Bristol Churches Shelter (BCS) is a partnership of churches, governed by inHope, which provides accommodation to homeless people through the coldest months of the year.

For the fourth year running, the shelter is operating from a Bed and Breakfast and has block booked 9 rooms. The shelter will be open for 6 months from October 2023 to March 2024.

Whilst guests stay at the shelter, we provide accommodation, volunteer support and meals. As well as this, a night manager is employed to ensure that guests and volunteers are kept safe overnight.

This year the shelter’s ethos has become more assertive in supporting people to move on. The shelter has a target of helping 28 people throughout the period, so it’s important to keep guests focused on their long term plans.

Referral partners St Mungo’s, Borderlands and the Bristol Hospitality Network help to create move-on plans. We have Empowerment Workers on site helping to prepare guests to move on. We’re using Language Line – which gives us access to interpreters for those whose first language is not English. We’re also really excited to be working with Hope into Action: Bristol to offer long-term accommodation.

The shelter relies on partnerships with churches around Bristol who volunteer, cook, donate and pray for the shelter.

Find them on Facebook.