The Narrowgate Night Shelter in Pendleton is to provide round the clock accommodation to homeless people in Salford this festive period.

The shelter, which operates from the Windsor Christian Centre on Churchill Way, provides overnight care for Greater Manchester’s homeless community, but this December will also provide a place to stay during the day.

As well as offering beds, the charity also offer breakfast and food throughout the day, as well as hosting a range of activities.

Supplies at the Narrowgate Night Shelter

Barry Matley, manager of the shelter, spoke of how important it was that the shelter opened 24 hours a day; “we consider the mental health of our residents here. A lot of them leave at 7am, not know if or when they’d be getting dinner, and then have to carry their belongings around all day. We want to offer them the dignity they deserve.”

In 2016, a study by Salford City Council found that there had been a 600% increase in rough sleepers over the previous five years.

Earlier this year, Salford’s mayor Paul Dennett and the mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, pledged £3.7 million to tackle homelessness with new housing developments.

According to the A Bed Every Night campaign, which launched to provide safe sleeping spaces to homeless people in Greater Manchester, there has been a 10% decrease in homelessness across our area in the last twelve months.

A resident at the Narrowgate Night Shelter, Graham Fadley, explained how the charity had helped him; “they put me in touch with an organisation which helps people get over drug and alcohol addiction, and also with Loaves and Fishes, a charity which can help with housing issues.”

The charity have stressed that anybody who can help to volunteer, donate supplies or requires their help can contact them through their website.

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