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There have been:

9,413 attendances

68 clients found accommodation

265 clients given clothing

124 sleeping bags provided

23 eye tests provided

108 clients attended DWP drop-ins

25 clients attended MIND drop-ins

7 clients accessed Hepatitis C tests

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The statistics above testify to the practical support offered to clients, many of them living with homelessness, addiction, mental health problems and loneliness.

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Care Centre Support Worker, Matt Buttery, recently explained, ‘My job is to help people both practically and emotionally. This includes pointing them towards accommodation providers, as well as helping them into rehab centres such as Betel. We have built good relationships with these organisations, which makes it easier to help people get the right support.

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A lot of what I do is simply spending time with people, listening, chatting and building trust. Making bird boxes and doing jigsaw puzzles with the lads and ladies are just small parts of my work, but they take time and give us relaxed chances to grow relationships and have meaningful conversations. I also get opportunities to show care, encouragement, and hope through my faith. And I can draw on my own experience of homelessness and addiction, which clients can relate to. I am available to support people when they need someone to listen, encourage them or help them take the next step.’

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As ever, hearty, home-cooked meals are served at the Care Centre, and these have been made possible by many donors, including housing agencies, churches, catering companies and some of the clients themselves - Michael, who often brings jaffa cakes to share and, during a heatwave, another regular client, Bill, brought in two big tubs of ice-cream for everyone. Mahir’s Experience, a restaurant in Smethwick, donated butter chicken with rice and naan, and other curries for 60 people, once a month for four months. McDonalds popped in with chicken nuggets every now and again, and Chaiiwala restaurant on Ladypool Road donated 100 kilos of frozen meat.

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God has used the generosity of so many different people to bless us and those we serve. Volunteer groups from organisations like Wesleyan Assurance and HSBC on their corporate work days have come to help wherever they can, and a charity called ‘I’m homeless, get me out of here!’ has provided us with hundreds of sleeping bags.

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Above all the Care Centre witnesses to the hope and love of Jesus Christ. This year 173 clients attended our Alpha course, and 72 took part in The 321 Course. It was a great encouragement when one of our clients came to faith. He had been coming to the Care Centre for a couple of years, was ex-military and has struggled with homelessness, addiction and depression. I was privileged to attend his baptism.

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Alec Petson, Care Centre Manager