Winter Night Shelter Milton Keynes
Life-saving accommodation, life-giving support 
VolunteerDonate Now
For the last 10 years the WNSMK has been providing supervised overnight accommodation and meals to homeless and vulnerable people who would otherwise be rough sleeping in Milton Keynes during the coldest months of the year. We work in partnership with many churches and community centres across the city who provide their facilities as an overnight venue. We also provide year-round welfare and support services from our centre, Unity Park Station.

Last winter, due to Covid-19, we were unable to run our accommodation in the usual way but supported the government’s ‘Everyone In’ policy by focusing on the provision of welfare support and food provision.

Our Welfare Team enable our guests to recover lost ID, access benefits, access drug and alcohol support services, to obtain housing advice, move on to longer-term accommodation and to find work.

People arrive at the Winter Night Shelter for many reasons. They can be old or young, men and women. Some are long-term homeless, others have just reached a point of crisis and don’t know where to turn. They may have deteriorating domestic issues; they may have lost jobs and no longer be able to pay for accommodation. Illness, disability, mental health struggles, language barriers and lost or stolen identity documents can all play a part in someone ending up on the street. We help all those in need who come to us for help.
“Without a supportive network of family or friends this could happen to any of us”
Donate
Volunteer
fundraise

Helping people through the pandemic

 The Covid-19 pandemic has had a heavy impact on people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. We provide help to all kinds of people, including rough sleepers, anyone in emergency accommodation such as hotel rooms, those who are temporarily housed, those concerned they may be at risk of homelessness and others who are vulnerable.

We operate from our base, Unity Park Station (formerly The Old Bus Station), 401 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1LR.

Food Provision and Community Club

We provide hot meals and food supplies to take away. We also have clothing, sleeping supplies and toiletries available.

On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings we host a Community Club which is open to anyone in the community as a supportive space to find connection. Our friendly volunteers run our free Community Club cafe and provide a listening ear. We have social activities and provide free services such as hairdressing/barbers, mobile GP surgeries, access to well-being therapists and social prescribers. We can also signpost people to specialist services to help them with problems in life. People pop in for a cup of tea and stay for so much more.

Monday:    Food Service (10am–2pm)
Tuesday:    Community Club (10am–12.30pm)
Wednesday:    Community Club (10am–12.30pm)
Thursday:    Food Service (10am–2pm)
Friday:    Food Service (10am–2pm)

Welfare Support

Our welfare team provide emergency accommodation advice and help with ID, opening of bank accounts, access to benefits and other services such as medical care and counselling. They create a personal support plan for each individual to enable them to find longer-term accommodation. In-person appointments can be made with the Welfare team:

Phone: 07549 609427
Email: welfare@winternightsheltermk.org

Please note our welfare services will be unavailable on Thursday 17 June.

Donate Now
Our work is supported by public donations and funding from MK Community Foundation.

Latest News: Read All About It!

Here are examples of our latest updates. To receive our news straight to your mailbox hit the ‘Subscribe’ button and sign up. We usually send around one update a month so you won’t be bombarded with too many emails and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Scaling Up, Not Winding Down over spring/summer

Helping the Homeless During Covid: Take a virtual tour

Subscribe

Concerned about someone sleeping rough?

Within Milton Keynes only:

Concerns can be referred to the Winter Night Shelter’s welfare team on 07549 609427 or by emailing welfare@winternightsheltermk.org.

Alternatively: 

StreetLink is a nationwide project whereby members of the public can report incidences of observed rough sleeping and welfare concerns. Street Link will then alert the appropriate agencies to offer support. You can report a rough sleeper to Street Link via their website or calling 0300 500 0914.

Could you give £3 or £5 a month?

Small, regular donations help us to provide consistent welfare support for rough sleepers
even during the summer months. 

 

Donate Now

Our Story So Far

See and hear what we have been doing to support the homeless over the last 10 years.

In the Words of Our Guests

Everyone has their own story. In this short video some of our guests share why they needed us, what the shelter is like and how we have helped them.

Charity Reference No: 1149480

Registered Company No: 08232340

Registered office: The Ridgeway Centre, Featherstone Road, Wolverton Mill South, Milton Keynes, MK12 5TH