Leamington homelessness charity re-opens its doors to support community after lockdown

While it has been unable to open its usual drop-in facilities, the Salvation Army’s Way Ahead Project has been providing takeaway lunches and food parcels to rough sleepers in temporary accommodation, as well as many of its regular visitors.

Now it is preparing to open its Back on Track pop-up café to allow old and new service users to get back to interacting face-to-face.

Yvonne Mckinnon, project manager at the Way Ahead Project, explained, “We know that lots of our regular visitors are nervous about being out and about so we’ve not been able to maintain the relationships we have built up over many months in the way we usually do.

"These relationships are essential if we are to keep people in accommodation.

"Having somewhere safe and familiar where they can come and chat to us is really important as it will allow us to get those relationships back on track.”

From today (September 23) the pop-up café will run every weekday, except Tuesdays, from 10:30 am to 12:30pm.

Up to 15 guests at any one time will be able to choose from a hot “daily special” and a sweet treats and drinks menu. The café will operate on a “pay what you can” basis so those in need don’t have to pay but others can make a contribution if they want.

Yvonne added: “We’re also beginning to have contact with new people who are struggling financially.

"As the furlough scheme comes to an end and the eviction ban is lifted, we expect many people will find themselves inadvertently homeless because of the financial impact of the lockdown.

"We want to offer them a chance to share a cup of tea with us in a non-threatening way so that we can help sort out their problems before they get so bad that they lose their homes.

"We want to get them back on track as well.

"And we also want to celebrate being part of the wonderful Old Town community so would be delighted to see local residents who might not need our services but who want to support us at this time.”

To help the Way Ahead Project continue to support some of the most vulnerable members of society, donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/WayAheadProjectAppeal