100 Beds Milestone

A WINTER BED SCHEME for people sleeping rough in Southampton has reached a 100-bed milestone.

Paul Woodman, from Love Southampton helped organise the offer following the success of the project which started in 2020.

He said: “Working with the council and its partners, including public health, we have already been able to provide a warm place to stay 100 times in less than two weeks during this winter’s cold weather. I am grateful to the 70 volunteers, who supported the scheme which opens every night to people who had been referred.”

The winter beds were funded by local churches and by donations from an online campaign organised by Media Production students at Solent University. Every year, students at Solent University work with clients across the city to provide sought-after skills that grow a business's brand, reputation and reach.

Dr Roy Hanney, Associate Professor of Film and Media at Solent University, said: "This kind of project not only benefits the students in terms of practical experience and portfolio building, it also supports Solent University's civic objectives and is a great example of how universities can enrich the cultural and economic landscape of a city.”

The project has been based at Southampton Lighthouse International Church and will move in February to the Boathouse, hosted by Life Church. Guests may access the referral through the city’s Day Centre for people who are homeless. Once inside the churches, they receive a hot meal generously provided by the Grosvenor Casino and then sleep in a warm bed.

The only alternative to this project for the guests was to sleep rough in the cold weather, with all the associated risks of illness and injury. In November, a service was held to commemorate 62 people who had died and who had been homeless in Southampton since March 2020.