Given the recent spell of cold weather there has been an understandable increase in concern over the local provision for people who have become homeless and are living on the streets. Last Thursday evening I visited the Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter at the Harbour Community Church in Harvey Street, which has for the last few years been one of the important ways in which homeless people have been supported in the town. The shelter opens every evening at 7.30pm from 1st December to 22nd February and is hosted each night by different churches and church halls in Folkestone. People can register to use the shelter through the Rainbow Centre in Sandgate Road, and as well as getting a hot meal and a warm place to sleep, there is help and advice available as well. I would like to thank the large number of volunteers whose work makes this shelter possible each year. You can find out more about this project and donate to support it through its website wintershelter.org.uk
The work of the Winter Shelter adds to the excellent support provided to homeless people in our area by the Rainbow Centre, the Salvation Army and charities like Porchlight. I recently organised a meeting bringing together the different groups and volunteers that work with the homeless, along with Shepway Council and Kent Police. We don't want to see anyone sleeping on the streets, and it is important that we not only provide accommodation, but also the personal support to help people get back on their feet, and into settled accommodation and work. I know that we have a great network of people who are committed to working together to provide this.
We have also seen some excellent new businesses taking root over the last few years, right across the district, and one of the latest of these is Romney Tweed. Pat Alston has been the driving force behind this project which aims to build on the heritage of Romney Marsh for producing wool from the Romney breed of sheep. Romney Tweed has now launched a unique range of designs that can be ordered through the textile merchants Dugdale Brothers, who supply many of the leading designers and manufacturers in the country. The aim of Romney Tweed is also to bring textile weaving and production back to Romney Marsh. You can find out more about their work at the website romneytweed.com
In just over two weeks I will be leading a community walk from Dungeness to Folkestone in aid of the Kent charity, the Young Lives Foundation. This organisation does excellent work helping to refocus the lives of young people who have not had the best of starts in life. The walk will take place on Saturday 28th February starting at the lighthouse at 9.30am and finishing at the Step Short memorial arch on The Leas. There will also be some refreshments for the walkers provided afterwards at the Southcliff Hotel. You can find out more about this and donate to the Young Lives Foundation through my website, damiancollins.com or by watching this short video.
