St Petrocs launches Winter Appeal to light the way out of homelessness and provide critical Winter Services for people with no place to call home in Cornwall

St Petrocs launches Winter Appeal to light the way out of homelessness and provide critical Winter Services for people with no place to call home in Cornwall 

As the days shorten and temperatures drop, St Petrocs, an independent charity dedicated to ending homelessness in Cornwall, have launched their Winter Appeal to support the growing number of people experiencing homelessness. With the increasing urgency of harsh winter conditions, the charity is calling on the community to take action by donating to help light the way out of homelessness. 

Winter Services provide critical support  
Winter is an especially unsafe time for people experiencing homelessness. Freezing temperatures and harsh weather conditions in Cornwall place people at serious risk of harm. In response, St Petrocs are operating their Winter Services to provide immediate shelter and access to life-saving resources for those in need. 

In October 2024, St Petrocs worked with 206 people experiencing homelessness through their resource centres and outreach teams, with 112 of them forced to sleep outdoors, and others sofa surfing and experiencing other forms of hidden homelessness. Despite these challenges, St Petrocs have successfully helped 51 people into stable accommodation in October 2024, providing them with safety, stability, and a pathway to a better future. Currently, all of St Petrocs’ 165 rooms available through St Petrocs are fully occupied, highlighting the overwhelming demand for services and the urgency of addressing this crisis. 

One St Petrocs client, Oliver, who benefited from their Winter Services last year, shared: 
"Being on the street was cold, lonely and sometimes scary. Being in the warm, being able to shower and be safe, made a big difference." 

Henry Meacock Chief Executive of St Petrocs:
“St Petrocs Winter Services offer a lifeline to people who find themselves outside in the cold in the darkest months of the year. We have a really good track record of people coming to us in crisis situations accessing our Winter Services who we then support into longer term accommodation. The St Petrocs Winter Appeal is so important for us to be able to put on our winter services and help people move away from the streets for good.”

This year’s Winter Appeal is a call for hope and transformation, emphasising that everyone deserves the chance to break free from homelessness and reclaim their future. With the community’s support, St Petrocs can continue providing not only emergency shelter but also the critical resources, safety, and guidance needed to help people move beyond homelessness for good. 

How You Can Help Light the Way Out of Homelessness 
Your generosity can make all the difference. By donating to the Winter Appeal, you can provide a warm, safe place for someone who would otherwise face another cold, dark night outside. Your support will offer more than just shelter—it will provide life changing support, helping individuals rebuild their lives and regain hope. 
Together, we can light the way out of homelessness and ensure that no one in Cornwall is left outside in the dark this winter. 

To donate or learn more about St Petrocs' Winter Services, visit www.stpetrocs.org.uk.