The Booth Centre prepares for its busiest season as rough sleepers confront life threatening conditions.
As temperatures in Manchester begin to dip below zero, over 9,000 reported homeless across the city are preparing for this chilling season.
For those sleeping rough, freezing conditions bring severe health risks: hypothermia, untreated infections, and even death. These are just some oof the things homeless individual’s risk.
Lenny moved to Manchester from the Caribbean more than a decade ago and spent many years sleeping on the streets.
He said:
Today, Lenny volunteers regularly at The Booth centre and is active in the community as he works to rebuild his life.
Homelessness in Manchester has continued to rise year on year, especially in the aftermath of Covid-19. Increasing numbers of people are navigating the immigration system while homeless or trying to reintegrate into society after leaving prison.
Many are starting again from nothing.
The Booth Centre, one of Manchester’s leading homelessness organisations, supports hundreds of people each year who find themselves in crisis. From counselling and employment assistance to hot meals and practical supplies, their work aims to give people the stability and confidence they need to move forward.
Madeleine Weinberg-Daly, fundraising manager at The Booth centre, said:
“We are a centre for the community to feel looked after, feel joy, build futures, and access the lives they want to be living.
Weather that’s through a plate of beans on toast in the morning, our well-being activities, education and skills support, mental health support or accommodation assistance.
We try and be a community hub where anyone can come in and receive the help they need.”
Winter places enormous pressure on services like The Booth Centre. Many people arrive unwell, and centres often expand their opening hours to ensure no one is left behind in dangerous temperatures.
Madeleine said:
“For us at the centre, we spend six months of the year preparing for what winter is going to look like.
Which is busy”
With 52% of The Booth Centre’s community being rough sleepers, the cold months can halt progress for people working hard to regain stability. Concerns about finding a safe place to sleep, staying warm, and meeting basic needs like food, water, and hygiene can overshadow everything else.
Madeleine added:
“See the person and treat them as a person.
You don’t have to give money to every homeless person you see but you can ask, ‘Where are you sleeping tonight?’ ‘Are you alright?’ ‘Do you have somewhere to go for lunch?’
You don’t have to give them money, but you do have to treat them like a human”.
The Booth centre encourages anyone struggling to reach out. “We all exist, and we all want to be helping” Madeleine said.
Many homelessness organisations rely heavily on public support. Donations of clothing, food, funds, and especially volunteer time, which is invaluable during the demanding winter period.
Contact The Booth Centre.
Edward Holt House
Pimblett Street
Manchester M3 1FU
Phone: 0161 835 2499