Welcome
We have moved (4th October)
After many happy years at St. John’s Parish Rooms, Long Street we moved to “our own place”. Southbroom Centre is at the ‘bottom end’ of Victoria Road.
We can
- hold sessions when we like,
- have office space for staff and volunteers to do the admin at any time in the week
- hire the Hall and kitchen out to other community groups to run their sessions and to individuals to book their parties.
There is
- a shower there
- a kitchen with serving hatch
- storage space for food and clothing
- computer work spaces for guests
- two small offices for staff and volunteers
Guests
We are now open for four sessions a week at Southbroom Centre, Victoria Road, Devizes, SN10 1NS.
Come and see us if
- you don't have a home to go to,
- you would appreciate a cooked meal or surplus supermarket food
- you don't have somewhere to wash yourself or your clothes
- you need help contacting the right people at County Hall about housing problems
- you need help contacting drug & alcohol support services
Come between
11.00am - 1.00pm Mondays
9.30am- 11.30am Wednesdays
2.00pm - 4.00pm Thursdays
5.00pm - 6.30pm Fridays
Numbers are limited but you can now eat a meal in the Hall, use the shower and have access to the clothing store.
Volunteers
Each session runs like this:
Several people are on duty in the Hall and two or three in the kitchen. The cooked food is served on plates and dishes and collected from the kitchen hatch. Surplus supermarket food is available and there is a drinks table. Clothing, laundry tickets, post and food bank referral forms are also available. Conversations about benefits and housing take place on a one at a time basis in the Hall or Meeting Room. Turning Point staff are on hand on Mondays, with their van being parked in the car park. The County Rough Sleepers team outreach workers come on Wednesdays.
Everyone must wash their hands or use hand gel and adher to the 1m social distancing rule. Any guest who needs a conversation can talk to the support worker.
We will continue to keep the Rough Sleepers team at County Hall informed of those who want help with housing. County will continue to follow these up and hopefully provide suitable, temporary accommodation for those who are rough sleeping.
Please text or phone 07828 041152 or email volunteersThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you think you can help.
What is Devizes Opendoors?
It is a charity that has been set up to help people in the Devizes Community Area to find solutions to homelessness; to offer support to local people when they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and to benefit local individuals in need, including the marginalised and vulnerable.
Opendoors exists 100% for the benefit of others, in particular those who are homeless or at risk of becoming so. For the last few years it has provided three cooked meals a week at St. John’s Parish Rooms, Long Street and there are about 15 – 20 people there at most sessions. Along with the good food and company there is the chance of a shower and a few other things (see Opening Times).
The guests are a mixture of rough sleepers, those sleeping in sheds, vans and old boats, sofa surfers and those with their own homes but with issues that can make their tenancies vulnerable.
The team has two paid staff, a coordinator and a deputy coordinator, and over 50 volunteers on a rota with 7 - 9 on per session. Together they prepare the food and the hall, welcome the guests and chat, serve meals and discuss issues in one-to-one conversations. Concerns that get followed up include health (mental and physical) issues, alcohol and drug dependency, criminal activity, financial matters and of course, housing issues.
A series of articles about those who access Opendoors services, and those who provide them.
SMILE!
We have signed up to Amazon Smile, and so we have a favour to ask; if you are doing any online shopping with Amazon and you would like a small percentage of the price to come to us, just follow the link below, and select Devizes Opendoors from the dropdown menu.
Thank you!
Volunteer Opportunity
Be a Devizes Opendoors Befriender
Give a homeless person a hand up - not a handout
This autumn we are looking for people who can empathise and encourage.
We provide full training and you will join a supportive team of volunteer Befrienders.
Please click here to find out more, or contact John Saunders:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
07828 041152
Contact Details
If you are homeless, know someone who is, or concerned about someone at risk of becoming homeless we might be able to help. Please call: 07493 825258
To speak to a member of the team during our regular opening times please call: 07722 096046
If you are interested in volunteeering with us please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You might also like to take a look at our Volunteer section, where you can find more information or download our Autumn 2020 Volunteer Newsletter.
Any other enquiries? Please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to our Contact Page.
