out about the benefits of volunteering and how to make a real difference to others’ lives, please make initial contact by email to lewesopendoor@gmail.com or visit https://www.lewesopendoor.org/
1. Saying ‘hello’
To immediately help homeless people in Lewes, saying ‘hello’ is a start.
Small acts of kindness make a big difference in the grand economics of the day for anyone, especially someone who is potentially feeling more isolated than they ever have in their life. Simply recognising an individual as someone worth talking to, smiling at, or even sharing a short conversation reminds him or her that they are not alone.
2. Giving money
There are many concerns surrounding directly giving money to someone sleeping rough. Will they spend it on drugs or alcohol, or will they use it to find a bed for the night? We cover this topic in more detail, but generally an act of kindness such as this can make more of a difference than the money itself.
3. Let someone know
You can notify StreetLink, a service that enables members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with the local services that can support them:
or by phone on 0300 500 0914
Alternatively, if you think the person needs urgent medical care or they're under 18 years of age, you should call 999.
4. Make a donation to a charity
A number of different charities have joined forces under the Make Change Count campaign to directly help those living on the street. Making a donation to a registered charity is a great way to ensure those funds are given to help rough sleepers find a bed for the night.
5. Volunteer with us
Make a direct impact on the lives of the homeless in Lewes by volunteering with us, and working to improve the lives of those who need help the most. To find out more about volunteering, or the work we do at Lewes Open Door, please call 07985 418079
It’s a simple question.
In an age of highly advanced technology and enough room for all, why is homelessness still even something we are discussing?
Shelter reports that one in 200 people are homeless in the UK. That might not be a startling figure, but when you consider it equates to roughly 320,000 people (and those are just the reported figures) it starts to give an indication of the crisis. Furthermore, these figures don’t take into account those couch surfing, or living bed-to-bed, under some of the most vulnerable circumstances imaginable.
So how can we let this happen?
Some assume that being homeless is a choice, or due to a lack of personal success. That it’s people who are lazy, can’t be bothered to find work, and would rather seek aid from strangers or rest at homeless shelters.
Let’s clear something up – homelessness is never a choice. In fact, on average, homeless people die at just 44 years old. It’s also ten fold more likely that someone sleeping rough has been the victim of violence, with most homeless people having been deliberately kicked or having experienced other forms of violence. Homeless people are also nine times more likely to take their own lives.
This is not a lifestyle choice. These are some of the most exposed people in the country being forced into an existence that is unjust, unreasonable, and unthinkable.
The causes of homelessness are as varied as the individuals it affects. It’s easy to use catchall terms like drug or alcohol abuse, but it’s much more complex than that. In fact, predominantly these can be symptoms of the cause, rather than the cause itself.
Personal reasons for homelessness are typically based on the kind of background the individual is from. For example, three of the main reasons given for becoming homeless are:
• Loved ones unwilling to support them
• Relationship breakdown or abuse
• Loss of a tenancy
These three causes could happen to the vast majority of us. It’s not difficult to imagine how close to homelessness any one of us is at any given time, and that makes its impact all the more real.
However, the majority of reasons are endemic, including unemployment, lack of housing, or institutional issues. Ultimately there is no single reason why someone can end up without a home. And while there are still systemic issues, it’s up to us to help. To find out more about volunteering, or the work we do at Lewes Open Door, please call 07985 418079
Come along to our ‘Celebration of Kindness’ to find out what we do at Lewes Open Door.
If you’re interested in volunteering to help the homeless and vulnerable in our community, or just want to know more, then we’d love to meet you. There will be some live acoustic music, drinks and nibbles too!
27th June - 6.30-8pm - Harvey’s Yard (off North Court) BN7 2AR
PCSO Collins proudly presented Lewes Open Door volunteers a cheque for £500 from the Police Property Act Fund to help the group towards funding new registrations and checks of their volunteers.
The Police Property Act Fund is made up of monies received by the police from the sale of found property and from property confiscated by order of court and then sold. More information can be found here.
Welcome to our new website. We hope this site will answer lots of your questions about what we do, how to get involved, and about homelessness in general.
We must thank the people who generously gave up their time and skills for free to create this site.
Michael Bell Communications who designed the fantastic new logo and helped out with SEO.
Local photographer Catherine Benson whose excellent photos bring the site alive.
The writing was a team effort by Paul Walker, Belinda Crawford and David Griffiths. And the site was brought together by Claire Underwood.
We’ll use this blog for our big news - but to find out about the day to day work of Lewes Open Door please follow us on Facebook.