Life-saving accommodation, life-giving support
For the last 10 years the WNSMK has been providing supervised overnight accommodation and meals to homeless and vulnerable people who would otherwise be rough sleeping in Milton Keynes during the coldest months of the year. We work in partnership with many churches and community centres across the city who provide their facilities as an overnight venue. We also provide year-round welfare and support services from our centre, Unity Park Station.
Last winter, due to Covid-19, we were unable to run our accommodation in the usual way but supported the government’s ‘Everyone In’ policy by focusing on the provision of welfare support and food provision.
Our Welfare Team enable our guests to recover lost ID, access benefits, access drug and alcohol support services, to obtain housing advice, move on to longer-term accommodation and to find work.
People arrive at the Winter Night Shelter for many reasons. They can be old or young, men and women. Some are long-term homeless, others have just reached a point of crisis and don’t know where to turn. They may have deteriorating domestic issues; they may have lost jobs and no longer be able to pay for accommodation. Illness, disability, mental health struggles, language barriers and lost or stolen identity documents can all play a part in someone ending up on the street. We help all those in need who come to us for help.
“Without a supportive network of family or friends this could happen to any of us”
Helping the homeless and vulnerable through the pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a heavy impact on people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. Our centre, Unity Park Station on Elder Gate, is open to provide year-round support. We provide help to all kinds of people, including rough sleepers, anyone in emergency accommodation such as hotel rooms, those who are temporarily or vulnerably housed and anyone concerned they may be at risk of homelessness.
We operate from our base, Unity Park Station (formerly The Old Bus Station), 401 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1LR.
We are prioritising the provision of food and welfare services.
Free Emergency Food Provision
We are providing hot meals and food supplies to take away at the following times:
Monday 10am–2pm
Tuesday 10am–2pm
Wednesday 10am–2pm
Thursday 10am–2pm
Friday 10am–2pm
We also have clothing, sleeping supplies and toiletries available.
Welfare Support
Our welfare team provide emergency accommodation advice and help with ID, opening of bank accounts, access to benefits and other services such as medical care and counselling. They create a personal support plan for each individual to enable them to find longer-term accommodation. In-person appointments can be made with the Welfare team:
Phone: 07549 609427
Email: welfare@winternightsheltermk.com
Our work is supported by public donations and funding from MK Community Foundation.
Latest News: Read All About It!
Here are examples of our latest updates. To receive our news straight to your mailbox hit the ‘Subscribe’ button and sign up. We usually send around one update a month so you won’t be bombarded with too many emails and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Scaling Up, Not Winding Down over spring/summer (Mar 2021)
Helping the Homeless During Covid: Take a virtual tour (Feb 2021)
Concerned about someone sleeping rough?
Within Milton Keynes only:
Concerns can be referred to the Winter Night Shelter’s welfare team on 07549 609427 or by emailing welfare@winternightsheltermk.com.
Alternatively:
StreetLink is a nationwide project whereby members of the public can report incidences of observed rough sleeping and welfare concerns. Street Link will then alert the appropriate agencies to offer support. You can report a rough sleeper to Street Link via their website or calling 0300 500 0914.
Could you give £3 or £5 a month?
Small, regular donations help us to provide consistent welfare support for rough sleepers
even during the summer months.
Our Story So Far
See and hear what we have been doing to support the homeless over the last 10 years.
In the Words of Our Guests
Everyone has their own story. In this short video some of our guests share why they needed us, what the shelter is like and how we have helped them.
Reception café and base for daytime support services:
Unity Park Station (formerly The Old Bus Station), 401 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1LR.
Registered office:
The Ridgeway Centre, Featherstone Road, Wolverton Mill South, Milton Keynes, MK12 5TH.
Charity Reference No. 1149480
Registered Company No. 08232340