Northampton's Hope Centre remains open to homeless community

The Hope Centre is continuing to support the needs of those who are living in poverty and on the streets of Northampton during this crisis by keeping it's day centre and food club open.

The day centre, in Campbell Street, will remain open on weekdays from 8.30am to prepare breakfast and then at 12 noon to prepare lunch.

But service users cannot enter the building - food will instead be taken to the main entrance doors to avoid large groups congregating inside.

Service users can still get clean clothes, take a shower, and collect their post if they need to but strict social distancing rules have been put in place by the charity staff to make sure they disperse quickly.

On Saturday, opening hours for the day centre will be between 9.30am and 12 noon, and the centre will be shut on Sunday.

The Hope Foodclub will also continue to operate, with a delivery service to existing members, in a bid to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Payments at the Foodclub will be waived at the moment to avoid handling cash.

As the centre has so far had to cancel all of its fundraising events, which raises £400,000 each year, a Just Giving Page has been launched to keep the centre open and continuing to provide the services that homeless people value. So far the page has raised £1,600.