Dear friends,

Last year our wonderful Teddington Winter Nightshelter was unable to run due to the difficulties created by the pandemic. This year it will return.

Glassdoor of course still did an amazing job of finding ways to still support people suffering homelessness, and our brilliant local volunteer team continued to provide meals but from a central Glassdoor location.

For Winter 2021 the Teddington Shelter at St Mary's Church will resume the caring service it has already provided for four years. Amazing volunteers will once again spring into action to offer hearty meals and a warm hall to sleep in for those suffering homelessness during the coldest months. People who would otherwise struggle to find support, people who are both delightful and in genuine need, people like you and I, will join us on Sunday evenings for Irish Stew, Apple Crumble, a roof and friendly company.

We don't quite know what the current economic situation will bring, but homelessness charities predict there will be more people struggling and vulnerable this year than last. We'd like to help with that and that’s where you come in.

In the past couple of years, one or two of us have done a variety of silly and uncomfortable physical challenges to raise funds. This year it's going to be the Great South Run on Sunday 17th October. Please will you spur me on with sponsorship for this essential cause?

Here is how the money gets spent:

The shelter runs from Nov to March, ensuring that every evening, there is somewhere warm and friendly to be for 20 people, who would otherwise sleep outside. Thanks to donations from local businesses and residents, the food for each night only costs around £50, for both dinner and breakfast. That means with every tenner you donate, together we can feed 4 people 2 meals. St Mary's will run 24 sessions, so the target is £1,200.

Each £10 after that buys an extra sleeping roll or go towards the amazing work Glass Door does in enabling people to establish more stable and positive lives - like the 1645 guests who received support, the 47 guests who found work last year despite the pandemic, or the record 317 who moved into housing.

For more of a flavour of the shelter click Teddington Shelter Article

To find out about the charity click Glassdoor

To find out about the church click St Mary's

Thanks so very much for whatever you can give. In return, I promise that I will run and run and run and not walk one little bit! Anne xx