Inspiring hope

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Lighting a way out of homelessness

The Winchester Beacon is open 365 days a year and provides accommodation, food and vital support services to help break the cycle of homelessness and enable our residents to rebuild their lives.

We offer much more than just a bed for the night; our aim is to create a safe, caring temporary home for our residents, and give support when it’s needed most. Our provision includes comfortable accommodation, a nutritious menu and wide-ranging services to restore self-esteem, develop skills, and support people back into long-term accommodation and independent living.

Our vision is to transform lives, inspire hope and end homelessness.

Last year,

We gave 53 people a bed

We served 10,956 meals to our residents

We provided 356 hours of free counselling and psychotherapy

The average length of stay was 146 nights

A foundation of hope

21st October 2024

A foundation of hope

Seeking volunteer trustees

17th October 2024

Seeking volunteer trustees

Supporters come together on World Homeless Day

15th October 2024

Supporters come together on World Homeless Day

We’d love to keep in touch with you about the work we do, and how you can help and support us.

winchesterbeacon

We are in urgent need of clean sleeping bags. We a

We are in urgent need of clean sleeping bags. We are also on the look out for bivvy bags to help keep sleeping bags dry in the wet weather.

If you are able to help, please drop any donations to The Winchester Beacon, 20B Jewry Street, Winchester. We are open in the daytime and evenings.

We have also set up a Cold Weather Amazon Wishlist where you can order sleeping bags and bivvy bags for delivery directly to The Beacon. Details in the link in our bio.

Thank you so much for your support.

At The Winchester Beacon our residents find a safe

At The Winchester Beacon our residents find a safe place. This can be life-changing when someone has experienced the uncertainty and risks that can come with homelessness.

Having the security of their own bedroom can enable our residents to rest comfortably, think more clearly and eventually regain a sense of hope. It is a place where residents can unpack their belongings and know that they are secure.

#space #safe #belongings

Snow is forecast for Winchester today! Join us at

Snow is forecast for Winchester today!

Join us at the Snow Globe in The Square, 12pm-8pm, for some festive frivolity and all in aid of Spare Change for Last Change which supports @winchesterbeacon and @trinity_winch. The globe is kindly being sponsored by @thebrookscentre. You choose how much you would like to donate to support people experiencing homelessness in return for some time in the Snow Globe.

The build up to the Christmas light switch on will begin from 4.30pm in The Broadway, with the lights being switched on at 6.30pm.

Thank you to everyone involved @Winchesterbid @dutton_gregory

Sadly, this Christmas many people won't have a hom

Sadly, this Christmas many people won't have a home of their own where they can spend the festive season. They may find themselves sleeping on a friend's sofa, living in their car or looking for a safe place to sleep outside.

The Winchester Beacon will provide accommodation and support to 22 people experiencing homelessness this Christmas. There will be warmth, community, food, support and gifts.

Our Christmas card this year has been designed and donated by the talented Jo-Anne at @green.magpie. It features a homely and festive scene and is a reminder of the number one thing on the Christmas list of many of those we support. Just £5 for 10 cards, you can place an order for collection or delivery via the link in our bio.

Please help us to bring hope this Christmas.

Thank you so much to everyone at @winchesterrugby

Thank you so much to everyone at @winchesterrugby involved in the amazing 300 mile bike ride that took place to launch the new season. Led by the inspirational Rob Sanderson, President of Winchester Rugby Football Club, the challenging cycle saw participants endure testing wet weather conditions as they made their way between the clubs in the league.

Winchester Rugby Football Club is committed to raising funds for charities and working closely alongside the local community. Not only did the ride raise an amazing £1000 for The Winchester Beacon but it also raised the same amount for six other charities!

We would also like to thank @gentiangroup ,sponsors of Winchester RFC for nominating The Winchester Beacon as one of the causes. It was great to welcome both Aiden from Gentian and Rob to The Winchester Beacon to chat about community collaboration and celebrate the impact it can have on all involved.

Thank you to everyone involved.

#rugby #community #winchester

We are excited to be in the process of launching a

We are excited to be in the process of launching a pilot befriending project at The Winchester Beacon. Over recent weeks, we have been recruiting and training volunteers to enable them to meet with and support residents moving on to their own accommodation. Our befrienders will help to prevent isolation through companionship, a listening ear and encouragement to access opportunities and support in the local community.

#BefriendingWeek #befriending

Behind the scenes of The Winchester Beacon, a dedi

Behind the scenes of The Winchester Beacon, a dedicated team of trustees give their time and expertise to help guide and inform our work.

This #trusteesweek we would like to say thank you to Tracy, Julian, Fiona, Vince, David and Vicky for all that they do to support The Winchester Beacon. Each of our trustees brings their own skillset and experience and all share a commitment to our vision to transform lives, inspire hope and end homelessness.

Thank you.

#trustees #charity #homelessness

A big thank you to @rapidreliefteam_uk for their r

A big thank you to @rapidreliefteam_uk for their recent donation of blankets. We are really grateful for the support and for being able to go into the winter with a good supply of blankets. We will be able to hand them out to people who come to our reception window in need of support.

In 2023, 143 people came to our window needing help, 72 of these people where sleeping rough. Sadly, as we are operating with a waiting list we cannot always provide accommodation to everyone who needs it.

Through our window we are able to give practical and emotional support to non-residents who are in need of help. Whilst we cannot always solve their problems we can be a welcoming face and a listening ear. We can make people feel seen and remembered.

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We’re winners of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service