Horley church gives £1,300 community donation to homelessness charity

St Bart’s was one of 12 East Surrey host churches for the charity’s 2015/16 floating winter night shelter.

Donations came from members of St Bart’s, St Wilfrid’s and St Francis’ Churches as well as people attending school nativity plays and carol services.

Alice Banks and Ann Smith received the money on behalf of the Trust.

The presentation was part of a thanksgiving service held by St Bart’s to say thank you to the community and volunteers for their support.

Night shelter co-ordinator for Bart’s Anna Coe said: “I’ve been blown away by the amazing generosity shown by our church members, but also the Horley community in support of this ministry.

“We held the shelter at Bart’s for six Fridays from the end of January to the beginning of March. It followed the success of our sister church St Wilfrid’s holding is for several years before us.

“As always, it’s a massive privilege to help these people in their time of crisis and we were blessed to have one of the guests at the service to tell us how it helped him into securing a home of his own.

“As he said in the service, anyone can become homeless and you can always think it will never happen to you.”

For more information about Renewed Hope Trust’s night shelter project and the work they do throughout the year with unemployed people and others struggling in life go to www.rhtes.org