Crossways, our winter emergency accommodation project, reopens for a third year tomorrow (1st November). Elisabeth Silver, our CEO, and Chris Dade, our Support Services Manager, gave Dave Webster of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire a tour of the building. Listen from 1:24 and again from 2:26.
A central feature at Crossways is that each of our twenty guests have their own room, behind their own door. Before our first arrivals, we thought you might like a quick tour of the accommodation.
Each room has a single bed, with clean linen provided each week, a bedside table and lamp. There is also a desk, chest of drawers and wardrobe for guests to unpack, store their belongings and make the space feel like their own.
Every guest has private bathroom facilities, most of whom have an ensuite shower room with sink and toilet. Some may have found it difficult to access washing facilities whilst rough sleeping, so we provide them with a welcome pack of personal items to help them settle in.
By giving each guest a sense of safety, dignity and privacy, we can help them relax, decompress and begin to engage with our partner services. We believe that guests, many of whom will have spent years on the streets, should feel they can aspire to having a place of their own again.
Every evening, our amazing team of volunteer Lead Cooks and their assistants prepare a two-course meal in our large kitchen. Guests are welcome to eat with others around the table, sit in the communal lounge, or take the meal to their rooms. They are also free to prepare breakfast and lunch for themselves.
We could not provide this much needed service without the support of our volunteers, partners and the wider community. Here are three ways you can help.
- To donate items email itacdonations@ittakesacity.org.uk
- To make a financial donation visit our Just Giving page
- To volunteer visit the Support Us page on our website
