A Broomhall charity has appealed for the public to donate sleeping bags for vulnerable people on the streets.
Ben’s Centre provides a safe space and support for those suffering with substance abuse, including the misuse of drugs and alcohol.
Don Beedham, the charity’s marketing and communications officer, said sleeping bags can make a really big difference to their clients’ health, mental wellbeing and their chances of survival.
He added: “We’ve got to the point where clients are asking and we’re having to tell them no.”
Mr Beedham said that if client’s do not have access to a sleeping bag, this can put them in a difficult position where they have to choose between sleeping out in the cold, or sleeping inside in a place where others might be using substances.
When it comes to resources, Ben’s Centre, on Wilkinson Street, is dependent on donations from the public.
Mr Beedham said: “Ben’s Centre is about looking out for our community, so when the wider Sheffield community looks out for us it just makes a huge difference.”
The charity runs schemes such as their ‘damp’ day centre, which offers a safe place for vulnerable people to attend even if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Mr Beedham told us that if people can’t afford to donate sleeping bags, showing compassion to those on the streets can make a big difference.
He said: “An awful lot of people that are in these situations are there because of trauma that they have had earlier in life.”
Mr Beedham added having the sympathy to stop and have a chat, and offering vulnerable people a drink can go a long way.
The charity’s appeal comes less than a week after Sheffield City Council announced it is considering a Public Spaces Protection Order that will clamp down on begging and loitering in the city centre.
Mr Beedham said: “We need to focus on working on the issues that these people are facing and not just removing them from the public eye.”
Alongside the appeal, Ben’s centre has asked for public support, which can be done by donating through their website – or gifting resources from their Amazon wishlist.