This is the official website of The Downs Benefice Winchester, Hampshire.

Christmas at the Nightshelter

Notices in brief...

For all the notices and more information, please see our Notices page

In Emergency 

The office is open during regular working hours, however if you need to contact Revd Kevin Rogers in an emergency, please call:

Mobile: 07584 162 594

Further information about the phone line is available

here

Prayer Requests

If you have any prayer requests, for any concerns lying on your heart or to give thanks, please email the office on office@downsbenefice.org.uk

All prayer requests will be made anonymous before being passed on  to our Prayer Team.

Parish Magazine Deadline

Copy for June/July edition of the Benefice Parish Magazine should be submitted by 12.00 noon - Friday 10th May.

Winchester Churches Nightshelter – looking ahead to Christmas

 

Like every other home at Christmas time, we try and make the Nightshelter a warm, safe and joyful place to be. Residents may not be able to spend the festive season with their own families, but they’ll be surrounded by an extended family of staff, volunteers and fellow residents, who will together make Christmas at the Nightshelter a cheery affair complete with decorations, tree, a traditional Christmas roast dinner and, of course, present-giving.

 

Every one of the Nightshelter’s residents will receive a bundle of gifts, mostly donated by local individuals and organisations. Each year we ask for donations that will help make life a little easier for those experiencing homelessness, and prepare them for independent living. Popular items are:

 

Diaries, notepads, wallets and cheap watches will help residents organise themselves.

Vouchers for coffee shops or the cinema will provide a real treat (small denominations rather than a single large donation allow us to share gifts in an equitable way).

Personal items such as small lightweight rucksacks or daybags, lightweight waterproof jackets and men’s trainers (sizes 10 and 11 are the most commonly needed.)

 

The thought and generosity that goes into these gift donations is always so touching, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who thinks of us. There’s no need to wrap presents before bringing them to the Nightshelter (we have some lovely volunteers who come in and act as elves!). However, if you do wrap your gifts/gift boxes it would be really helpful if you could put a label on the outside saying what it is and whether suitable for a man or woman.

 

We’d be really grateful if any present donations be dropped at the Nightshelter by no later than Monday 19th December, so that our elves (volunteers) can work their magic. Thank you. 

 

Visit our stall at Winchester Christmas Market

Don’t forget to stop by our stall at Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas market on Saturday 25th December, where we’ll be selling Christmas cards, decorations and, for the first time, birdhouses, courtesy of the Nightshelter’s Birdhouse Project – see our website www.wcns.org.uk for more details! You can also buy Christmas cards directly from the Nightshelter office. Again, please visit our website for samples and costs.

 

Thank you as always for your support in helping make Christmas special for some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

 

With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year - the Nightshelter team.