Christmas shelter prepares to open for five days...

Queens Road Baptist Church, in Coventry, will be open from Wednesday night until Monday to offer food and shelter to those in need



A voluntary organisation is preparing to open its doors to offer food and shelter to people in need for five days over Christmas.

Coventry Open Christmas is welcoming those who are homeless and lonely at Queens Road Baptist Church in the city from Wednesday night, Christmas Eve, until 10:00 GMT on Monday 29 December.

Volunteer coordinator Dan Thompson said it expected to welcome about 150 people per day. However, some of the other services in the city were closed, so it could be "around 400-500 people", he added.

Mr Thompson said the organisation, which has been opening the shelter since 1992, was "all about community spirit" and "making people happy" during the festive period.

"It's about us all helping each other in the city and to be able to distribute things that people have given, to see the smiles.. .it's what everyone deserves," he added.

Mr Thompson said the organisation had 40 campbeds where those in need could stay overnight.

"As well as that, we'll keep the café open, so if you want to pop in for a hot drink, or if you just need somewhere warm but not a bed, we can try and provide that."

The shelter first opened in 1992 as as "one night only project" after Mike Parker, one of the founders, noticed a "real need" for a homeless shelter on Christmas Eve the year before.

Mr Thompson said this year about 200 volunteers would be at the church over the five days to help keep the service running.

"We can't thank them enough, the outreach has been brilliant," he said.

The volunteer coordinator added that any donation was welcome.

"The more that we get, the more people we can help."