Day centre

The Connection at St Martin’s provides a day centre service to two discrete groups of people - young people (16-25) and older people (26+). We work with a diverse range of people in a multi-cultural environment, offering a friendly and welcoming place to go and keeping people safe away from the streets.

Day Centre Facilities include a café, laundry, lockers, showers and health services. There is also a wide programme of activities encompassing sport, art, music, photography and drama. We also run specialist groups for young people, women, people aged 50+ and people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

In addition to all the practical facilities, staff and volunteers are on hand to get to know each person and offer ongoing emotional support and advice. Clients are encouraged to access and make use of a whole range of services, both within and outside the organisation. Assessment, drop-in and specialist advice can be accessed in the mornings, while groups and activities, appointments and casework take place in the afternoons.

Over 40 young people and 140 older people use the centre every week day, while at weekends, attendance averages 130.

Café
The Café serves up a variety of delicious food to meet the diverse tastes of our client group, with a daily changing menu. It gives homeless people daily access to affordable and nutritious food which they would otherwise struggle to find.

The Café is also a welcoming space where people can socialise, make friends or talk to our team of workers and volunteers.

Group Activities
People as people from different backgrounds experience homelessness in different ways. Therefore, we provide a range of groups and engagement activities to meet the needs of particular groups of homeless people. These groups include art, over 50’s group, a women’s group, young persons group, substance misuse, rough sleepers group, linked group (black & minority ethnic), singing, chess and football.

These groups provide a safe space where people can come to engage with others in a supportive environment. Some groups are social in nature and provide opportunities for people to meet others in a similar situation or from the same background. Others are more objective focused and aim to inform or support clients to move forward in particular areas of their lives. These groups also build confidence and help people feel less isolated.

As a member of our Women’s Group recently said:

“I’ve been coming for three years. When you’re a homeless woman it’s really important to go to a women only group. You benefit from a good routine. I feel I can approach the staff here, and I feel comfortable”.

Health Services
Homeless people frequently experience poor health and face barriers to accessing health services, particularly GP and self-care.

We help our clients to access a whole range of health services at our day centre. These include daily GP/nurse services and weekly podiatry sessions, provided in-house by Westminster PCT and delivered in a purpose-built medical suite. Alternative therapies (reflexology, acupuncture, alternative remedies and natural health) are delivered at group sessions by a qualified alternative health practitioner who comes in twice a week.

We also run a range of health awareness programmes within our day centre activities and regular campaigns on issues relevant to homeless people, such as TB, sexual health and sun awareness.

Evening day centre services – Tuesday & Thursday 4.30 – 7.30
The Day Centre opens until 7.30pm twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday. On both days people can have a hot meal and access practical facilities such as showers and laundry. There is also Veterans Aid support as well as the Chess Group, which is very popular and successful.

Weekend Services
Weekend services are open from 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday and Sunday. We provide a safe and welcoming environment where people can come and have a hot meal and use our other facilities such as showers and laundry.

Staff and volunteers are on hand to befriend and offer support and advice to people where necessary.

View our Day Centre Services Timetable