In September/October, CHESS Homeless will once again be collecting food donations as part of their Harvest appeal.

In recent years, CHESS Homeless have unfortunately seen a decline in donations, and so they are reaching out early in the hope of working together to make this year’s collection as impactful as possible.

Food donations are incredibly important to the charity and make a direct difference in three key ways:
  1. Supporting rough sleepers – Their Outreach Team works directly with individuals sleeping on the streets. Long-life and dried goods are vital, as they can be easily distributed during outreach visits and provide immediate support.
  2. Helping our residents – CHESS Homeless currently accommodates 88 service users. At several of their properties, volunteers prepare meals using donated food alongside fresh ingredients. Your contributions help ensure that their residents have access to nutritious, home-cooked meals.
  3. Supporting independent living – When service users move on to independent accommodation, they are often provided with a starter pack that includes essential food items. These packs help them settle in and begin their next chapter with greater stability.

This is the real and meaningful impact that your church’s donations could make.

In addition, if your church would be interested, they could organise a short talk after a Sunday Mass. This would provide your congregation with greater insight into homelessness, the work of CHESS Homeless, and how their support can make a difference in the community. They are also happy to organise pick up any donations.

If your church would like to participate in this year’s Harvest collection, please contact them via email at [email protected].

CHESS have also provided a list of ongoing food donations that they need, you can view that here<<

More information about CHESS taken from their website.

Our Mission

CHESS works to ensure that people who find themselves homeless are supported in ways that enable them to move forward purposefully and in good health.

CHESS stands for Churches Homeless Emergency Support Scheme.

Our Aims

To provide a good standard accommodation for the homeless. Supporting improvement in the health and well-being of service users without discrimination or judgement. Giving practical support in achieving independence. Raising awareness of homelessness and to become a catalyst for change and partnership recognising the resources of others.

Our Values

We care for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness, respecting their need for safety and dignity. We promote a sense of security, self-worth and acceptance of the diversity of the individuals we serve. We encourage the growth and development of our staff and service users through partnerships and training opportunities with others. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all.