Greenwich Winter Night Shelter

The Greenwich Winter Night Shelter is a registered Charity (number 1168966). GWNS was first established in 2012 by a group of churches as a practical response to the increasing challenge of homelessness initially open from January to March. We now operate from mid-November to very early April with a break over the Christmas week when guests are offered shelter at Crisis at Christmas.  We have seven venues across the Royal Borough of Greenwich – one venue for each night of the week.  The Shelter can take up to 15 guests, both men and women, all of whom come through our referral agencies.  Our aim is to provide warmth (in every sense) during the coldest part of the year for up to 15 ‘guests’ per night who are seeking help to move on. We provide a healthy and hearty, usually home-cooked evening meal, an air bed for the night in a communal area (e.g. church hall), showers in three out of our seven venues, breakfast and a takeaway sandwich lunch or snacks.  We have over 300 volunteers who facilitate the shelter, chat and mix with guests and ensure a friendly, peaceful and homely atmosphere in each venue.