Throughout the year, the St Patrick’s Trust runs one or more capital appeals to raise substantial funds for projects across the organisation.  This enables the continued growth and development of key areas within the Trust, such as the Learning and Resource Centre, thereby best meeting the needs of people we serve and support.

We are currently raising funds for:

The All Night Café – a cold weather provision

With an occupancy rate approaching 99% in the Trust’s accommodation, we are unable to provide enough beds for the increased numbers of people who seek our help over the winter. Last year, during the harshest months, we opened our All Night Café, providing a safe and warm refuge for those who were unable to secure accommodation in the St Patrick’s Hostel and Nightshelter.

Research has shown that an average winter temperature of 5.4 C results in a 27.2% increase in mortality rates.  This is a chilling prospect for those who sleep rough.

The All Night Café is an emergency cold weather provision.  It offers the bare basics: a warm place to sleep overnight, some food and some drink before returning to a day on the streets.  Our Project Workers are on hand to provide help and guidance and to talk over any difficulties.  This Café is the only ‘turn up and stay’ shelter open in the City of Brighton and Hove, that can be accessed directly by anyone without a referral from the local authority or other agency and forms a crucial life line for people sleeping rough during the winter months.

We plan to re-open our All Night Café again this year on 1 December 2004.  The Café is run solely on donations and receives no statutory funding.  We need to raise £38,000 to keep it open this winter.  Please help us to save the lives of the very vulnerable by opening the All Night Café again this year, and thereby ‘help people to be alright.’