A CHARITY that provided temporary accommodation for 80 homeless people last winter is appealing for help after finding itself out on the streets.

The Atherton and Leigh Night Shelter Project has become homeless following the sale of the Church Of The Nazarene on Tyldesley Road, Atherton.

Project founder and leader Warren Done is ‘praying’ for help with finding a new building so that it can continue to come to the rescue of people with nowhere to sleep during the cold winter months.

The 51-year-old, who is also project manager for the Atherton and Leigh Foodbank, said: “We are appealing for help as we need a building to try to do what we did last year for people in the community.

“In the winter we helped so many people, and a man came to the foodbank the other day saying he had nowhere to stay due to the demand on other shelters.

“We are expecting more people to be homeless this year because of the benefit reductions for those aged 18 to 35, which could result in people not being able to afford to pay for somewhere to live.”

Last winter's night shelter was part of an initial three-month scheme but ended up staying open for a further month to meet demand.

Homeless people were referred to the project by various agencies and were given a warm meal at the church, a bed for the night and breakfast the next day.

Warren added: “The good thing about the way it worked was that homeless people would stop missing their appointments with agencies after having a good night’s sleep thanks to us.”

A joint fundraising coffee and cake morning will be held at Complexions hair salon and Betsy’s Boutique, on Church Street, Leigh, on Saturday, September 24, with all the proceeds going to the night shelter project and the foodbank.

To find out more visit athertonleigh.foodbank.org.uk. Anyone who may be able to help find new premises for the night shelter should call Warren on 07980 881925.