We are now in the exciting position to begin planning how our services and premises are going to reopen in the coming weeks and months. We are really looking forward to be able to return to some form of normal, to be able to offer face to face support and advice for housing, health, drug and alcohol dependencies, universal credit and opening bank accounts. Sadly many people are in need of this support to help them get off the streets and build new lives.

This means that we are currently reviewing how we will implement strict social distancing measures and PPE to ensure that our friends are safe as well as our staff and volunteers. These measures are especially important as many of our friends have vulnerable immune systems. We are also able to build off of what we learnt when we implemented similar measures in the month leading up to the lockdown.

In order to maintain these measures we will have to drastically change the way we operate and the flow and layout of our drop in and our support office. We will need to buy and install Perspex screens at our support desks, at desks in the beacon and at the hatch in our Kitchen so that we can continue to give people face to face support into accommodation and with benefits, job applications and referrals to other agencies. We will need your support whether it is though fundraising, donations, funding or supplying our PPE needs.

The changes to our premises will require several thousand pounds of additional costs which we had not budgeted for at the start of this year. If you work for a company that supplies Perspex or know someone who does and would like to support our work going forward please get in touch [email protected].

We have unfortunately missed out on two of our biggest annual fundraising events during this lockdown; the Great Manchester Run and Dragon Boat. So we’re encouraging people to do personal sponsored runs, cycles or other activities to help support our critical and ongoing work, we really can’t do this without your help.

https://www.barnabus-manchester.org.uk/Event/fundraising-in-lockdown-event.

You can also support us by donating food and practical items for us to use in our work helping people experiencing homelessness. Please visit our website for the full list of items we are in need of and to see the new policies we have implemented when donating to keep our friends and our staff safe.

https://www.barnabus-manchester.org.uk/donate-items.