Rushden Full Gospel Church & Christian Centre
The Place to Be
Rushden Night Shelter
Click here to download How can I get involved Power Point
Homelessness defintion and summary
Homelessness sunday service/sermon featuring MP Peter Bone Jan 2008
Homeless Guys sleeping in our disused toilet block?
What a great idea!!
Many years ago our church building used to be South End Junior School. To the side was the boys toilets block. Over the years it had fallen into disrepair and had become derelict, dusty, dirty and dangerous. We just kept it locked and forgot about it.
Then our pastor had a brilliant idea. Why not use it for homeless guys to sleep in?
The demolition stage (Feb-Apr 2007). Off came the roof. Down came walls. Pipes and drains were blocked off and made safe. We sat down and looked at the shell, the bare bones. Thirsty work. Time for a cuppa........ if we can get the teaboy off his mobile phone!(above)
Once we had taken the walls down to a solid base we had to cut out some more bricks for the doors and windows. 
Pictured above: Paul Rickard then Project Leader and Mark Lees, our church Pastor.
Other volunteers from the Church included Keith Booth (Tea Boy), Malcom Wallace, Colin Brown, Terry Ellis, Sharon Craker, and the Pastor's two sons Jonathan and Jake Lees.
From other churches in our area came:
Colin Clipstone (right)who totally changed the pace and direction of the work with his enterprise, experience and long hours
To all these........... thanks for your efforts.
But then we had some real surprises. People from no church background at all got involved in the building. Very special thanks to Wayne Mills who came along every Saturday and worked so hard........ and even popped in during the week to do a bit more.
Plus two guys from the Bedford Night Shelter, (residents), who came along to help out. One of them Peter Storer worked hard and the other one Tony Strange talked all day long. (Joke! Sorry Tony!)
Building nears completion October 2007
The roof had gone on in August, and all the interior lining and insulation had been installed with the electric cables through September. The floor had been laid over more insulation, (see picture above) and door frames and skirting and archetraves were added. The bare plasterboard walls and ceilings then became the sole project for Wayne. He had done an artexing course and wanted to artex anything that didn't move! And a few things that did......... like the rest of the volunteers!!!
Then Keith Davis transformed the kitchen. Colin Clipstone continued to work just about every day and the bathroom took shape. His trusty assistant Colin Brown followed on behind with the ever-present paint brush. Then one day work stopped. We had finished!
Enough talk about builders and buildings. Now comes the exciting part. The reason for all the hard work. Homeless Guys.
All through the building period we had had a few guys come and stay with us.... sleeping in a shed or in a caravan. But now we brought in the beds, the linen and blankets and word got out there on the streets that we were open.
From November 2007 through till March 2008, the shelter was open and operationing at a minimal level providing overnight accomodation for at times up to seven people! (Marks poor mathematics counted 7 as 4!). During this time we as a team went through a rapid process of learning to grasp what it would really mean to run a night shelter. Training was offerred on homelessness issues, risk assesment, health and saftey and other issues etc.
The shower
By 30th March we were officially ready for full operation and opening as originally intended providing four beds, and a full support service with staff on hand whilst clients were accomodated.
Arthur one of our long term residents
Homeless team and residents
Martin on site and in one of the projects bedrooms
In addition to overnight accomodation, the project offers ongoing support for all of the issues that caused them to be homeles in the first place. This vital part of our work is a major part of the service the Rushden Night Shelter now provide.
Malcolm on the phone
Paul Rickard - Night Shelter Manager
Office Address:
60 High Street South
Rushden
Northamptonshire
NN10 0QY