A PROJECT helping the homeless in Leamington is determined to get back on its feet.
The Way Ahead Project was set up by the Salvation Army in Chapel Street in 1999 with a small staff and volunteers.
But it was forced to close its doors this April after its main funder withdraw its support.
WAP provided a drop in centre for the town’s street homeless, offering housing advice, access to computers to help with benefit claims and job searches and also hot drinks and snacks
People could also receive help with problems such as addiction, domestic abuse, financial difficulties and loneliness.
During the pandemic Warwick District Council found accommodation for people sleeping on the streets.
But the Salvation Army still continued its support by giving out hundreds of hot breakfasts and packed lunches.
Lieutenant-colonel Brenda Oakley from Leamington’s Salvation Army said she hoped WAP’s doors would not be closed for good.
She explained the Salvation Army was currently considering how it could continue its mission and reviewing its outreach provision with the elderly and children.
She said while other projects in Leamington had been set up in recent years to help the homeless, and lonely, the Salvation Army still had its part to play.
Warwick Rotary Club has promised a donation at the end of the President’s year in July, which could be used to resurrect the project.
The offer came after Rotarians recently welcomed Brenda to give a talk.
Fellow Army colleague Maria Carter continued that their current focus was to make sure people that used the project’s services could still access the support they needed.
To that end the Salvation Army has been working with other providers in the town to continue helping people while the Way Ahead Project was on hold.
But she added it wasn’t just about donations, it was also about attracting the right staff.
She explained: “In order to operate the project with safety and care for all who visit us, we need a manager and support worker to run it.
“Recruitment is difficult in many sectors in the UK at the moment and we need to attract staff with the right experience and expertise for our drop-in services – and this has been hard to achieve.”
To find out more about the job vacancies at the Way Ahead Project visit https://careers.salvationarmy.org.uk/
To donate visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/the-way-ahead-project
