Night shelter needs extra help amid economy woes

AN essential local service that houses rough sleepers overnight during the cold depths of winter has appealed for extra volunteers to join its team.

The Bendigo Winter Night Shelter (BWNS) operates seven nights a week from June until mid-September out of a local Scouts Victoria property, providing guests with heated cabins, fresh linen, a meal, and bathroom and laundry facilities.

BWNS operations manager Daryl Lynch said that last year the service started off with a regular cohort of around eight rough sleepers and the average was about 15 guests per night.

“However, due to the cost of living crisis and the rental market being out of reach of most people on benefits, it’s evident that this season’s going to be bigger than ever,” he said.

“So, if we were to have an overwhelming support of volunteers, we might be able to extend the amount of guests to 30.”

Lynch said volunteers, who range from retirees through to business people who donate one day a fortnight, are not required to have experience in the field.

“We just ask that they have a Working with Children Check and that they come with a positive outlook to try and support our community’s most vulnerable,” he said.

“We have had a strong response since we put out the call – Bendigo’s good when the community comes together, we genuinely care.

“It’s like that old quote, ‘it takes a village’.

“Well, in this case, it takes Bendigo.”

Interested parties are invited to an information night on Tuesday 21 May, beginning at 7pm, at Holy Trinity Church in Flora Hill.

For more information or to register as a volunteer, visit the BWNS website.