Sheffield homelessnes and addiction project Ben’s Centre opens new sanctuary for city’s vulnerable

Homelessness and addiction project Ben’s Centre, formerly of North Church Street in Sheffield city centre, moved into the Grade II listed building on Wilkinson Street in Broomhill last month.

The long-planned move had been expected to take place in around two years time, but was brought forward after the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to dramatically alter the way they worked.

While they have been up and running throughout 2020, staff at their previous city centre site have only been able to provide help from the front gate due to social distancing regulations.

But the new - and far bigger - Wilkinson Road premises allows them to welcome their clients inside once more, and when the crisis is finally over will enable them to support many more people than they ever have before.

Daryl Bishop, chief executive, said: “For the last nine months we have basically been providing a wholesale service but have been missing out that human connection that our clients require.

“Being here means we are finally able to give them the support and space they need during one of the most daunting times they have ever faced.”

Daryl said under the current Covid-19 regulations, their new base allows them to fit 10 clients in at a time, with a maximum of 15 in any one day.

But it also has far more storage space for the mountain of donated clothes, toiletries and food that they give to clients every week - as well as enough room for a weekly drop-in health clinic.

“There is a huge barrier for a lot of our clients in accessing medical help as they dont feel like they are made welcome in traditional healthcare settings,'' said Daryl.

“We’ve even had one of our clients die because they were not getting their wounds dressed. This will help us bring medical services to a place where they feel comfortable.”

For more information about Ben’s Centre, visit www.benscentre.org.

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